The Oktober Weinfest of the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) took place on the evening of Friday, September 15, 2023, from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm at the Embassy House of the German Embassy in Washington, D.C..

Invitation

German Wine Society Members and Friends of German Wine,

It is a pleasure to announce that the German Embassy has invited us once again to hold our Oktober Weinfest celebration at the German Embassy House! And for this event, we will also be introduced to the German Embassy’s new chef, Mikko Kosenen of Mikko Nordic Fine Foods, who also operates a restaurant in Washington, D.C., and was formerly executive chef for the Ambassador of Finland. Please plan to join us to share our love of German wine, at the German Embassy where the German Wine Society began 46 years ago.

Our “Oktober Weinfest” celebrates the fall harvest season and is being held on the eve of the famed Munich Oktoberfest in Germany., which runs this year from September 16 through October 3.

The Oktober Weinfest will take place on the evening of Friday, September 15, 2023, from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm at the Embassy House of the German Embassy in Washington, D.C., with admission to the Embassy beginning at 6:00 pm.

Our Oktober Weinfest will feature eleven German wines, representing six wine regions and three grapes. All of the white wines featured in the dinner are from the 2021 vintage, but differ from the 2021 wine in our New Vintages tasting earlier this year, completing the picture of this excellent vintage. We will begin with a sekt reception on the patio (weather permitting) and followed by a multi-course seated buffet dinner inside the Embassy House.

We anticipate being joined by members of the German Embassy staff. Please take the opportunity to mingle with them and share your interests in German wines and Germany!

The price for this event will be $108 for members, and $118 for non-members. There will be a 60-person limit on attendance at this event, including Embassy guests, so reserve soon to avoid disappointment.

Report by President Carl Willner

On the evening of September 15, 2023, from 6 pm until about 9:30 pm, the German Wine Society’s Capital Chapter held its largest event of the year to date, our Oktober Weinfest at the German Embassy House. The weather cooperated wonderfully, and we were able to enjoy the outdoor patio for an hour before moving inside for our buffet dinner.

Welcoming remarks were delivered by Embassy staff Astrid Jakobs de Padua (Minister Counselor for Food and Agriculture) and Dorothee Schneider (Minister Counselor for Economics and Trade), who both joined us for the dinner, as well as by myself as Chapter President. All members of the Chapter Board were able to attend, apart from Karen Stokes who was away on vacation.

We had 64 people registered for the event, and all were able to come (one person who withdrew before the event and got a refund was replaced by another on the wait list). These included 36 members, 25 non-members, and our 3 Embassy guests.

Chef Mikko Kosonen organized an ample and delicious repast for us including three hors d’oeuvres, a buffet dinner with a wide variety of choices (fish, sausages, chicken, salads, and breads), and three choices of desserts.

Everyone appeared to enjoy both the quality and quantity of the food, overseen by Chef Mikko’s assistant Chef Jason Garcia and a capable wait staff of four, who ensured that the welcoming sparkling wine, and five flights of two wines each during dinner (paired red, trocken white, Kabinett, Spatlese, and Auslese), were served in proper order and the right quantities.

All the wines came from MacArthur Beverages, and alll the whites chosen for the dinner were of the 2021 vintage, though none of those had been served at Phil Bernstein’s 2021 New Vintage presentation earlier this year. For those who came to both events this year, we have provided a quite extensive picture of the 2021 vintage, at least with respect to Rieslings.

Guests all appeared to be enjoying themselves, and I heard many favorable comments, with conversations continuing at most tables even after all the food and wine was served. We had used assigned seating to ensure that friends could all sit together without a rush for tables, and gave guests the opportunity to express their seating preferences in advance, all of which were honored.

Of note, we had five friends who were all part of a Wine Explorers group on Meetup who joined us for this event, most for the first time. We had more Meetup signups for this event than I had ever seen before, and all of them were sent reminders about registering through our website too.

Opening of the Oktoberfest 2023 in Munich

"Wein-Oktoberfest" of the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) at the German Embassy in Washington DC, USA, 2023

Arriving

Sekt Reception

Gravlax with House Pickled Cucumber/Bavarian Mustard Sauce

Beetroot Hummus on Seed Bread with Pickled Beets (GF)

Grilled Chicken Skewers with Spinach Sauce

Nv Dr. Loosen Sparkling Riesling Dr. L Mosel

Welcome Speeches

Seated Dinner

Dinner buffet:

Assortment of Sausages/Bratwurst, Currywurst, Austrian Mini Sausages/Mustard, Sauerkraut

Herb Crusted Salmon with Small Dill Potatoes, Herb Sauce

Mini Chicken Schnitzels with Lemon-Caper Butter

Assortment of Herring, in Wine sauce, Matjes, Mustard/Egg Salad

German Style Potato Salad

Tomato-Mozzarella Salad

Kale Caesar Salad

Roasted Honey-Thyme Vegetables

Pretzels with Cheese-Beer Dip

Assortment of Bread/Whipped Butter

These dishes were served with four flights of wines.

Dessert buffet:

Lingonberry Bread Pudding

Apple Tart

Chocolate Pannacotta

These dishes were served with a flight of two sweet wines.

