Christian Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, Franken, Germany back in the USA - Winemaker Dinner at the Schiller Residence in McLean, Northern Virginia

 

Pictures:  Christian Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, Franken, Germany back in the USA - Winemaker Dinner at the Schiller Residence in McLean, Northern Virginia

The USA lifted its 18-month covid travel ban on November 8th, 2021. We can expect to see again European winemakers in Washington DC. One of the first, if not the first, was star winemaker and chef Christian L. Stahl from Franken, Winemaker of the Year 2018 (FAS, Stuart Pigott). He was accompanied by Chef Mirko from his fine dining team. 

Christian and Mirko flew over to the USA on November 9th and spent 2 days in Washington DC before moving on to New York City and Chicago 

 

On very short notice, Annette Schiller and I managed to arrange a winemaker dinner with Christian L. Stahl and his bone dry wines from Franken at our home in McLean on Wednesday November 10th.   

As it turned out, the RSVPs we got was double the number of seats available for this evening. As a result, we will have a second dinner coming Wednesday, with same wines and the same menu, however without Christian Stahl. He will be sitting in the plane back to Germany on that evening. Hopefully, we can arrange a video call with him. 

Photos are from: Christian Schiller, Christian Stahl and Marlene RedDoor.

 

Invitation

Dear wine friends,

We would like to invite you to an evening of dining and wining on Wednesday, November 10^th in McLean, VA.

Our friend, winemaker Christian Stahl from the Franken wine region in Germany, can’t wait to visit the US. A day after the US lifts the travel ban next week, he will hop on the plane to Washington DC and New York City.

We can’t wait to get back to organizing wine tastings and wine dinners.

In view of the current Covid-19 situation we decided to host a winemaker dinner with Christian Stahl at our home. To make sure that everyone feels comfortable and safe our guests are required to provide proof of being fully vaccinated.

Christian belongs to the generation of young winemakers in Germany who clearly want to renounce wine folklore, who clearly want to work with grape varieties true to their region, who clearly want to produce only upper premium quality wines. All his wines are bone-dry and excellent food wines. Christian Stahl is Winemaker of the Year 2018 (FAS, Stuart Pigott). 

Some of you may already have met Christian Stahl at a previous winemaker dinner (at BToo or Evo Bistro) or at the recent Zoom tasting of the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter).

Chef Kenneth Hughes will prepare a four-course meal matching the taste profile of the wines. Chef Ken learned the art of cooking in California at the Culinary School where Wolfgang Puck was one of his mentors. Some of you will remember his excellent cuisine when he was Executive Chef at Open Kitchen in Falls Church. Today he works as private chef in the Northern Virginia area. We were very lucky to be able to hire him on short notice.

Cost of the wine dinner is $ 45 per person (cash or check)

Seats are limited very limited (max 16 guests). Reservations are first come first serve.

We are very much looking forward to seeing you at our home in McLean.

 

Cheers

Annette 

Wine Tours - Wine Events - Wine Education

Annette Schiller

USA: +1 703 459 7513

DE: +49 -177 337 0281 

 

Chef Ken

 

Chef Kenneth Hughes prepared a four-course meal matching the taste profile of the wines. Chef Ken learned the art of cooking in California at the Culinary School where Wolfgang Puck was one of his mentors. Some of you will remember his excellent cuisine when he was Executive Chef at Open Kitchen in Falls Church. Today he works as private chef in the Northern Virginia area. We were very lucky to be able to hire him on short notice.

 

 

Picture: Christian Schiller and Chef Ken. See: A German Riesling Dinner at Open Kitchen in Washington DC, USA

 

Christian Stahl in Washington DC

 

Christian spent 2 days in Washington DC, including tastings at Cleveland Park Wine and Spirits and the Eastern, before travelling to New York City and Chicago.

 

 

 

Pictures: Christian Stahl Pouring and Sightseeing in Washington DC

 

Chef Ken with Chef Christian and Chef Mirko

 

Christian is not only a winemaker, but he is also actively involved in a gourmet restaurant at his winery that is open during the weekend. "I am a winemaker from Monday to Thursday and I am a chef from Friday to Saturday". Chef Mirko, who came with him to the USA this time, is the other half of the Winzerhof Stahl fine dining team.

Chef Ken of course was in the lead in the kitchen but when Christian and Mirko arrived, they helped quite a bit.

Pictures: Chef Ken, Chef Christian and Chef Mirko

Reception

 

The guests arrived a 7pm and were let in after Annette had checked their CDC card. All had been double vaccinated and almost all had been triple vaccinated.

Pictures: Reception with Stahl Spark

 

The Dinner

 

It was a very lively dinner. The food was excellent and paired very well with the wines of Christian Stahl. Towards the end, Chef Ken joined us as did the importer of the wines of Christian Stahl, Christopher Barta (Christopher Douglas Selection).

 

 

 

 

 

Pictures: The Dinner

The Food and the Wines

 

Chef Kenneth Hughes prepared a four-course meal matching the taste profile of the wines.

