Schiller's List of Twitter Handles of German Wine Makers

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller with Mark Barth, Weingut Barth, in Wiesbaden, Germany. Mark uses twitter frequently.For more on Weingut Barth: Barth Primus is Germany’s First Sekt Made with an Erstes Gewaechs Wine

This is work in progress - my personal list of twitter handles of German winemakers. It does not aim to be comprehensive but is being put togather with the objective of being useful to me.

Interestingly, in Virginia, all winemakers have a twitter account and the twitter channel is actively used by basically all winemakers. In Germany, it appears, twitter is currently almost completely absent, at least for now.

St. Antony @stantonywinery
Weingut Barth @Barth_Sekt (Mark Barth)
Deutzerhof @deutzerhof (inactive)
Weingut Diefenhardt @seyffardt (mainly as member of parlament in Hessen) 
Johner @johner @johnerDE
Lukas Krauss @lambsheim (protected account)
Dr. Loosen @drloosenwines (US centered)
Balthasar Ress @BalthasarRess (Christian Ress)
Kai Schaetzel @schaetzel (inactive)
Staffelter Hof (Mosel) @moselriesling (Jan Matthias Klein)
Thoerle @thoerle (inactive)
Schloss Vollrads @schlossvollrads
Van Volxem @vanvolxem (zero tweets)

Wuertz/Weinmann @Wuertz (also blogger)

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Barth Primus is Germany’s First Sekt Made with an Erstes Gewaechs Wine

The 2010 European Wine Bloggers Conference (EWBC) in Vienna

#Winechat at Capital Grille in Washington DC with Fellow Wine Bloggers and Virginia Wine Producers, USA

Germany's Wine Makers and twitter

Wine and Web 2.0 in Germany 

Wine Tasting: Twitter Wine Tasting 

Twitter Wine Tastings - Different Models

Austria’s Best Wines and Winemakers - Falstaff WeinGuide 2012

Pictures: Christian G.E. Schiller with Gerhard Wohlmuth sen. in Freising (above) and Gerhard Wohlmuth jun. in Washington DC (below) - Weingut Wohlmuth was promoted to 4 stars. For more on Weingut Wohlmuth see:

Visit: Gerhard Wohlmuth sen. and his Weingut Wohlmuth in Austria

Dinner with Wine Maker Gerhard Wohlmuth sen., his Wines and the Food of Steierland’s Chef Ruth Stelzer, Austria

Meeting Gerhard Wohlmuth jun. from Weingut Wohlmuth, Austria, and Tasting his Wines in Washington DC

Meeting a Wine Maker and an Art Lover: Gerhard Wohlmuth sen., Weingut Wohlmuth, Austria

The Falstaff WeinGuide Oesterreich/Suedtirol (Austria) 2012 was released earlier this year. For rating winemakers, Falstaff uses a 1 to 5 stars scale.

See also:

Austria’s Best Wines and Winemakers - Falstaff WeinGuide 2010 

Austria’s Best Wines and Winemakers - Falstaff WeinGuide 2011

Wine Producer Austria

Austria has about 50.000 hectares of vineyard, equivalent to about half of Germany’s total vineyard area and one fifth of France’s vineyard area. In terms of world output, Austria’s vineyard area accounts for 0.7 % of the total. Almost all of it in the east of the country. “In the west we ski, in the east we make wine”, says Willi Klinger, head of Austrian Marketing Board. About 70 % of the production is white wine and 30% red wine. About 75 percent of Austria’s production is consumed in Austria and 25 percent is exported.

Picture: Austria's Wine Regions

Austrian wine culture is ancient; people have been producing wine in Austria for 4000 years. But everything changed in 1985, when Austria was rocked by the “antifreeze wine scandal”. Some vintners were caught illicitly sweetening their products with glycol. As a result, the market for Austrian wine, especially the semi-sweet styles then in favor, evaporated overnight. Yet the scandal initiated a revolution that has propelled Austrian wines on to the world stage. It led to a broad rethink, with an emphasis on higher-quality production and innovation that soon became noticed. Young winemakers, drawn by the new emphasis on quality over quantity, brought cutting-edge techniques and farsightedness to vineyards and cellars, revolutionizing both.