The Wines

Red Wines
2019 Rebholz Spätburgunder Pfalz
2018 Meyer-Näkel Blue Slate Spätburgunder Ahr

Trocken (Dry) White Wines
2021 Max Müller Volkach Silvaner Trocken Franken (in Bocksbeutel)
2021 Dönnhoff Tonschiefer Riesling Trocken Nahe

Kabinett White Wines
2021 Hermann Ludes Thornitcher Ritsch “Monster” Riesling Kabinett Feinherb Mosel
2021 Thanisch Erben Thanisch Dr. H Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling Kabinett Mosel

Spätlese White Wines
2021 Spreitzer Oestricher Lenchen 303 Riesling Spätlese Rheingau
2021 Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese Mosel

Auslese White Wines

2021 Karl Erbes Erdener Prälat Riesling Auslese Gold Cap Mosel (1/2 bottle)

2021 J.J. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Mosel (1/2 bottle)

Thank you Chef Jason Garcia

Bye-bye

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Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours took place from Monday, June 19, 2023 to Thursday, June 29, 2023.

In Franken, we visited 5 wineries.

Weingut Seufert in Iphofen, Franken

Weingut Wirsching (VDP) in Iphofen, Franken

Weingut Weltner (VDP) in Rödelsee, Franken

Weingut Juliusspital (VDP) in Würzburg, Franken

Weingut Rudolf May (VDP) in Retzstadt, Franken

The visit of Weingut Seufert was a tasting-only visit, with Laura Seufert, who has taken over the winery only recently and who is pushing the winery towards "natural wines". In a short period, Laura has established itself as a major force in Germany's natural wine scene.

Franken

Franken, located in the northern part of Bavaria, boasts a long winemaking tradition and some fine terroirs (mostly shell limestone and Keuper, a kind of marl). Its two leading grape varieties are Riesling and Silvaner.

Typically, Franken wine comes in the distinctive, dumpily-rounded Franken “Bocksbeutel” wine bottle. The bottle’s unusual shape dates back to at least the 16th century. The Bocksbeutel can only be used for Franken wines.

With delicate vegetal aromas and moderate acidity, wines made from the Silvaner grape are the perfect pairing for the white asparagus that emerges from the earth to fill German grocery stores and market stalls annually between April and June and graces lunch and dinner tables literally every day during that period. There is a young generation of winemakers that consider Silvaner as a national counterpoint to Burgundian Chardonnay or Saumur Chenin Blanc.

Weingut Seufert in Iphofen, Franken

Today, it is Laura Seufert, fourth generation of the Seufert family, who works the vines at the foot of the Schwanberg, in Iphofen’s traditional vineyards: Julius-Echter-Berg, Kalb, and Kronsberg.

Laura began her apprenticeship as a winemaker in 2007, learning and working at various wineries in Germany’s Rheingau region, in Switzerland, Alto Adige, and in New Zealand. She then studied enology at the University of Geisenheim before joining her family estate in 2017.

She is part of the new generation of German winemakers dedicated to protecting the environment, to treat nature with respect, and to work without disturbing nature’s equilibrium, hence to stay away from herbicides, insecticides, and artificial fertilizers.

She launched her own line of natural wines - combining Franken tradition with a drive for experimentation. Her bottlings are a pure, adventurous and honest expression of the region, made with a deep love for the natural environment. The decision to farm organically is decisive in counteracting more and more frequent periods of dryness, a direct effect of climate change.

Laura Seufert - www.wijnhuis.amsterdam/nl

Based in the village of Iphofen, Laura is a fourth-generation winemaker whose family has long been producing authentic wines with strong character. The natural way of working is of supreme importance to them - live and let live is their proud motto - treating nature with respect and disturbing it as little as possible. They work without pesticides, herbicides or artificial fertilizers, while sowing their vineyards with herbs and grasses to create a habitat for bees, earthworms and other beneficial organisms.

Laura began her apprenticeship as a winemaker in 2007, learning and working at various wineries in Rheingau, Ticino, South Tyrol and New Zealand. She studied viticulture & oenology at the university of Geisenheim, before joining her family estate in 2017 and launching her own line of natural wines - combining Franconian tradition with a drive for experimentation. Her bottlings are a pure, adventurous and honest expression of the region, made with a deep love for the natural environment.

Weingut Seufert - naturweinwelt.de

Das Weingut Seufert liegt im fränkischen Weindorf Iphofen. Bereits seit vier Generationen erzeugt das Familienunternehmen mit den heimischen Rebsorten Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau und Riesling charakterstarke Weine. Der Respekt vor der Natur, der die Winzer-Familie prägt, drückt sich im Verzicht auf den Einsatz von Herbiziden, Pestiziden und Kunstdünger aus, und durch das Schaffen von Lebensraum für Bienen, Regenwürmer und andere Nützlinge.

Die natürliche Arbeitsweise bildet den Kern für die individuellen Weine, die durch viel Hingabe ihren eigenen Charakter entwickeln können - getreu dem Motto “Leben und leben lassen”.

Das Weingut Seufert verzichtet komplett auf den Einsatz von Aromahefen und anderen Zusatzstoffen. Die Qualität entsteht im Weinberg und nicht durch Zusätze. Unter dem Label “Herzstück” finden sich u.a. die Weine “Anarchie” und “Trilogie”. Die Weinreben für diese beiden Weine wachsen auf kargem Gipskeuper im Iphöfer Julius-Echterberg, es erfolgt 100% Handlese, Maischegärung und Lagerung im Holzfass. Die “Anarchie” war der erste Naturwein im Programm und wurde durch eine Exkursion ins Burgenland inspiriert. 2018 kam ein weiterer Naturwein dazu: die “Trilogie”.

2019 ging Laura Seufert zusammen mit der befreundeten Winzerin Franziska Schömig noch einen Schritt weiter und bereicherte das Portfolio um den ersten Pétillant Naturel, kurz “Pet Nat”. Laura begann ihre Ausbildung zur Winzerin 2007, lernte und arbeitete bei verschiedenen Weingütern u.a. im Rheingau, im Tessin, in Südtirol und Neuseeland. Die Winzerin studierte im Anschluss Weinbau & Oenologie in Geisenheim und arbeitet seit 2017 im elterlichen Betrieb. Das Weingut Seufert bietet individuelle Weinproben und Weinwanderungen auf Anfrage an, und hält Gästezimmer bereit.