First

 

Artichokes, Autumn Mushrooms, Leeks

Silvaner 2020, Winzerhof Stahl (US$21.99)

Best of Silvaner 2020, Winzerhof Stahl (US$35.99)

 

Second

From the Sea: Crispy Seared Sea Scallops, Safron Risotto, Roasted Red Pepper

Pinot Blanc 2020, Winzerhof Stahl (US$21.99)

Müller-Thurgau Hasennest, 2020, Winzerhof Stahl (US$23.99) 

 

Third

From the Farm: Oven Roasted Orgnaic Boneless Chicken Short Leg, Parsnip, Brussel Spouts, Ocal Onions, Greens

Scheurebe 2020, Winzerhof Stahl (21.99)

Best of Sauvignon-Blanc 2020, Winzerhof Stahl (US$35.99)

Fourth

Apple Strudel, Bourbon Vanilla Sauce

Sparkling, White 2020, Winzerhof Stahl (US$20.99)

Bye-bye

 

Thanks Christian, Mirko and Ken for an outstanding evening.

Pictures: Bye-bye

Christian L. Stahl in the US

Christian has been coming to the US since 2016. His first tasting in the US in January 2016 at Cleveland Park Fine Wines and Liquor Store. See: Welcome to the USA: Christian L. Stahl from Winzerhof Stahl in Franken, Germany

Pictures: Christian L. and Simone Stahl at Cleveland Park Fine Wines and Liquor Store in Washington DC, with Importer Chris Bartha, General Manager Anthony Quinn and Christian Schiller.

Later in the year, when Christian came for the second time, he was our guest of honor at our Riesling Party 2016, where he presented his wines. See: Annette and Christian Schiller’s Summer of Riesling 2016 in McLean, Virginia, with German Star Winemaker Christian L. Stahl, German Wine Journalist Joachim A.J. Kaiser and Virginia Star Winemaker Chris Pearmund

Pictures: Christian Stahl at Annette and Christian Schiller’s Summer of Riesling 2016 in McLean, Virginia

In January 2017 Annette organized a winemaker dinner with him at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia. See: Franken Wines, Virginia Oysters and French-Mediterranian Food: Winemaker Dinner with Christian L. Stahl from Winzerhof Stahl, Germany, and Chef Driss Zahidi at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia

Picture: Winemaker Dinner with Christian L. Stahl at Evo Bistro in McLean, VA

Before the dinner, Annette and Christian Schiller, had invited to a reception with Christian L. Stahl had their private home. We had Rappahanock oysters from Virginia and Stahl wine. They paired very well. See: Franken Wines, Virginia Oysters and French-Mediterranian Food: Winemaker Dinner with Christian L. Stahl from Winzerhof Stahl, Germany, and Chef Driss Zahidi at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia

Pictures: Oysters and Stahl Wines

Later in the year, we visited Christian L. Stahl at the Winzerhof Stahl in Franken and experienced first hand that Christian is not only a gifted winemaker but also a Highly talented chef. Those who came on the Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017 will definitely remember the out-of-this-world lunch Christian cooked for us at Winzerhof Stahl. See: Lunch with Christian L. Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, Franken: Not only a Gifted Winemaker but also a Gifted Chef - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Pictures: Lunch at Winzerhof Stahl, with Chef Christian L. Stahl. See: Lunch with Christian L. Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, Franken: Not only a Gifted Winemaker but also a Gifted Chef - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy

I had met Christian some time ago in Germany at the top Restaurant SchauMahl in Frankfurt/ Germany, were he came for a winemaker dinner.

Pictures: Christian Schiller and Annette Schiller with Christian Stahl in Frankfurt. See: The Bistronomics Cuisine of Chef Christoph Kubenz and the Wines of Winemaker Christian Stahl at Restaurant schauMahl in Frankfurt, Germany

 

 

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller’s Summer of Riesling 2016 in McLean, Virginia, with German Star Winemaker Christian L. Stahl, German Wine Journalist Joachim A.J. Kaiser and Virginia Star Winemaker Chris Pearmund

schiller-wine - Related Postings

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

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

Wine Harvest 2021 in Germany (Derek Vinnicombe)

Welcome to the USA: Christian L. Stahl from Winzerhof Stahl in Franken, Germany

Annette and Christian Schiller’s Summer of Riesling 2016 in McLean, Virginia, with German Star Winemaker Christian L. Stahl, German Wine Journalist Joachim A.J. Kaiser and Virginia Star Winemaker Chris Pearmund

The Bistronomics Cuisine of Chef Christoph Kubenz and the Wines of Winemaker Christian Stahl at Restaurant schauMahl in Frankfurt, Germany  

Franken Wines, Virginia Oysters and French-Mediterranian Food: Winemaker Dinner with Christian L. Stahl from Winzerhof Stahl, Germany, and Chef Driss Zahidi at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia

 

Lunch with Christian L. Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, Franken: Not only a Gifted Winemaker but also a Gifted Chef - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours 

 

A German Riesling Dinner at Open Kitchen in Washington DC, USA