Austria’s Top Winemakers

When visiting Austria, you will find a huge number of top wine makers, and that not only in the top wine regions, but throughout Austria. Here is the current crème de la crème, according to the Fallstaff 2012 WeinGuide. The list is unchanged from last year.

5 Star Winemakers

Weingut Bründlmayer Langenlois, Kamptal
Weingut Gesellmann Deutschkreutz, Mittelburgenland
Weingut Gernot und Heike Heinrich Gols, Neusiedlersee
Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Spitz/Donau, Wachau
Weingut Knoll Unterloiben, Wachau
Weingut Kollwentz Großhöflein, Neusiedlersee-Hügelland
Weinlaubenhof Kracher Illmitz, Neusiedlersee
Weingut F. X. Pichler Oberloiben, Wachau
Weingut Pöckl Mönchhof, Neusiedlersee
Weingut Prager Weißenkirchen, Wachau
Weingut Tement Berghausen, Südsteiermark

Promotions

Promotions to 4 Stars

Weingut Karl Alphart Traiskirchen, Thermenregion
Weingut Ludwig Hiedler Langenlois, Kamptal
Weingut Markus Huber Reichersdorf, Traisental
Weingut Franz Leth Feuersbrunn, Wagram
Weingut Gerhard Wohlmuth Fresing, Südsteiermark
Weingut Zull Schrattenthal, Weinviertel

Promotions to 3 Stars

A total of 21 winemakers.

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Visit: Gerhard Wohlmuth sen. and his Weingut Wohlmuth in Austria

Dinner with Wine Maker Gerhard Wohlmuth sen., his Wines and the Food of Steierland’s Chef Ruth Stelzer, Austria

Meeting Gerhard Wohlmuth jun. from Weingut Wohlmuth, Austria, and Tasting his Wines in Washington DC

Meeting a Wine Maker and an Art Lover: Gerhard Wohlmuth sen., Weingut Wohlmuth, Austria

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars and Other Wine Spots in Vienna, Austria

Welcome to America: Franz and Christine Netzl Estate, Carnuntum, Austria

Producing Wines in Austria and Hungary - Franz and Franz Reinhard Weninger

With the WienWein Winemakers in Vienna in the Heurigen Drinking Gemischter Satz Wine

Tasting Leo Hillinger Red Wines with Leo Hillinger’s Assistant Winemaker Michael Hoeffken and US Importer Klaus Wittauer

Visiting Leo Hillinger, Michael Hoeffken and Edgar Brutler at the Leo Hillinger Winery in Jois, Austria

Wine Producer Austria - Not Only Gruener Veltliner

Austria’s Best Wines and Winemakers - Falstaff WeinGuide 2011

At the Forefront of Biodynamic Winemaking: Visiting Werner and Angela Michlits and their Weingut Meinklang in Austria

Visiting Christine, Christina and Franz Netzl in their Weingut Netzl in Carnuntum, Austria

Austria’s Best Wines and Winemakers - Falstaff WeinGuide 2010 

Austria’s Best Wines and Winemakers - Falstaff WeinGuide 2011

Frankfurt Top Trendy Restaurants – Feinschmecker 2012, Germany

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller with Co-owner Matthias Scheiber at Weinsinn

At the occasion of the Frankfurt Book Fair in October, the German Gourmet Journal “Feinschmecker” issued a list of recommendations of “Szenelokale” – trendy restaurants – in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

The Feinschmecker rates on a scale of 1 to 5 F. In its Restaurant Guide Deutschland 2012, the Francais, Frankfurter Hof, is the leading restaurant with 4 F, followed by Erno's Bistro, Westend, with 3 1/2 F. I think the best restaurant in Frankfurt is currently Villa Merton, Bockenheim (2 F). One should also watch the brand new Lafleur in the Palmengarten and Mario Lohninger's restaurant Lohninger in Sachsenhausen as well as his Holbein in Sachsenhausen.

Here is the list. All restaurants are in the 1 to 2 F range.

1 ½ F Caracol, Sachsenhausen
1 ½ F Chez Ima (Hotel 25Hours by Levi’s), Bahnhofsviertel
1 ½ F Herr Franz, Westend
1 ½ F MeinNizza, Innenstadt
2 F Roomers (Hotel Roomers), Gutleutviertel
2 F The Ivory Club, Westend
1 ½ VaiVai, Westend
1 F Walden, Innenstadt
1 ½ Weinsinn, Westend (see: Lunch and Beaujolais at Weinsinn in Frankfurt am Main, Germany)
2 F Zenzakan, Westend

Schiller’s Favorite Apple Wine Taverns in Frankfurt am Main

I grew up with apple wine in Frankfurt. Although there are 3 beer breweries in Frankfurt and the world renowned Rheingau and Rheinhessen wine regions just 30 minutes away from Frankfurt by S-Bahn or car, I would say that Frankfurt am Main is a city of cider.

Frankfurt has a large number of traditional apple wine taverns, where you sit on communal benches, eat hearty local food and drink sour and tart German apple wine. Typically, there is only one apple wine – the house apple wine – available, in some cases made on the premise.

See: Schiller's Favorite Apple Wine Taverns in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Taverns in Mainz

Not more than 30 minutes away from Frankfurt by S-Bahn on the Rhein River in the wine region Rheinhessen is Mainz, which is - along with Bilbao in Spain, Bordeaux in France, Cape Town in South Africa, Christchurch in New Zealand, Firenza in Italy, Mendoza in Argentina, Porto in Portugal and San Francisco in the US - one of the 9 wine capitals in the world.

But there is not a single wine bar in Mainz, as I know them from London, New York City, Berlin or Washington DC. However, there are a large number of cozy wine taverns in Mainz, a bit like the apple wine taverns in Frankfurt. Typically, wine taverns do not have an elaborated list of wines, nor do they serve fancy and sophisticated food. They serve good, local wines, at very reasonable prices, typically from a handful of local winemakers and good, hearty, regional food. My favorite is “Spundekaes mit Bretzeln”. You share the table with others.

See: Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars and Other Places where you can have Wine in Mainz, Germany

schiller-wine - Related Postings

The Premium Apple Wines of Andreas Schneider - Obsthof am Steinberg - in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Wine in Frankfurt am Main? - Weingut der Stadt Frankfurt, Germany

In the Glass: Gluehwein at Frankfurt am Main Christmas Market

Wine Bar: Paris Bar and Cafe in Frankfurt am Main

The Premium Apple Wines of Andreas Schneider - Obsthof am Steinberg - in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Schiller's Favorite Apple Wine Taverns in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Lunch and Beaujolais at Weinsinn in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars and Other Places where you can have Wine in Mainz, Germany

Meeting Michael Fleischer - Fleischer und Weingut der Stadt Mainz, Germany

Weinfest im Kirchenstueck: Meeting the Winemakers of Mainz-Hechtsheim and Tasting Their Wines, Germany

Wine in Mainz on Saturday Morning: Marktfruehstueck – Farmer's Market Breakfast, Germany

Weinhaus Bluhm in Mainz: A Cosy and Basic Wine Tavern Serving World Class Wines from Germany

Winemaker Eva Vollmer is Germany’s Discovery of the Year 2010

German Riesling and International Grape Varieties – Top Wine Makers Wilhelm Weil and Markus Schneider at Kai Buhrfeindt’s Grand Cru in Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Bordeaux Trip September 2012, France

 

Picture: Christian G.E. and Annette Schiller with Henri Lurton, owner of Château Brane-Cantenac, Margaux, 2ième grand cru classé

Led by Annette Schiller, OmbiasyPR, I went with 30 other wine aficionados to the Bordeaux region from September 2 to 10, 2012. This first posting provides an overview of the tour. Detailed postings focussing on specific events will be released in the months to come.

In preparation of the tour, Annette and I did the same trip six months earlier. See here: Tour de France de Vin: 6 Days, 7 Regions, 3500 km - In 6 Days through 7 Wine Regions of France

Sunday, September 2

Departure from Hochheim (near Frankfurt am Main, Germany) in the early morning

Lunch and Champagne Tasting in Ambonnay, Champagne, at Restaurant Auberge St-Vincent

Guided Tour in Orléans

Dinner at Restaurant Le Brin de Zinc in Orléans

Monday, September 3

Lunch in Cognac

Visit of and Tasting at Hennessy

Visit of and Tasting at Château Bel-Air La Royère, Côte de Blaye, with owner/winemaker Corinne Loriaud

Crossing of the Gironde by Ferry Boat

Dinner and Wine Tasting at Restaurant Le Vignoble in Pauillac with Cédric Duval, Maître d’hôtel

Tuesday, September 4

Visit of and Tasting at Château Léoville Poyferré, St.Julien, 2ième grand cru classé, with owner Didier Cuvelier and Maitre de Chai Didier Thomann

Lunch and Tasting at Château Léoville Poyferré with Didier Cuvelier

Visit of and Tasting at Château Brane-Cantenac, Margaux, 2ième grand cru classé, with owner Henri Lurton

Visit of and Tasting at Château Lafon-Rochet, Saint-Estèphe, 4ième grand cru classé, with owner Michel Tesseron

Visit of and Tasting and Dinner at Château Le Reysse, Begedan, Bas Medoc, with owner/winemaker Stefan Paeffgen

Wednesday, September 5

Visit of and Tasting at Château Margaux, Margaux, 1ière grand cru classé

Visit of and Tasting and Lunch at Millésima (Negociant) in Bordeaux City

Visit of and Tasting at Château Pape-Clément, Graves, Appellation Pessac-Léognan, 2ième grand cru classé with winemaker Arnaud Lasisz

Dinner at Restaurant/Wine Bar L’Envers du Décor in St. Emilion

Thursday, September 6

Visit of and Tasting at Château Canon La Gaffelière, Saint-Emilion, premièr grand cru classé, with owner Count Stefan von Neipperg.

Visit of and Tasting at Château Beauséjour, Appellation Puisseguin Saint-Emilion, with owner and winemaker Gérard Dupuy

Lunch and Wine Tasting at Château Beauséjour, Appellation Puisseguin Saint-Emilion, with owner and winemaker Gérard Dupuy

Visit of and Tasting at Château de Figeac, Saint-Emilion, premièr grand cru  classé

Visit of and Tasting at Château Tertre-Rôteboeuf, Saint-Emilion with owner/winemaker Francois Mitjaville

Guided Tour of Saint-Emilion

Dinner at Restaurant Le Bouchon in Saint-Emilion

Friday, September 7

Lunch in Riom in the Auvergne

Dinner at Hostellerie du Château de la Barge in Creches sur Saone, Bourgogne

Saturday September 8

Visit of and Tasting at Château Corton-André in Aloxe-Corton, Bourgogne

Lunch at Restaurant Le Pommard in Pommard with the wines of Domaines Bernard Delagrange et Fils

Dinner at A l’Ami Fritz in Ottrott in Alsace

Midnight: Arrival in Hochheim

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Christian G.E. Schiller Leads Tasting of US-American Wines in Hochheim, Germany

Tasting with Alfred Tesseron the last 10 Vintages of Château Pontet-Canet in Washington DC, USA/France

Château Figeac, Saint-Émilion - A Profile, France

A Glass of Bordeaux – What Else? – With Wine Journalist Panos Kakaviatos

The Wines from Entre Deux Mers Winemaker Joel Duffau

Emerging Wine Country: China's Wine Boom Since 2000

Bordeaux Wines and their Classifications: The Basics

In the Wine Capital of the World: the City of Bordeaux, France

Vin Bio de Bordeaux - At Château Beauséjour in AOC Puisseguin-St.Emilion, France

Malbec World Day 2012 - Malbec in Bordeaux, France

Château Brane-Cantenac, Deuxieme Grand Cru Classe en 1855, Margaux – A Profile, France

Henri Lurton and his Chateau Brane Cantenac Wines

The Emerging Wine Giant China - Mouton Cadet Bar Opening

The Label of 2007 Chateau Mouton Rothschild designed by Bernar Venet

(German) Winemakers in the World: The German Roots of Baron Philippe de Rothschild

Tour de France de Vin: 6 Days, 7 Regions, 3500 km - In 6 Days through 7 Wine Regions of France

The 5 Premiers Grands Crus Chateaux en 1855 of Bordeaux, France

Tasting the Wines of Chateau Lafon-Rochet, Saint-Estèphe, 4ème Cru Classé en 1855, with Owner Basil Tesseron at the French Embassy in Washington DC, USA/France