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Red and White Grape Varieties in Germany - Trends (September 2023)

The Association of American Wine Economists, of which I am a member, published 3 most interesting charts concerning the structur of German wine over the past 30 to 60 years.

In terms of the mix between white and red grape varieties, up to the turn of the century, Germany as the share of red grape varities was increasing rapidly, reaching almost 40 percent of total output. This development, however, has stopped and in the last 20 years the share of red grape varieties in the total is falling again, although only very slowly.

Today, red grape varieties account for about 35 percent and white grape varieties to about 45 percent of total production.

Within this overall trend, Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder) is the most important red grape variety in Germany. It has increased from hectars 2.000 to hectar 12.000 in the past 60 years. Germany has become the #3 producer of Pinot Noir in the world, after France and the USA.

Dornfelder was also on the rise, but has started to decline in 2010, reflecting the shift to premium and ultra-premium red wine production. The other rising red grape variety is Lemberger/ Blaufränkisch, but its production is limited to Württemberg.

On the white wine side, the dominat grape variety is Riesling, accounting for a large part of the total and growing. Müller-Thurgau and Silvaner, both important white grape varieties in the 1960s, are rapidly loosing their weight. While decling overall, in Franken, Silvaner continues to be on the rise, as Silvaner is increasingly becoming the signature grape variety of Franken. The other grape varieties to watch are Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder) and Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder) both displyaing steady growth for the last 30 years. Germany is now the #1 producer for Weissburgunder and the #2 producer for Grauburgunder in the world.

Until the early 20th century, Elbling was Germany's most planted variety, after which it was eclipsed by Silvaner during the middle of the 20th century. After a few decades in the top spot, in the late 1960s Silvaner was overtaken by the high-yielding Müller-Thurgau, which in turn started to lose ground in the 1980s. From the mid-1990s, Riesling became the most planted variety.

Nicolas Quillé (MW): Overview of German Wine - Regions, Grape Varieties and New Labeling Rules

...German vineyards are planted with 2/3 white grapes and 1/3 reds grapes but be aware that there is a strong movement towards more red grapes, and especially Pinot Noir. Germany is the home of the Riesling grape (35% of global production) and it accounts for 24% of all German plantings. The other varieties that Germany can claim global leadership include Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder), Muller Thurgau, and Silvaner. Other quintessential northern European varieties planted in Germany includes Pinot Gris (Grauerburgunder), Pinot Noir (Spatburgunder), Trollinger (aka Schiava Grossa) & Lemberger. Germany has an historical interest in grape hybridization (many developed domestically) and among the most popular are red grapes that were planted because of their high yields during cooler times such as Dornfelder (complex cross of Pinot Noir, Trollinger, Blaufrankish: dark and floral), as well as productive white crosses such as Muller Thurgau (Riesling x Madeleine Royale), Bacchus (Silvaner, Riesling, Muller) and Scheurebe. Finally, a few French international varieties are starting also to be planted such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot.

Of all German wines, it is Riesling that captures the attention. Its great versatility allows for the making of different wine styles, from dry to sweet, from still to sparkling. Riesling’s intense aromatic (citrus, jasmine) and polarizing balance of high acid and residual sugars create some of the most exquisite wines in the world: There cannot be a serious German wine tasting without a Riesling!...

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We did a cellar tour and a tasting in the cellar.

Domaine Faiveley

Domaine Joseph Faiveley is one of the biggest domains in the Bourgogne and, many would argue, one of the best. This illustrious company has been based in Nuits St Georges since the days of Pierre Faiveley who founded the business in 1825. His son Joseph gave his name to the family business, to be followed by (1) the first François, (2) Georges who was instrumental in founding the Chevaliers du Tastevin, (3) Guy who developed the business in the Côte Chalonnaise, (4) François who recently retired and (5) now his children Eve and Erwan.

Guy Faiveley, a brilliant intellectual who had a collection of diplomas, had the difficult job of succeeding his very colorful father. Yet, with his impetus, the domain doubled in size. François Faiveley took over the domain at the age of 25. He was able to give it a new boost – using a precursor of the sorting table and carrying out cold macerations for example. At the same age as his father, Erwan Faiveley took over the domain in 2007, becoming the seventh generation. Recently, he was joined by his sister Eve.

Initially, the company was a classic négociant, buying and selling wine. Bourgogne wines started to experience greater fame in Louis 14th's reign, when those high up in the King's court and foreign ambassadors in Paris started to take an interest. It was against this background that Pierre Faiveley founded the négociant business in 1825.

But from generation to generation, with a strong commitment to the quality of Burgundy’s patrimony, the Faiveley family has purchased vineyards and is today among the largest owners of classified vineyards in the Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune and Côte Chalonnaise.

In 2013, Domaine Faiveley acquired 20 hectares of vines previously owned by Domaine Dupont-Tisserandot, which is based in Gevrey-Chambertin. All together, the firm now owns 123 hectares of vineyards among which 12 hectares are grands crus and 27 premiers crus.

Along with this focus, Erwan and Eve Faiveley and General Manager Bernard Hervet have renovated the cellars, which now boast state-of-the-art barrel presses, custom-designed wooden vats and among the finest, air-cured oak casks available in the world. Unlike many wine growers, Domaine Faiveley has united the management of its vineyards and its cellar under the direction of one technical director, Jerome Flous.

