The German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) Presented: 2020 German Vintage Tasting with Phil Bernstein of MacArthur Beverages, Washington DC, USA

Pictures: The German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) Presented: 2020 German Vintage Tasting with Phil Bernstein of MacArthur Beverages, Washington DC, USA

On Friday, May 20, 2022, the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) met for its first in-person event of the year (the two previous events were online), our annual New Vintage tasting hosted by Phil Bernstein of MacArthur Beverages. Annette Schiller of ombiasy WineTours was in charge of the food. 

 

 

Pictures: The German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) Presented: 2020 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, we were enjoying the wines of 2020, after having done both 2018 and 2019 in the fall of last year when our Society resumed in-person events.

 

The event was very enjoyable, and Phil delivered an informative lecture as always, well paced with enough time for wine drinking and conversation between the segments of his presentation. The discussion was conducted with explanations of the German wine terminology, quite helpful for our newer members and non-members, and there was ample opportunity for questions. All the wines served were Rieslings, and nearly all from the Mosel, with two from the Nahe region.

 

Pictures: The German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) Presented: 2020 German Vintage Tasting with Phil Bernstein of MacArthur Beverages, Washington DC, USA

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 good turn-out. 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: 2020 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 2020.  Last year we tasted the wines of 2018 and 2019, so this event brings us up to date.  Early reports describe the 2020 wines as: beautiful, elegant, classic. John Gilman writes that some of the 2020s are the best young German Rieslings he has ever tasted.  We will be enjoying 10 German wines from 2020 plus a welcoming sparkling wine, with a variety of Feinherb, GG, Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese.  As those who have attended previous New Vintage events are aware, Phil always chooses a good mix of high-quality producers for us, with both dry wines and sweet wines of various prädikat levels.  There will also be a selection of cheeses, breads or crackers, cold cuts and veggies provided to accompany the tasting. 

 

The Wines

 

First Flight:  Fine Feinherbs

Weiser-Kunstler Riesling Feinherb Mosel

Peter Lauer Barrel X Riesling Feinherb Mosel (Saar)

 

Second Flight:  Glorious GGs from Emrich-Schonleber

Emrich-Schonleber Fruhlingsplatzchen Riesling GG Nahe (96 WA)

Emrich-Schonleber Halenberg Riesling GG Nahe (96 WA)

 

Third Flight:  A Kabinett Duo

Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich (or Domprobst) Riesling Kabinett Mosel (93 WA, 94 JS)

Carl von Schubert Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg Riesling Mosel

 

Fourth Flight:  A Pair from Prüm

JJ Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett Mosel

JJ Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett Spätlese

 

Fifth Flight:  Auslese Grand Finale

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr “Rotlay” Riesling Auslese Mosel (98 JS)

Weiser-Kunstler Enkircher Ellergrub Riesling Auslese Mosel (375 ml) 

 

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. Except for 2 wines, all wines were fruity-sweet and 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.

 

 

Pictures: The German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) Presented: 2020 German Vintage Tasting with Phil Bernstein of MacArthur Beverages, Washington DC, USA 

 

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 Lauer, Weingut Emrich-Schönleber, Weingut Von Schubert, Weingut JJ Prüm and Weingut Seelbach Oster. We have met Konstantin Weiser and Alexandra Künstler, owners of Weingut Weiser Künstler, and Christoph Schäfer, owner of Weingut Willi Schäfer, in New York.

Weingut Weiser-Künstler

 

Pictures: Christian Schiller in McLean, Virginia,  Konstantin Weiser and Alexandra Künstler in New York City and Christian Schiller, Stephen Bitterolf, Annette Schiller in New York City. See: A German Riesling Feast in New York City: Rieslingfeier 2016, USA and see: Weingut Weiser-Künstler, Mosel, Zoom Master Class by Stephen Bitterolf, Vom Boden, USA/ Germany

 

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 Emrich-Schönleber

 

Picture: Christian Schiller and Werner Schönleber, Weingut Emrich-Schönleber at the 2013 Riesling Gala at Kloster Eberbach, Germany

 

Pictures: At Weingut Emrich-Schönleber See: Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir

 

Weingut Willi Schäfer

 

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

 

Weingut Maximin Grünhaus Carl von Schubert

 

Picture: Annette Schiller and Carl von Schubert, Maximin Grünhaus, in New York City

 

Picture: Christian Schiller and Carl von Schubert at McArthur Beverages in Washington DC

 

Pictures: In the Cellar. See: Cellar Visit, Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Weingut Maximin Grünhaus in Mertersdorf, Ruwer, with Owner Dr. Carl von Schubert – Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Weingut J.J. Prüm/ Mosel

Picture: Annette Schiller and Manfred Prüm

Picture: Christian Schiller with Katharina Pruem at Wegmans in Virginia. See also: JJ Pruem Goes Supermarket: Meeting Katharina Pruem and Tasting the Incredible JJ Pruem Wines at Wegmans

Pictures: Tasting at the Legendary Weingut J.J. Prüm with Amei Prüm – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016

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

 

Weingut Selbach-Oster

 

Picture: Wine Tasting at Weingut Selbach-Oster in Zeltingen, Mosel, with Johannes Selbach. See: Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Selbach-Oster in Zeltingen, Mosel, with Johannes Selbach – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

 

Pictures: Annette Schiller and Johannes Selbach at 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

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