Wine Majesties have a long tradition in Germany. Basically all wine villages, wine regions and the country as a whole have wine queens and wine princesses. Of course, the crème de la crème are the national wine majesties, the German Wine Queen and the two German Wine Princesses.
One of the two reigning German Wine Princesses, Sabine Wagner, came to the US for an East Coast Tour (Northern Virginia, Philadelphia and Washington DC) with a series of events between June 25 and June 30, 2014. The trip was organized by Annette Schiller (Ombiasy PR and WineTours) and supported by the German Wine Institute (Mainz, Germany) and the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter).
I have already provided an overview about the tour, here: German Wine Princess Sabine Wagner on US East Coast Tour, US/Germany
This posting focuses on one event, a tasting with the German Wine Society in Philadelphia, led by the German Wine Princess Sabine Wagner. For other postings concentrating on one event of the tour see below.
US East Coast Tour of German Wine Princess Sabine Wagner
Annette Schiller: This past week was a fabulous week for German wine. Many of you participated in one or several of the events with Sabine Wagner, the reigning German wine princess. Sent by the German Wine Institute as ambassador for German wine she was here to promote German wine. Ombiasy PR and WineTours organized tastings, wine pairing dinners, classes, and a BYOW party at our house. I think we all learned a lot from Sabine’s presentations on German wine in general, on the new classification for German wine, and on the rigorous knowledge competition throughout several years to become the National Ambassador for German wine. Sabine showed us wines from entry level to ultra-premium level, and from bone dry to sweet. It was a showcase of what serious German winemakers are capable of producing.
Invitation
Beth Sheligo Chapter Chairperson: Our next event will provide a unique, first experience for our chapter, when we will host a very special guest from Germany, the reigning National Wine Princess, Sabine Wagner. For those to whom this is a unique concept, a bit of background may be helpful. The first German Wine Queen was crowned in 1931. Since 1950, the Queen has been selected in a separate competition from among the regional wine queens elected in their respective regions. The Wine Queen Competition is arranged by the German Wine Institute, who is sponsoring Ms. Wagner's travel around the world. The election process consists of two rounds. In the first round, candidates face a rigorous oral examination with questions about viticulture and wine making technique, as well as wine labeling, packaging and marketing, from a panel of 80 judges. In addition, each candidate had to assist, in English, "a confused foreign tourist" visiting Germany's wine country. Only 6 candidates go through to the final round, where they demonstrate an ability to field questions on wine making spontaneously. At the conclusion of the competition, a Wine Queen and her two Princesses are chosen. During their one year term of office, the Wine Queen and Princesses advertise German wine at trade fairs, wine festivals and other events. A brief biography of Ms. Wagner follows:
Four years ago, at the age of 17, Sabine Wagner had already been crowned a wine princess in her home town of Hochheim/Rheingau, an event that also marked the beginning of her great passion for wine...a passion that has endured to this day. After two years as a wine princess, she was elected to be the region’s wine queen. Today, the optimistic young woman confidently explains that one does not necessarily have to grow up on a wine estate in order to represent the cultural tradition of the Rheingau, its wine, and its people with knowledge, charm, and dignity.
In the meantime, she is in the midst of her studies in international wine business at the renowned Hochschule Geisenheim University in the Rheingau and says that wine is her all, now and in the future. Her motto is basically "to make the impossible possible." Sabine's dream is to operate an international vinothek (sales and tasting shop).
Above all, her heart beats for Germany, a gem of a wine country. Its core comprises thirteen growing regions; its mantle, the country’s leading producers. Yet, its multifaceted crust – made up of many, many small wine estates – is what gives German wine country its brilliance and unique character. Sabine feels it will be an honor for her to make people aware of this as she works with the 65th German wine queen.
Ms. Wagner will briefly discuss the System of Wine Queens and Wine Princesses in Germany, Studying at a Wine University, and will present the following wines for our tasting (and yes, she will be wearing her crown!) We are truly honored to host an international goodwill ambassador for German wines in Ms. Wagner, and hope you will make her feel welcome at our chapter.
The tasting will be held at the award winning Caffe Aldo Lamberti in Cherry Hill, NJ. Recently honored by the Wine Spectator for their wine selection, our Chapter has enjoyed the wonderful service and outstanding food at this location for the past several years. For this event, a cold anti pasta and hot appetizers served family style will be included with the tasting. By popular request, the hot appetizers will feature some new items. Please plan to join us for this very special event.
The Wines
2012 St. Urbans-hof Old Vines Riesling (Mosel)
2012 Strub Soil to Soul Riesling (Rheinhessen)
2012 Spreitzer Oestricher Lenchen Riesling Kabinett (Rheingau)
2011 Gunderloch Jean Baptiste Riesling Kabinett (Rheinhessen)
2010 Koehler Ruprecht Kallstadter Steinacher Riesling Kabinett (Pfalz)
2009 Schloss Schoenborne Pfaffenberg Riesling Kabinett (Rheingau)
2012 Kruger Rumpf Munsterer Dautenpflanzer Riesling Spatlese (Nahe)
2011 Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Spatlese (Mosel)
Postings on schiller-wine about the US East Coast Tour of German Wine Princess Sabine Wagner
This posting is part of a series of postings covering the US East Coast tour of German Wine Princess Sabine Wagner.
German Wine Princess Sabine Wagner on US East Coast Tour, US/Germany
Wining and Dining with a Princess: German Wine Pairing Dinner with the German Wine Princess Sabine Wagner at Restaurant 2941 in Northern Virginia, US
German Wine Tastings with the German Wine Princess Sabine Wagner at the German Wine Society (Philadelphia Chapter), US
German Wine Tastings with the German Wine Princess Sabine Wagner at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), US
The German Wine Princess Sabine Wagner at MacArthur Beverages in Washington DC, US
Riesling Summer at the Schiller Residence in Washington DC, USA
A German Riesling Pairing Event at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia - A Royal Wine Visit from Princess Sabine Wagner, US
schiller-wine: Related Postings
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New Developments in German Wine - Annette Schiller at the German Wine Society in Philadelphia, USA
A Date with the German Wine Princess Sabine Wagner at Weinhaus Bluhm in Mainz, Germany
Summer of Riesling with Annette and Christian Schiller in Washington DC, USA
"Wurzelwerk" Goes America: 3 Vineyards, 3 Winemakers and 9 Wines
Weingut von Hoevel – The New Generation: Max von Kunow in Washington DC, US
The Annual “New German Vintage” Tasting of the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) led by Phil Bernstein - 2012 Vintage, Germany/USA