The grapes are entirely destemmed and fermented in new custom-designed wooden vats for the finer wines, conical stainless steel tanks for the lesser cuvées. Fermentation is slow and at low temperatures.

Wines mature afterwards in oak barrels in 19th century vault cellars that offer ideal conditions for long ageing. These barrels coming from great coopers have been rigorously selected for their fine grain and light toast. Both premier and grand cru wines may receive two-thirds new wood.

Many of Faiveley's top wines are hand bottled with no filtration. This in turn results in clean, opulent wines that often show Pinot Noir at its best.

Faiveley’s white wines are both silky and powerful. They bring together purity, tension and minerality. The red wines are the perfect illustration of a successful marriage of elegance, precision and concentration.

This write up is based on what I learnt during recent tours and tastings at Domaine Faiveley in Nuits-Saint-Georges and the Faiveley web site, supplemented by the excellent write-ups on the web site of Berry Bros. and Rudd as well as Frederic Wildmann.

Jérôme Flous

During a previous visit, we met Jérôme Flous, who heads Domaine Faiveley's technical team, in the cellar.

Picture: Jérôme Flous

Eve Faiveley

In 2019, a few months after the visit of Domaine Joseph Faiveley in Nuits St. Georges, we enjoyed a fabolous winemaker dinner with Eve Faiveley in Hattenheim, Rheingau.

Picture: Eve Faiveley with Annette and Christian Schiller. See: Dinner with Eve Faiveley, Domaine Faiveley, Nuits St. Georges, Bourgogne and 2-star-Michelin Chef Thomas Kellermann, Relais & Châteaux Park Hotel Egerner Höfe, Tegernsee, at the Rheingau Gourmet und Wein Festival in Hattenheim, Germany

Arriving

Cellar Tour

Tasting

The Wines

Bye-bye

From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours (Released and Forthcoming Postings)

ombiasy WineTours: Wine Tour Schedule 2023 - Austria, Germany/East, Burgundy/ Champagne, Germany/ North

Announcement: Burgundy and Champagne 2023: 12-day Total Immersion - From Lyon to Paris by ombiasy WineTours

Burgundy (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Paris - Wine, Food, Culture and History, France

David Miller: From Lyon to Paris, Burgundy and Champagne Tour by ombiasy WineTours, July 02 - Thursday, July 13, 2023

Summary: From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Dinner at Restaurant Le Grand Café des Négociants and Walking Tour in Lyon - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Chermette in Saint-Vérand, Beaujolais, with Martine and Jean-Etienne Chermette - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Menu du Jour Lunch in Beaujolais at L’Atelier du Cuisinier in Villié-Morgon - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Château de Jacques, in Romanèche-Thorins, Beaujolais, with Genevieve Bonifacio, Responsable Commerciale - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Dinner at Restaurant Château de Pizay in Belleville-en-Beaujolais - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

In the Most Prestigious AOC in the Mâconnais: Pouilly-Fuissé, France

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Ferret in Fuissé, Poully-Fuissé, Mâconnais, with the Outgoing DG/ Winemaker Audrey Braccini and Incoming DG/ Winemaker Clément Robinet - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Menu du Jour Lunch at Restaurant Le Millésime in Davayé, Mâconnais - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Domaine Céline & Laurent Tripoz, Mâconnais, with Céline & Laurent Tripoz - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Menand in Mercurey, Côte Chalonnaise, with Fabienne Menand - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Beaune, Bourgogne

Dinner at Restaurant La Table du Square in Beaune - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Walk in the Vineyard, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Jessiaume in Santenay, Côte de Beaune, with DG/ Winemaker William Waterkeyn - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Guided Vineyards Walk around Meursault with Karoline Knoth, Author of "Castles and Châteaux in Meursault" - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Menu du Jour Lunch at Restaurant L’Agastache in Volnay, with Caroline (Service) and Nunzio Iacono (Kitchen), Michelin and Gault Millau Listed - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Guided Tour of Château de Rully by Owner Count Raoul de Ternay, with Tasting of Domaine Rully Wines - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Dinner at Restaurant Le Relais de Saulx in Beaune, with the Couple Charles Danet, Chef, and Agnès Peyre, Service, 12/ 20 Points Gault Millau - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

At Maison Olivier Leflaive in Puligny Montrachet: Vineyard Walk and a Talk with Olivier Leflaive - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Wine-pairing Lunch at La Table d’Olivier with Icon Olivier Leflaive in Puligny-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Château de Pommard in Pommard, Côte de Beaune - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Faiveley in Nuits-Saint-George, Côte de Nuits - From Lyon to Paris: Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Menu du Jour Lunch with Wine Tasting with Sommelier Emmanuel Thibout at Restaurant Le Vintage, Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Louis Jadot in Beaune with Thibaud Marquis, US Reprsentative of Louis Jadot

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion in Vosne Romanée, Côte de Nuits - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Bus Tour Through the Vineyards of Vosne-Romanée, Côte de Nuits, with Melissa Rion and Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Rion, Vosne-Romanée

Wine-pairing lunch at Domaine Trapet, Gevrey-Chambertin, Côte de Nuits

Visit and Tasting: Maison Joseph Drouhin in Beaune– Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour of the Ancient Cellars and Tasting at Maison Joseph Drouhin in Beaune

Wine and Music at "From Bach to Bacchus in Meursault", with Karoline Knoth

Visit: Hospices de Beaune– Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France

Hospices de Beaune and its Wines - Guided Tour

Menu du Jour Lunch at Restaurant Au Creux de Vougeot

Visit of Château du Clos de Vougeot - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours

Tour of Château du Clos de Vougeot

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars and other Wine Venues in Chablis, France

Dinner at Restaurant Hostellerie des Clos in Chablis

Tasting from Tank, Barrel and Bottle at Domaine Servin in Chablis, with Marc Cameron and François Servin

Wine Pairing Lunch, Cellar Visit, Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Domaine Jean Marc Brocard in Préhy, Chablis– Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard in Préhy, Chablis

Dinner at Restaurant Le Maufoux, Domaine William Fevre, Chablis

Guided Tour at Fontenay Abbey (Bernard de Clairveau), Montbard

Champagne– An Introduction, France

French Champagne Houses and German Roots

Champagne Menu du Jour Lunch at Restaurant Chez Bellou in Gyé-sur-Seine, Champagne

Visit and Tasting at Champagne Jean Josselin, a Grower Champagne House in Gyé sur Seine – Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Champagne Jean Josselin in Gyé-sur-Seine, Côte des Bar, Champagne, with Jean Pierre Josselin and Export Manager Sharona Tsubota

Tour of l'Avenue de Champagne in Epernay - Bourgogne (and Champagne) Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours

Hanging out at the Avenue de Champagne in Epernay, Champagne

Tasting Current (in the Tasting Room) and Older Vintages (in the Cellar) at Champagne Legras & Haas in Chouilly, Côte des Blancs, with Jérôme Legras

Tasting at Champagne Maison Gamet in Mardeuil, Vallée de la Marne, with Philippe, Fabienne and Marianne Gamet

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Champagne Alfred Gratien in Èpernay

French/ Thai Fusion Dinner at Restaurant Cook’In in Épernay (Bib Gourmant Michelin), with Chef Guillaume and Uma (Service).

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Champagne Ruinart, Reims, with Frédéric Panaïotis, Chef de Caves

Dining and Wining on Boulevard Montparnasse in Paris: La Rotonde, Le Dôme and La Coupole, France – Pre-Bordeaux Wine Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Lunch at La Coupole, Montparnasse, Paris

Pictures: Agence France Press, Le Monde, Washington Post, New York Times

After politics in Paris, King Charles III concluded his three-day state visit to France with a trip down south to Bordeaux on Friday to focus on a more personal passion: the environment. As part of his trip to Bordeaux, King Charles III and Queen Camilla about 2 hours at Château Smith Haut Lafitte, where the harvest is currently underway.

Château Smith Haut Lafitte is an estate that Annette Schiller likes to visit on her Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours. Most recently, we visited Château Smith Haut Lafitte on Bordeaux 2022 by ombiasy WineTours. See: Winery Tour and Tasting at Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte, Grand Cru Classé Appellation Pessac-Léognan - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Decanter: Florence Cathiard, co-owner of Château Smith Haut Lafitte and president of the wine tourism board, told decanter.com: ‘It is a huge honour to be selected for the visit, and it will be a great pleasure.

‘I have always been a fan of King Charles, ever since I met him at his last polo match at Ash Farm 20 years ago. We talked together, and he knew my wine.

‘We talked about organic wine and biodiversity. I am sure he does not remember me, as he meets so many people, but he was a real inspiration to me. He was really ahead of his time with organic farming and biodiversity.

‘At the time, not many producers were doing organic farming. We did not have anyone to guide us, but we took inspiration from him, and he gave me the confidence to pursue it.’

Winery Tour and Tasting at Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte, Grand Cru Classé Appellation Pessac-Léognan - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Visit and Tasting: Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé– Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2017), France

Picture: Visit and Tasting: Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé

Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte and Florence and Daniel Cathiard

The noble Bosq family started growing grapes here as early as 1365. The property was purchased in the 18th century by Scotsman George Smith, who gave the estate its present name. He also built the manor house and exported his – by now famous – wine to England on his own ships. Current owners are Florence and Daniel Cathiard.

Both Florence and Daniel were professional skiers belonging to the French Olympic ski team in the mid-1960s (with triple gold medal legend at the 1968 Winter Olympics Jean-Claude Killy). After their career in sports, Daniel built a supermarket and sporting goods store imperium and Florence an advertising agency. In 1990 they bought Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte with the wealth generated by the sale of all their assets. They brought the quality of Smith-Haut-Lafitte wines to the level for which they were once renowned.

Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Château Smith Haut Lafitte is a Bordeaux producer from the Pessac-Léognan appellation, ranked among the Grands Crus Classé for red wine in the Classification of Graves wine of 1953 and 1959. The winery and vineyards are located south of the city of Bordeaux, in the commune of Martillac.

The estate originates in the 14th century with the house of Verrier Du Boscq who planted vines on a gravelly plateau named Lafitte already in 1365. In 1720 it was bought by the Scotsman Georges Smith who added his name to the lieu-dit and who built the manor house of the property.

The Louis Eschenauer Company bought the estate in 1958, after having already distributed the wine from the early 20th century. In 1990, Florence and Daniel Cathiard bought Smith Haut Lafitte and embarked on a major renovation and investment program.

The vineyard area consists of 67 hectares, 56 hectares of which are planted with red grape varieties (55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc). The remaining 11 hectares are cultivated with white varieties (90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sémillon and 5% Sauvignon Gris). The vineyards are located on a gravel ridge to the east of Château Haut-Bailly.

The grapes are fermented in stainless steel vats and the wine is then matured in oak barrels (50% new) for 15-18 months. The wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The Grand vin, Château Smith Haut Lafitte, is annually produced in 10,000 cases of the red wine and 2,500 cases of the dry white. The second wine, Les Hauts de Smith, has a production of 5,500 cases, and exists in red, white and rosé versions. The rosé is produced as a Bordeaux AOC.

Château Smith-Haut-Lafite has been transformed during the last decade from being a perennial underachiever to being one of the leading estates in the Graves region. Before the arrival of the Cathiard Family, Château Smith Haut Lafitte - though a Classified Growth of the Graves region - bore the nickname of Sleeping Beauty.

Daniel and Florence Cathiard invested heavily, restored buildings, replaced vats, constructed a new barrel cellar, converted vineyard practices to sustainable farming and paid detailed attention to hand picking, sorting, and practices in the cellar. The proportion of new oak barrels used in the maturation process was increased and a trio of eminent oenologists (including Michel Rolland) was hired as consultants.

Having raised the wine of Smith to the highest level of quality, Daniel and Florence Cathiard were not happy to leave it at that: they also restored the 16th-century tower, renovated the 18th-century chartreuse, refurbished two underground cellars and started up a cooperage on the premises.

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Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours took place from Sunday, May 28 - Thursday, June 08, 2023. We toured Austria for 12 days, starting and ending in Vienna: Wien, Wagram, Carnuntum, Burgenland, Steiermark, Wachau, Kamptal, Kremstal, Traisental, Wien.

Following a visit of:

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Neumeister, Straden, Vulkanland, Steiermark, with Christoph Neumeister - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

we explored in depth the beautiful, hilly Südsteiermark region which is famous for its crisp white wines. There is brilliantly fresh Sauvignon Blanc, delicious Welschriesling, crisp Schilcher and fruity Muskateller or Traminer. But also Burgundy varieties, above all Chardonnay - called Morillon here - thrive splendidly in Austria's southernmost wine-growing region. Nevertheless Sauvignon Blanc is king here.

We visited the following wineries in the Südsteiermark:

Weingut Sattlerhof, Sernau, Südsteiermark

Weingut Wohlmuth, Kitzek, Südsteiermark

Weingut Trummer, Spielfeld, Südsteiermark

Weingut Polz, Strass, Südsteiermark

Weingut Tement, Ehrenhausen, Südsteiermark

The visit of Weingut Sattlerhof comprised a visit of the vineyards and the cellar as well as tasting in the modern tasting room of Weingut Sattlerhof.

Juste Sattler, the wife of Andreas Sattler, was our host. Andreas has a bachelor’s degree in oenology and has been responsible for the cellar since 2014

Weingut Sattlerhoif is represented in the USA by Vineyard Brands.

Weingut Sattlerhof, Sernau, Südsteiermark

The idyllic Sattlerhof in Sernau, perched on a hill near Gamlitz in the middle of a vineyard, has been family-owned since 1887.

The winery belongs to the top addresses in Austria and the world, since the US magazine ‘Wine & Spirits’ included the Sattlerhof into the list of the 100 best wineries in the world in 2020.

Wilhelm Sattler sen. is considered a pioneer of dry winemaking in Styria, for which he was awarded the state's Golden Medal of Honor. Willi and Maria Sattler are running the winery together with their sons Andreas and Alexander.

The 87 acres of vineyards have vines up to 55 years old and are located in well-known sites such as Kranachberg, Sernauberg and the Pfarrweingarten monopoly site on steep slopes with an incline of up to 70 percent. Perfect physiological ripeness of the grapes, selective hand harvesting and puristic vinification are some of the artisanal steps with which the family has kept the quality of the wines at such high standards for decades.

The sons shifted to biodynamic winemaking with the aim that this meticulous working method allows the character of the excellent vineyards to evolve in the bottle even more.

About the Winery - Vineyard Brands

The Sattler family has been in the wine business in the village of Gamlitz, Austria, since the late 1880s. The family has a long tradition of quality and innovation, with Wilhelm Sattler Senior and his wife Aloisia laying the foundation for success beginning in the 1960s. Today the two Sattler brothers, Willi and Hannes, are leading the estate with the new generation by their side. The Sattlerhof winery is now responsible for 40 hectares (99 acres) of organically farmed vines in some of the region’s most famous vineyards, including “grand crus” Kranachberg and Pfarrweingarten. The family places great value on working closely with nature to produce their wines, caring for sustainable soil management and longevity of the vines; their vineyards are a complex, balanced habitat, and the preservation of biodiversity is a central focus.

Arriving

Vineyard Walk: Reid Sernauberg

Cellar Tour

Tasting

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Dinner at an Iconic Beisl in Vienna: Griechenbeisl - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Tour of the Monastery/ Palace Klosterneuburg and of the Weingut Klosterneuburg, with Wine Tasting - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

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After Dinner Drinks at Vis-a-Vis Wine Bar, Vienna - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Vienna: Viaker City Tour and Tour of Schloss Schönbrunn - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Restaurant Die Seejungfrau in Jois at Lake Neusiedl - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Leo Hillinger, Burgenland, with Jakob Scharner, Diplom-Sommelier - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Netzl, Carnuntum, with Franz, Christine and Christina Netzl - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Restaurant Mole West at Lake Neusiedl- Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Anita and Hans Nittnaus, Burgenland, with Anita, Hans and Martin Nittnaus - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Umathum, Burgenland, with Joseph Umathum - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

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Tasting at Weingut Markus Huber, Traisental, with Markus Huber

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Tour and Tasting at Domäne Wachau, Dürnstein, Wachau

Tasting and Dinner at Weingut Nigl, Kremstal, 13.5 Points Gault Millau

Vintage 2011 Tasting with Lucas Pichler, Weingut F.X. Pichler, with Dirk Wuertz at his Koenigsmuehle in Rheinhessen, Austria/Germany

Tour and Tasting at Weingut F.X.Pichler, Wachau, with Lucas Pichler

Tasting at Weingut Matthias Hager, Kamptal, with Doris Hager

Lunch at Gasthaus Gutmann, Zöbing, Kamptal

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Schloss Gobelsburg, Kamptal, with Stefan Tabery

Farewell Dinner at Café Central in Vienna

Fritz Haag, Carl Loewen and Dr. Loosen have been selected as one of the Wine & Spirits Magazine Top 100 Wineries of 2023. Fritz Haag and Dr. Loosen are imported by Loosen Brothers and Carl Loewn by Skurnik.

