Masterclass Exploring the Pinot Grapes of Germany: Red, Grey and White - Tasting at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)

Invitation

Please plan to join the German Wine Society on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 7:00 pm for a presentation on the Pinot grapes of Germany, and tasting of nine wines to illustrate the varieties using these grapes, by our own Annette Schiller, who has brought some of these wines back from Germany just for us.  This is our first in-person event of 2024.  Registrations for this event are due by Tuesday, March 19, 2024, and the price is $45 for GWS members, $52 for non-members.  Please be aware that, due to limited supply of the wines, we have a maximum cap of 40 for attendance at this event.  Reserve early to avoid disappointment!

The 13 wine-growing regions are spread across Germany like a picture. Only in these different regions can the different grape varieties find what they need: the right soils and sheltered locations facing the sun.

Germany has been known in the U.S. mostly for its delicious Rieslings. Yes, Riesling is the #1 grape produced in Germany and Germany is also the #1 producer of Riesling world-wide (40% of the global Riesling production is in Germany). However, because of Germany’s very different wine regions ranging from 48.5° latitude to 51° latitude, the Pinot grapes also discovered perfect growing conditions and feel very comfortable in Germany. The monks from Burgundy brought Pinot grapes to Germany as early as the 12th century (and this origin is reflected in the “Burgunder” part of each grape’s German name). Today Germany is the #1 producer of Pinot-Blanc (Weissburgunder), #2 producer of Pinot-Gris (Grauburgunder), and #3 producer of Pinot-Noir (Spätburgunder) world-wide.

We will take you on a discovery tour through 7 different wine regions (including at least one that is normally impossible to find in the U.S.) and taste 3 Pinot Noir, 3 Pinot Gris, and 3 Pinot Blanc wines.  

Exploring the Pinot Grapes of Germany: Red, Grey and White - Tasting at the German Wine Society

9 Pinots

The Grauburgunders

2021 Pinot Gris, Asselheim, Weingut Gaul, Rheinhessen

2021 Grauburgunder, Schweigen, Weingut Jülg, Pfalz

2017 Grauburgunder, Reserve, Weingut Hunn, Baden

The Weissburgunders

2020 Weissburgunder, Weingut Wittmann, Rheinhessen

2021 Weissburgunder, Weingut Dönnhoff, Nahe

2022 Weissburgunder, Kloster Heilig Kreuz, 1.Lage Weingut Schloss Proschwitz, Sachsen

The Spätburgunders

2020 Pinot Noir, Weingut Kloster Eberbach, Rheingau

2020 Spätburgunder, Simonroth, Weingut Schnaitmann, Württemberg

2018 Blauer Spätburgunder, Weingut Ziereisen, Baden