Monday, October 18, 2021

The German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) Presented: 2019 German Vintage Tasting with Phil Bernstein of MacArthur Beverages, Washington DC, USA

Picture:  The German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) Presented: 2019 German Vintage Tasting with Phil Bernstein of MacArthur Beverages, Washington DC, USA

The annual “New German Vintage Tasting" of the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) is always a highlight for the German wine aficionados in the Washington DC area. 

This year, because of covid, this was the second  "New German Vintage Tasting". It covered the 2019 vintage. The 2018 vintage was reviewed a few months ago, after the event had been shifted from 2020 to 2021 due to covid. 

In earlier years, the “New German Vintage Tasting" was led by Terry Theise, the famous importer of German wines. In recent years, since Terry moved from the Washington DC area to the Boston arera, Phil Bernstein has led the tasting. He is very entertaining and knowledgeable about German wine. In addition to being the General Manager, he is in charge of German wines at MacArthur Beverages, one of the best German wine retailers in the country.

This year again, we had a full house, with 55 people having signed up and paid US56/ US$66 (members/ non-members) for the tasting. Thank you very much Phil for a great event.

In terms of covid rules, we were very strict. Only vaccinated people were allowed to participate and everybody had to show his or her CDC card before entering the venue. 








Pictures:  The German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) Presented: 2019 German Vintage Tasting with Phil Bernstein of MacArthur Beverages, Washington DC, USA

Invitation

Every year we host a tasting to try German wines from the new vintage, with a focus on Riesling. Our host is Phil Bernstein, General Manager of MacArthur Beverages, one of the leading retailers of German Riesling in the country. Every year, Phil brings fabulous wines for us to try and this year will definitely be no exception.

The new vintage is 2019 which has been described as the the best vintage in Germany in 40 years, exceptional, potentially a 100 point vintage.   If you came to our New Vintage Plus tasting of Germany’s 2018 wines on September 17, this is your chance to compare these two great years.   If you were not at the previous tasting, this is your last chance to attend a New Vintage event this year, and order some of your favorites through Phil.  

Flight 1: A Pair from Clemens Busch

2019 Clemens Busch Riesling Trocken Mosel (WA 90)

2019 Clemens Busch Riesling Vom Roten Schiefer Mosel (WA 93)

Flight 2:  A Shootout of Hotshots

2019 Lauer Riesling Fass 9 Kern Grosse Lage Mosel

2019 AJ Adam Dhron Hofberg Kabinett

Flight 3:  Opening the Kabinett

2019 Dr. Wagner Ockfener Bockstein Kabinett Mosel

2019 Karl Erbes Ürziger Würzgarten Kabinett Mosel (WA 92)

Flight 4: Delicious Vollenweider Spätlese

2019 Vollenweider Krover Steffensberg Spätlese Mosel

2019 Vollenweider Wolfer Goldgrube Spätlese Mosel

Flight 5: An Auslese - Spätlese Grand Finale

2019 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Spätlese #5 Mosel (WA 95)

2019 JJ Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese Mosel

Most of these wines will still be available for purchase from MacArthur Beverages through Phil Bernstein.

Our wines will be accompanied by a tasty buffet of cheeses, breads, grapes, cold cuts and veggies.




Pictures: The German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) Presented: 2019 German Vintage Tasting with Phil Bernstein of MacArthur Beverages, Washington DC, USA

German Wine and the Washington DC Market

The tasting was very well appreciated by the participants of the event. There was no red wine, only white, while red wine now accounts for 1/3 of German wine production. All the wines were Riesling. 8 of the 10 bottles were fruity-sweet. There was no GG, the ultra-premium dry grand cru wine. All wines were from the Mosel.  

The selection of Phil met very well with what the large majority of the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) members had expected to be presented at the "New Vintage Tasting" event: Fruity-sweet Riesling from the Mosel, moving up the sweetness level from Kabinett to Spätlese and finally Auslese. 

Thank you very much Phil.

German Wine and ombiasy WineTours of Annette Schiller
 
On her wine tours, Annette covers all 13 German wine regions. The Mosel is part of the Germany North Tour, along with the Rheingau, Mittelrhein, Nahe and the Ahr region. We have visited Weingut Clemens Busch, Weingut Lauer and Weingut JJ Prüm. We have met Christoph Schäfer, the owner of Weingut Willi Schäfer as well as Daniel Vollenweider of Weingut Vollenweider in New York.

Weingut Clemens Busch

 
Picture: Annette Schiller, Christian Schiller and Clemens Busch at Panda Gourmet, Washington DC. See: Wine-pairing Dinner with Clemens Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch, Mosel, at Panda Gourmet in Washington DC, USA

 
Picture: In the Pündericher Marienburg Vineyard with Rita Busch. See: Tasting with Rita Busch at Weingut Clemens Busch in the Mosel Valley, Germany (2014) 
 
Weingut Peter Lauer
 
 
 
Pictures: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Peter Lauer in Ayl, Upper Mosel, Saar Valley, with Katharina Lauer and Peter Lauer - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
 
 Weingut Vollenweider

 
Picture: Annette Schiller and Daniel Vollenweider of Weingut Vollenweider in New York. See: The Annual "Slaughterhouse" Riesling Feast in New York: Rieslingfeier 2017, USA
 
Weingut J.J. Prüm
 
 
Pictures: Tasting at Weingut Jos. Jos. Prüm in Bernkastel-Wehlen, Mosel, with Amei Prüm - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling
 
Weingut Willi Schäfer

 
Pictures: Christian Schiller, Christoph Schaefer and Annette Schiller. See: Rieslingfeier 2018 in New York City: Gränd Tasting and Gala Dinner  

Previous Years' “New German Vintage” Tastings of the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter)

For previous years, see: 

The German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) Presented: 2019 German Vintage Tasting with Phil Bernstein of MacArthur Beverages, Washington DC, USA

The German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) Presented: 2017 German Vintage Tasting with Phil Bernstein of MacArthur Beverages, Washington DC, USA

The German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) Presented: 2016 German Vintage Tasting with Phil Bernstein of MacArthur Beverages, Washington DC, USA

The German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) Presented: 2015 German Vintage Tasting with Phil Bernstein, USA

Phil Bernstein of MacArthur Beverages Presents the new Vintage (2014) to the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), USA/ Germany

German Riesling - What the American Market Wants: Vintage 2013 Tasting with German Wine Expert Phil Bernstein, MacArthur Beverages, Washington DC

The Annual “New German Vintage” Tasting of the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) led by Phil Bernstein - 2012 Vintage, Germany/USA

German Wine: Tasting with Phil Bernstein of MacArthur Beverages the 2011 Vintage in Washington DC, USA

The 2010 Vintage Tasting of the German Wine Society (Aaron Nix-Gomez)

Phil Bernstein’s Third Annual German Riesling Tasting with the German Wine Society, Washington DC Chapter - Rieslings With a Touch of Sweetness

When Americans Drink German Wine - What They Choose

schiller-wine - Related Postings

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

German Wine Basics: Sugar in the Grape - Alcohol and Sweetness in the Wine

Wine-pairing Dinner with Clemens Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch, Mosel, at Panda Gourmet in Washington DC, USA

Tasting with Rita Busch at Weingut Clemens Busch in the Mosel Valley, Germany (2014)  

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Peter Lauer in Ayl, Upper Mosel, Saar Valley, with Katharina Lauer and Peter Lauer - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Tasting at Weingut Jos. Jos. Prüm in Bernkastel-Wehlen, Mosel, with Amei Prüm - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

Rieslingfeier 2018 in New York City: Gränd Tasting and Gala Dinner  

The Annual "Slaughterhouse" Riesling Feast in New York: Rieslingfeier 2017, USA 

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