Inclusion in the Top 100 is based on the overall strength of the portfolio. The magazine writes, “The wines of these renowned producers have received the highest accolades from the magazine’s editors in the course of their 300+ blind tastings of more than 9,000 wines.”

The Fall Issue, which proles each of the featured Top 100 Wineries, will hit shelves on October 3rd.

The magazine adds, “we will host our 20th Annual Top 100 Tasting on Thursday, October 11, 2023.

W&S has invited the 100 wineries who’ve performed at the very top of our tastings for a night of food, wine and celebration. The evening offers a chance to taste a vast array of exceptional wines, as well as an opportunity to meet winemakers face-to-face.” As in the past, the event will also support NY/NJ Baykeeper and San Francisco Baykeeper.

Weingut Fritz Haag, Mosel

Tasting and Vineyard Walk with Oliver Haag, Weingut Fritz Haag– Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Picture: In the Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr with Oliver Haag, Weingut Fritz Haag, Mosel

Weingut Carl Loewen, Mosel

Pictures: With Christoph Loewen, Weingut Carl Loewen, at the Wedding Party of Stuart Pigott in the Rheingau (Weingut JB Becker, Walluf)

Weingut Dr. Loosen

Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel, with Ernie Loosen - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Middle Mosel, with Ernie Loosen- Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

schiller-wine: Related Postings

A Journey through Bourgogne with Louis Jadot - Tasting at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar Presented by Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, and Thibaud Marquis, Louis Jadot

Pre-gaming: The Wines of Austria - Tasting at the Washington DC Wine and Cheese Seminar, led by Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, 2023

Announcement: Exciting ombiasy Wine Tours in 2023

ombiasy WineTours: Wine Tour Schedule 2023 - Austria, Germany/East, Burgundy/ Champagne, Germany/ North

Maison Guigal in Ampuis, Côte Rôtie, Northern Rhône: Cellar Tour, Tasting and Vineyard Tour - Rhône Valley Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France

Tour and Tasting at Château Haut-Bailly, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé, with Cellar Master Jean Christoph - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Tasting with Helmut Dönnhoff and Sascha Johannes Schömel at Weingut Dönnhoff (VDP) in Oberhausen, Nahe - Germany-South and Alsace 2022 by ombiasy WineTours

2022 Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in McLean, Virginia, USA

Christian Schiller`s SCHILLER-WINE Blog on Corking Wines` Top 101 Wine Writers of 2020 List

The Wines of Germany: Presentation by Annette Schiller at the German Embassy in Washington DC/ Consular Conference December 2021

Massive Tasting of Bordeaux 1982 - the Vintage that made Robert Parker a Star, USA/ France

Carl Willner, Christian Schiller and Ken Bensley of the German Wine Society/ Washington DC Chapter (Re-)elected to the National Board, USA, Germany

The American Wine Society National Conference 2022 in Bellevue/ Seattle, Washington State - Seen through Christian Schiller`s Camera Lens

Christian Schiller: Re-elected to the Board of the "Weinfeder", the Association of German Wine Journalists

2022 Holiday Party of the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) at the Cosmos Club in Washington DC Downtown, USA/ Germany

All Sorts of Sparklers: How do the Bubbles get into that Bottle? - Tasting at the American Wine Society (NoVa Chapter) led by Annette Schiller

Germany's Weingut Künstler #2 on James Suckling's List of the Top 100 Wines of the World (2022)

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Tasting at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), presented by Annette Schiller

Dry Rieslings from Italy, Austria, Alsace and Germany at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar, presented by Annette Schiller, September 2023

Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours took place from Monday, June 19, 2023 to Thursday, June 29, 2023.

In Franken, we visited 5 wineries.

Weingut Seufert in Iphofen, Franken. See: Tasting at Weingut Seufert in Iphofen, Franken, a Niche Producer of "Natural Wines", with Laura Seufert - Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Weingut Wirsching (VDP) in Iphofen, Franken

Weingut Weltner (VDP) in Rödelsee, Franken

Weingut Juliusspital (VDP) in Würzburg, Franken

Weingut Rudolf May (VDP) in Retzstadt, Franken

At Weingut Wirsching we were rceceived by General Manager Uwe Matheus, as we were on the prvious visit in 2015. See: Tour and Tasting at Weingut Wirsching in Iphofen in Franken with General Manager Uwe Matheus – Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Weingut Hans Wirsching wines are among the few Franken wines that are exported to the USA, through: German Wine Collection.

Franken

Weingut Wirsching (VDP) in Iphofen, Franken

The Wirsching family has been producing wine since 1630 in the village of Iphofen. It is one of the largest privately-owned wineries in Germany.

In the early 1960s two brothers, Hans Wirsching Jr. and Dr. Heinrich Wirsching, ran the estate. Hans Wirsching Jr. focused on winemaking and Dr. Heinrich Wirsching on all other aspects. Thanks to their dedication to Iphofen's vineyards, Iphofen has developed into one of the leading wine-growing communities in all of Franken. The 'new style' that Hans Wirsching had given his wines - fresh, reductive, elegant and slim - has become a trademark.

