Lunch and Impromptu Wine Tasting of the Wines of Weingut Madame Flöck, with Weingut Madame Flöck Owner/ Winemaker Robert Wade, Verbene Bistro Chef Tim Johnston, Restaurant Verbene Michelin starred Chef/ Owner David Weigang and Partner Verena Schimmel - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours took place from August 28 – Friday, September 06, 2024. We spent 10 days visiting top wine estates in five wine regions, tasting fabulous Rieslings and Pinot Noir (aka Spätburgunder), meeting world-renowned wine makers, travelling through the world’smost beautiful wine regions, cruising on the romantic Rhein river, looking at dizzying steep vineyards along the Rhein and Mosel rivers, and delving deep into German history and culture: Rheinhessen • Rheingau • Mittelrhein • Mosel • Nahe

In Koblenz, following:

Tour of the Fortress Ehrenbreitstein in Koblenz, the Largest Historical Fortress in Europe after Gibraltar - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

we had lunch at Verbene Bistro, which is the sister restaurant of the Michelin-starred Restaurant Verbene in Koblenz. Our waiter was Robert Wade, who, as we soon found out, was American and also the co-owner of and winemaker at Weingut Madame Flöck, a small non-mainstream winery in Winningen, Mosel, which I had heard of but never tasted the wines. Waiter was a side job of Robert, to improve his German, he said. Of course, the wine choice was easy: We picked 2 Weingut Madame Flöck wines and enjoyed an impromptu tasting with owner/ winemaker Robert Wade.

We had an excellent 3-course menu prepared by Chef Tim Johnston, who, as we found out a couple of days later at Weingut Clemenz Busch, was the partner of Oda Borchert, our charming host there. 

Finally, we also had a chance to exchange a few words with Michelin starred Restaurant Verbene Chef/ Owner David Weigang and Partner Verena Schimmel. 

Who the Flock? 

Weingut Madame Flöck: Madame Flock Wines specializes in restoring by hand old forgotten steep as flock Terrassen Mosel vineyards. Founded by the American Robert Kane and Canadian Derek-Paul Labelle with a mission to sustainably craft crazy natural dry Red and White wines that are made as sustainably as these two unsustainable expats know how to. 

All Madame Flöck’s Mosel Germany vineyards are dry grown, herbicide free, and hand tended. This means no machinery ever touches our vineyards, no glyphosate messes with the natural biodiversity of our vineyards, and our hands are blistered, backs broken, and wits lost by the time we harvest. Notice the rather odd names of our Mosel Germany vineyards. 

All of Madame Flöck’s Mosel vineyards are named after winemakers, viticulturists, and mentors who have graciously offered their time, energy, friendship, and expertise to our passion for wine over the past ten years. Good thing we keep finding prime Mosel Germany vineyard to restore because we have a lot of people to thank. 

Cable Car across the Rhein River: A Hyperbolic Story 

Rob and Derek met in Barossa Valley Australia during harvest 2016 and immediately disliked each other. Forever in competition, when Derek purchased grapes to make his first wine, Robert found some for free. He then proceeded to give Derek a barrel… Madame Flöck Wines was conceived over many drunken nights. Nobody knew where they would set up shop but they were determined, as only two drunk kids at 3AM can be. On a harvest tour through Europe, Robert met his future wife, the winemaker Janina Schmitt in Winningen Mosel, and they fell madly in love and things got gooey real quick. Fast forward to a phone call: “Derek, you want to buy a vineyard” Robert was said to have asked, “Sure” was Derek’s response. “Okay.” Robert confirmed. And voilà Madame Flock Wines of the Mosel was born. 

The name itself comes from the owner of their first Mosel vineyard. And before you ask, no she doesn’t look like the woman on the bottle label who may or may not be a 19th century London zombie brothel keeper. The real Madame Flöck got the boys started in the Mosel and to honour her, they named their wine after her. As much as they dislike each other though, they both love growing vines and making great wine together. 

Robert Kane 

Robert is a free market capitalist, loudmouth New Yorker who now lives along the Mosel with his lovely winemaker wife Janina Schmitt in the town of Winningen. He has a passion for wine and all things meat. He is constantly trying to enlighten his best friend and business partner on the errors of a non meat diet; “it’s just wrong” he says. He also enjoys pontificating on the sagacity of the writings of Ayn Rand and Objectivism. He can usually be found tending Madame Flöck’s vines, sporting something not unlike an 80’s aerobics outfit, or arguing with his business partner about all things winemaking. His favourite drink is anything alcohol and he feels that any point during the day is a good time for a champagne.

Bowler (US Importer)

“Madame Flöck is the brainchild of Robert Kane (from the USA) and Derek-Paul Labelle (from Canada), both with a passion for wine, who met in the Barossa Valley in 2016. Robert Kane went on to marry Janina Schmitt (from Weingut Materne & Schmitt) and took the plunge with his old friend when they got the chance to buy a derelict vineyard in the Terrassenmosel, which they bought from a Mrs. Flöck, hence the name of their venture. Their operation is tiny: 0.4 ha planted with old vines in the terraced parts of the Lehmener Ausoniusstein and the Winninger Domgarten (more vineyards were added in 2019). They produce two wines named after some of their mentors. The vineyards are dry-farmed, without herbicides, and hand tended. The wines are fermented spontaneously and aged without any sulfur added or other additives on their gross lees with regular steering of the lees, and are bottled un-fined, unfiltered, and with little SO added (the wines have less than 50-60 mg/l of total SO2). They are vinified at the facilities of Weingut Materne & Schmitt.” - Mosel Fine Wines, Issue #57

Restaurant Verbene Michelin-starred Chef/ Owner David Weigang and Partner Verena Schimmel 

Rund ums Eck: Vor dreieinhalb Jahren hat sich David Weigang den Traum eines eigenen Restaurants erfüllt: Im Herzen der Koblenzer Altstadt eröffnete er das "Verbene" mit dem Anspruch: "Wir kochen mit besten Zutaten saisonale Köstlichkeiten, die in Erinnerung bleiben." Erfahrungen in der Sternegastronomie hatte der gelernte Koch und gebürtige Koblenzer da schon reichlich gesammelt, unter anderem auf Sylt und am Bodensee. Obwohl ihm Freunde und Bekannte abrieten, weil es oft heißt, Koblenz sei kein guter Standort für gehobene Gastronomie, blieb er seiner Philosophie treu. Und der Erfolg gibt ihm recht: Inzwischen kann er sich über ein großes Stammpublikum sowie viele hervorragende Bewertungen freuen.

 

Davids Lebenspartnerin Verena Schimmel unterstützt seit anderthalb Jahren das Restaurant-Team, anfangs noch in ihrer Freizeit, denn sie führte 14 Jahre lang erfolgreich einen Geschenkartikelladen in Emmelshausen. Vor wenigen Wochen hat sie ihr Geschäft aufgegeben, um sich komplett dem "Verbene" zu widmen. Eine Entscheidung, die ihr nicht leicht fiel, die sie aber aus Überzeugung getroffen hat. Denn sie teilt nicht nur Davids Leidenschaft für gutes Essen, sie genießt es auch wie er, den Gästen immer wieder ein Lächeln ins Gesicht zaubern zu können.

visitMosel.de: David Weigang und Verena Schimmel haben sich mit ihrem Restaurant „Verbene“ einen neuen Stern am Michelin-Himmel erarbeitet. Für die Gäste heißt das: Frische, Behaglichkeit und ganz Besonderes aus regionalen Zutaten. „Eine Küche voller Finesse, modern und saisonal“ [Guide Michelin]

So lobt die Redaktion des Guide Michelin das Können von David Weigang und seinem Team, das im Service von seiner Partnerin Verena Schimmel geleitet wird. Zugleich sitze man im schmucken Restaurant und im charmanten Brunnenhof abseits des städtischen Trubels. Damit haben die Sterne-Entscheider auf den Punkt gebracht, was die Gäste im „Verbene“ erwartet. Mit nur 22 Plätzen ist es ein echtes Refugium mitten und doch ruhig in der Koblenzer Altstadt gelegen. Kürzlich bekam es mit einem gleichnamigen Bistro am Rheinufer eine Art „Geschwisterchen“: Das wird ebenfalls von David Weigang und Verena Schimmel geleitet, die Küche führt der Sous-Chef des Restaurants „Verbene“. Hier, mit Blick auf die Festung Ehrenbreitstein, haben bis zu fünfzig Gäste auch spontan Platz. Das Bistro wartet mit einer kleinen, aktuellen Frischekarte auf. Die Philosophie beider gastlicher Adressen ist dieselbe: „Wir haben den Namen ‚Verbene‘ ganz bewusst gewählt, denn es ist ein heilsames, duftendes, angenehm würziges Kraut, das ursprünglich aus Südamerika stammt und in ganz Europa gedeiht. Es fördert die Gelassenheit, es verbindet Originalität mit Weltoffenheit.“

Genau mit dieser Grundhaltung kreiert er die raffinierten Gerichte, die als Mehrgangmenüs im „Verbene Restaurant“ und in reduzierter Form im „Verbene Bistro“ zu genießen sind. Die meisten Zutaten stammen von ausgewählten, zumeist kleinen Erzeugern aus der Region. Fisch beispielsweise wird im Laacher See von Hand geangelt. Käse, Geflügel oder Fleisch wird von Bauernhöfen aus der Eifel geliefert, für die Wertschätzung der Tiere selbstverständlich ist.

 

Verbene Bistro

Weingut Madame Flöck

Chef Tim Johnston

Restaurant Verbene Michelin-starred Chef/ Owner David Weigang and Partner Verena Schimmel 

Bye-bye

Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours: Already Released and Forthcoming Postings 

Overview: Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by Ombiasy Public Relations and Wine Tours led by Annette Schiller - Facebook Day-by-day Postings

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Braunewell in Essenheim, Rheinhessen, with Stefan Braunewell - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Weingut Thörle in Saulheim, Rheinhessen, with Christoph Thörle, Johannes Thörle and Uta Thörle - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Grauburgunder (French: Pinot Gris - Italian: Pinot Grigio) and Dinner at Restaurant Lumen - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Weingut Eva Fricke in Eltville, Rheingau, with Eva Fricke - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Wein- und Sektgut Barth (VDP) in Hattenheim, Rheingau, with Mark Barth and Alexia Putze - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours 

Iconic Kloster Eberbach in the Rheingau (one of the Largest Wineries in Germany): Lunch at the Abbey Tavern and Guided Tour of the Eberbach Abbey - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

"Steinberg" Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Kloster Eberbach (VDP) in Eltville, Rheingau, with Head-winemaker and Deputy MD Kathrin Puff - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Wine-pairing Dinner at Restaurant Kronenschlösschen, Hattenheim, Rheingau, with Weingut Balthasar Ress Senior Boss Stefan Ress, Kronenschlösschen Maître and Head Sommelier Florian Richter (Best German Sommelier 2024 - Sommelier Union), Chef Roland Gorgosilich and Owner Johanna Ullrich - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Georg Breuer in Rüdesheim, Rheingau, with Theresa Breuer - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Schloss Johannisberg (VDP), the Iconic Rheingau Estate, with Dieter Salomon - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch and Impromptu Tasting of Weingut Familie Allendorf Wines with Ulrich Allendorf and Max J. Schönleber at Restaurant Allendorf am Rhein - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn (VDP) in Oestrich-Winkel, Rheingau, with Peter Bernhard Kühn - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Massive Tasting at Weingut August Kesseler (VDP) in Assmannshausen, Rheingau, with August Kesseler - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Spectacular View of the Rhein Valley in the Mittelrhein Region (UNESCO World Heritage Region), Lunch and Wine Tasting at Weingut Lanius Knab (VDP) in Oberwesel, Mittelrhein, with Jörg Lanius - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Cruise on the Rhein River in the Mittelrhein Valley, an UNESCO World Heritage Region, from Boppard to Koblenz, with Castles and Ruins Crowning the Top of the Hills like Pearls on a String - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tour of the Fortress Ehrenbreitstein in Koblenz, the Largest Historical Fortress in Europe after Gibraltar - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch and Impromptu Wine Tasting of the Wines of Weingut Madame Flöck, with Weingut Madame Flöck Owner/ Winemaker Robert Wade, Verbene Bistro Chef Tim Johnston, Restaurant Verbene Michelin starred Chef/ Owner David Weigang and Partner Verena Schimmel - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at the 2024 Weinfest in Winningen - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tour of Eltz Castle, a True Fairy-tale Medieval Castle in the Hills above the Mosel, Built more than 850 Years ago by the Eltz Family - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Restaurant Heim in Hotel Reiler Hof (Michelin Bib Gourmand) in Reil - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Melsheimer in Reil, Middle Mosel, with Thorsten Melsheimer - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Weingut Clemens Busch (VDP) in Pünderich, Middle Mosel, with Oda Berthold - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Weingut Dr. Thanisch, Erben Müller-Burggraef Wines and Overnight Stay at the Brand-new, High-end Deinhard’s Hotel in Bernkastel-Kues - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting Weingut Dr.Loosen (VDP) in Bernkastel-Kues, Middle Mosel, with Anne Juchem - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Weingut Max Ferdinand Richter in Mülheim, Middle Mosel, with Dirk Richter - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Weingut Hermann Ludes in Thörnich, Middle Mosel, with Julian Ludes - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Weingut Günther Steinmetz in Brauneberg, Middle Mosel, with Sammy Steinmetz - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours 

Tasting at Weingut Matthias Hild in Wincheringen, Upper Mosel, with Matthias and Jonas Hild - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch with Wines from Luxemburg at Koeppchen Bistro-Brasserie in Wormeldange-Haut in Luxembourg - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Van Volxem (VDP) in Wiltingen, Saar, with Lukas Büchner - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Asian Themed Wine-pairing Dinner at Dian's in Bernkastel-Kues, led by Janet Cam and Annette Schiller - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Weingut H. Dönnhoff (VDP), Oberhausen, Nahe, with Anne Dönnhoff - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Hermannshöhle Restaurant Weck in Niederhausen - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours 

Tasting at Weingut Korrell Johanneshof in Bad Kreuznach, Nahe, with Sonja Reinbold and Martin Korell - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Wine-pairing Dinner at Restaurant Kruger-Rumpf, Weingut Kruger-Rumpf (VDP), with Stefan Rumpf - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting and Bottling at Schlossgut Diel (VDP) in Rümmelsheim, Nahe, with Sylvain and Caroline Diel - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours