The 2018 American Wine Society Annual Meetings took place in Buffalo, New York State, from November 1 to 3, 2018. More than 500 members from all over the USA came to this 3-day event, filled with tastings, seminars and presentations.
Annette Schiller, President of ombiasy PR and WineTours and member of the American Wine Society, led 3 wine tastings - Abbey Wines, Pinot Noir from Germany and Burgundy, Rhône Valley - at the 2018 Annual Meetings of the American Wine Society.
In addition, Annette and Christian Schiller poured a selection of German premium wines - all from members of the VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter), the about 200 elite wine producers in Germany - at the Showcase of Wines event during the second evening.
This posting covers the Rhône Valley Seminar.
For more information on the Rhône Valley, see here:
Rhône Valley Tour December 2017: From Lyon to Avignon - Wine, Food, Culture, History Understanding the Wines of the Rhône Valley: The Classification - AOC/ Vin de Pay/ Vin de France The Rhône Wine Region in Southern France and its Wines: History, Classification, Northern and Southern Rhône
Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
This is the fourth in a series of postings related to the American Wine Society National Conference 2018 in Buffalo, New York State.
The 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State, USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens
VDP at AWS: Tasting Premium German Wines at the Showcase of Wines of the 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State, with Annette and Christian Schiller
"Abbey Wines”: The Importance of the Monasteries for the Development of Viticulture - Seminar at the 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State,USA, led by Annette Schiller
Burgundy Pinot Noir and German Pinot Noir: Differences and Similarities - Seminar at the 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State, USA, led by Annette Schiller
A Journey through the Rhône Valley - Seminar at the 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State,USA, led by Annette Schiller
The American Wine Society
The American Wine Society was founded in 1967 as a non-profit, educational, consumer-oriented organization for those interested in learning more about all aspects of wine. On October 7, 1967, around 200 grape growers, home winemakers, and wine lovers gathered at Dr. Konstantin Frank’s vineyard on Keuka Lake near Hammondsport, NY for the AWS’ initial meeting.
In December of the same year, the thirteen charter members, led by Founder Dr. Konstantin Frank, met to determine the organization structure of AWS and elect officers. Now in its 49th year, the American Wine Society is the largest consumer based wine education organization in North America. Membership is open to anyone interested in wine and over 21 years of age.
In the early days, AWS members were located primarily in the eastern part of the country. As the society grew , we established chapters throughout the eastern U.S., then into the south and Midwest, and finally into western states. Today, the American Wine Society has over 5,000 members in 45 states and 120 chapters across the U.S.
Each November the Society hosts a three-day national conference with two full days of nearly 50 educational seminars to choose from. Winery owners, wine educators, and renowned wine makers are selected to present sessions during this national event. In addition, a program educating members to become AWS certified wine judges is conducted on the day preceding the seminars.
A Journey through the Rhône Valley
Presenter: Annette Schiller, Owner, Ombiasy PR & Wine Tours
The Rhône Valley is one of the oldest wine regions in France and the second largest after Bordeaux. The Greeks introduced viticulture in the 4th century B.C. Since then, the world has discovered Rhône wines, and some of the most famous wines of the world come from the Rhône Valley. The vineyards are located on both sides of the river. The Rhône Valley is divided into two distinctively different regions: the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône. We will taste wines from both regions and explore the differences.
Annette presented 6 wines:
2017 Perrin, Côte du Rhône Reserve Blanc
2014 Guigal, Côte du Rhône
2015 Domaine Belle, Crozes-Hermitag, Les Pierelles
2016 Domaine des Pasquiers, Côte du Rhône Village, Sablet
2015 Bastide St. Vincent Vacqueyras
2015 Château la Nerthe, Châteauneuf du Pape
Impressions from the Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, Franc
Here are a few pictures from the Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, Franc.
The Wines Annette Poured
Annette poured 6 wines.
2017 Perrin, Côte du Rhône Reserve Blanc
2014 Guigal, Côte du Rhône
The Guigal Estate is a family business and was founded in 1946 by Etienne Guigal. Etienne Guigal worked at Vidal Fleury before establishing his own domaine. Much later in the 1980s Vidal Fleury was acquired by Guigal, but remains independently managed. Today Maison Guigal is run by Philippe Guigal, the third generation of the family who also is the head winemaker. Through carefully selected acquisitions Guigal grew and today the total vineyard holdings is around 120 acres of which half of it is in the Côte Rôtie. The estate also acquired the famous Château d’Ampuis, an important historic and oenological monument whose long history – an ancient fort built in the 12th century- is directly linked to the Côte-Rôtie appellation. The Château sits majestically on a hill surrounded by vineyards overlooking the Rhône river. With a current production of 6,5 million bottles Guigal is also the most important négociant in the Northern Rhône, although the majority of the purchased fruit comes from the Southern Rhône. Marcel Guigal, the second generation is credited with the biggest impact on the quality of the Northern Rhône wines when he introduced single vineyard cuvées from Côte Rôtie in the 1970s. Maison Guigal has the rare distinction of being a quality leader in both estate and négociant wines.
2015 Domaine Belle, Crozes-Hermitage, Les Pierelles
2016 Domaine des Pasquiers, Côte du Rhône Village, Sablet
Built on a sandy mound from which it derives its name (sable = sand), this village, like its close neighbour Séguret, invites you to take things easy, as you stroll from one little square to the next via winding lanes and curious stairways with unequal steps. Its gently sloping, drawn-out vineyards are planted in sandy soils, decalcified red clays and gravelly pebbles of various sizes. The Dentelles de Montmirail, at the foot of which the village lies, have been the silent witness to Sablet’s rise to fame over the centuries.
Séguret and Sablet are both breath-taking hilltop villages.
2015 Bastide St. Vincent Vacqueyras
Vacqueyras became AOC Côtes du Rhône in 1937 and as late as 1990, Vacqueyras was granted its own AOC, the first in the region since Gigondas in 1971. Located only a few kilometers south of Gigondas, Vacqueyras shares much of the same terroir. The bulk (97%) of the wine is red.
2015 Château la Nerthe, Châteauneuf du Pape
Château la Nerthe is a very special estate. It was founded in the 14th century at the time when the Popes resided in Avignon. Historical documents from 1560 mention the estate as a wine domaine. The historic Château was built in 1736. It is one of the oldest estates in Châteauneuf du Pape. Château la Nerthe is a unique estate. There are many ‘firsts’: they were the first to bottle their own wine starting in1784; they were the first in Châteauneuf du Pape to exprt their wines outside of France; they were the first to practice destemming 100% of their vines in the 1800s. In those days Château la Nerthe’s wines were the most expensive in the Southern Rhône. The domaine changes hands several times during the centuries of its existence with ups and downs. By the 1980s the domaine was in a sorry state and had become dilapidated. In 1986 The Richard family – an important family of wine merchants - acquired the estate and invested heavily in new cellars and equipment and vineyard management. In 1991 they expanded their vineyard holdings and today Château la Nerthe has 220 acres under vine. They converted to organic viticulture and were certified organic by Ecocert in 1998. As of the 2015 vintage Ralph Garcia who was before at Jaboulet in Hermitage, became the new manager. Château La Nerthe is truly unique: a large estate with exceptional, sloped terroir with soils of sandy-clay and a layer of large, round galet stones; all terroirs of Châteauneuf du Pape are here in a single estate; all 13 of the permitted main varietals are planted; the average vine is over 40 years old. I quote Berry Bros & Rudd: “La Nerthe's wine is firmly in the modernist camp of accessible Châteauneufs; softer tannins than in Beaucastel or Vieux Télégraphe, and ready to drink earlier. Almost all La Nerthe wines are vinified in wood, many in small barrels, which is rare in Châteauneuf. No filtering takes place. The white wines are richer in fruit than most other white Châteauneufs.”
schiller-wine: Related Postings
Announcement: ombiasy WineTours in 2019 - Germany-North and Bordeaux
Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017
UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: March 1, 2019)
Annette Schiller Presented "Abbey Wines" at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), USA
Rhône Valley Tour December 2017: From Lyon to Avignon - Wine, Food, Culture, History
Understanding the Wines of the Rhône Valley: The Classification - AOC/ Vin de Pay/ Vin de France
The Rhône Wine Region in Southern France and its Wines: History, Classification, Northern and Southern Rhône