The early passing of Hans in 1990 did not change the qualities that make Wirsching wines special. The public face of the winery is Andrea Wirsching, daughter of Dr. Heinrich Wirsching. Together with her younger half-sister, Lena, they are carrying on the 350-year family wine making tradition.

The iconic Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg is one of Franconia's prime vineyard sites. Its namesake is the famous Prince Bishop Julius Echter of Mespelbrunn.

Hans Wirsching Sr. is considered 'The Father' here, because in the early 1920s it was his idea to name the best vineyard site of Iphofen 'Julius-Echter-Berg'.

Weingut Hans Wirsching - German Wine Collection

Weingut Hans Wirsching is one of the largest privately owned family estates in Germany, situated in the picturesque medieval town of Iphofen in Franconia, 1.4 hours east of Frankfurt. Now in its 14th generation, the Wirsching family with CEO Andrea Wirsching produces 37,000 cases on 225 acres of vineyards. They focus on Silvaner (40%), the signature grape of the Franconian wine area. 20% of their vineyards are planted with Riesling, the classical German grape, and 7% with Scheurebe, a fruity grape with aromas like Sauvignon Blanc.

In 1630 Hans Wirsching donated a vineyard to the Abbey at Ebrach. The sale is one of the first instances documenting the Wirsching family’s involvement in wine. Throughout the centuries the Wirsching’s have continued their love for, and involvement in, the business of agriculture and wine growing.

In the late 19th century, the phylloxera plague devastated the European wine industry. Andreas Wirsching died at an early age, and his widow focused on a shop which fed children in the village. Andreas’ passing could have easily spelled the end of wine production for the Wirsching family. However, in 1918, Andreas’ son Hans Wirsching returned from World War I. Hans was only 23 at the time, but he made the decision to put all of his energy into rebuilding the vineyards. He not only restarted the winery, but also began the painstaking process of replanting the vineyards with American rootstocks. Hans obtained Scheurebe cuttings from the Annaberg in the early 1950s (like Karl Fuhrmann at Pfeffingen / Pfalz) and transplanted them in the Kronsberg vineyard. We can credit both the Wirsching and Pfeffingen estates, and their pioneering efforts, for making a place for the Scheurebe grape in German viticulture.

Terroir: “Keuper” (Jurassic Clay) is a sediment stone from the time when dinosaurs walked through the swamps 220 million years ago. Layers of Gypsum within that stone give the wines low acidity. The wines of Iphofen are full bodied with hints of herbaceous aromas and elegant fruit components.

As member of the elite wine association VDP-Die Prädikatsweingüter they have very high production and quality standards. The quality levels are VDP.Gutswein (estate), VDP.Ortswein (village), VDP.Erste Lage (Premier Cru), VDP.Große Lage (Grand Cru). Wirsching is member of Fair N’Green, a sustainable certificate.

Weingut Wirsching (Franken/ Germany) in New York at the Wine Spectator Wine Experience 2022, USA/ Germany

Stefan Schindler: Germany is not only Riesling! The oldest document mentioning SILVANER in Germany dates back to 1659, and that’s why the wine-region Franken calls itself „Silvanerheimat“ – the home of Silvaner.

At this year’s New York Wine Experience, organized by Wine Spectator magazine, only one German wine-estate (God knows why?) was invited to pour its wines, and it was not one of the well-known Riesling estates along the Rhine and Mosel rivers.

Andrea Wirsching of Weingut Hans Wirsching in Franken came to New York and was more than happy that for once Silvaner was in the limelight. And I am sure it was not the last time… .

The Wine Spectator/ Kristen Bieler: Speaking of rare birds, the white variety Sylvaner is one that even those of us who taste wine for a living don’t frequently encounter. Most come from Germany, a country that doesn’t get the love and attention it deserves from American wine drinkers, IMHO. This year, Hans Wirsching, a fantastic producer from the Franken region, will be pouring the estate’s 90-point 2019 Silvaner Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg GG (the “GG” means a wine is dry and from a grand cru vineyard), which has a fascinating combination of concentration and austere minerality.

2023 Visit

Arriving

Cellar Tour

Tasting

Bye-bye

Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours (Released and Forthcoming Postings)

Announcement: Exciting ombiasy Wine Tours in 2023

ombiasy WineTours: Wine Tour Schedule 2023 - Austria, Germany/East, Burgundy/ Champagne, Germany/ North

Announcement: Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours - 12 Days: May 28 - June 08, 2023

Announcement: The Wine, Concert, and History Tour - Germany-East 2023 by ombiasy WineTours - Monday, June 19 - Thursday, June 29, 2023

Summery: Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

City Tours: Berlin and Potsdam - Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Steak Tartare at Restaurant Borchardt, Berlin-Mitte - Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Pawis (VDP) in Freyburg, Saale-Unstrut, with Christian Pawis - Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Weingut Gussek in Naumburg, Saale-Unstrut, with André Gussek - Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Leipzig: City Tour and Concert at Gewandhaus Leipzig with the full Gewandhaus Orchestra - Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Restaurant/ Weingut Vincenz Richter in Meissen, with Julian Herrlich - Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Tour and Tasting at Sächsisches Staatsweingut Schloss Wackerbarth in Radebeul, Sachsen - Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Nabucco by Giuseppe Verdi at Semperoper Dresden, Sachsen - Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Schiller’s Favorites: 2 Legendary Wine Taverns in Würzburg – Juliusspital and Bürgerspital

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Taverns in Würzburg

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Wirsching in Iphofen in Franken with General Manager Uwe Matheus– Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Wirsching (VDP) in Iphofen, Franken, with Dr. Uwe Matheus - Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy