schiller-wine: November 2024

Friday, November 22, 2024

Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen (VDP) in Bernkastel-Kues, Middle Mosel, with Anne Juchem - 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

Today, our first event was a tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, just a stone's trow away from our hotel. This time, Ernie Loosen was on a business trip to France and Anne Juchem filled in for him. She did an excellent job. Thank you, Anne.

Pictures: Tête-à-tête dinner at Rasika with Ernst Loosen, Washington Post Wine Columnist Dave McIntyre, Rasika Sommelier Paul Ruttiman, Annette Schiller and me. See: Riesling, Pinot Noir and Indian Cuisine: A tête-à-tête Dinner with Winemaker Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at Rasika in Washington DC, USA (2013)

Weingut Dr. Loosen (VDP) in Bernkastel-Kues, Middle Mosel

The Dr. Loosen winery has been in the hands of the Loosen family for over 200 years. Located just outside of Bernkastel, it is one of the larger producers in the Mosel region with 130,000 bottles produced annually. In the US the winery is particularly known for its sweeter style Rieslings of top quality. Ernst Loosen is the current owner and while most often associated with the sweet-style, low alcohol wines very often to be found on the shelves of wine stores in the US, he is producing top dry Rieslings on the Premier and Grand Cru (GG) level, which he recently introduced to the market in the US. He also produces white and red wines in the Pfalz in Germany (J.L.Wolf winery) and in the US in Oregon (J. Christopher wines).

Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel, with Ernie Loosen - Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

See: Tasting at Weingut Dr. Loosen in Bernkastel-Kues, Middle Mosel, with Ernie Loosen- Germany-North Tour 2019 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential Riesling

2024: Arriving at Weingut Dr. Loosen

Tasting

Bye-bye

schiller-wine: Related Postings (Ernst Loosen)

Riesling from Germany and Pinot Noir from Oregon: A Winemaker Dinner with Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen and J.Christopher Wines, at Black Salt in Washington DC

Riesling, Pinot Noir and Indian Cuisine: A tête-à-tête Dinner with Winemaker Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at Rasika in Washington DC, USA

Ernst Loosen and Dr. L. Riesling - His Hugely Popular Entry-level Wine Sold Throughout the World

The Doctor Made a House Call - A Tasting with Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at MacArthur Beverages in Washington DC, USA

A Riesling Guru and a Killer Guitarist cum Cult Winemaker: Ernst Loosen and Jay Somers and their J. Christopher Winery in Newberg, Oregon

Wine ratings: Two American/German wines - Eroica and Poet's Leap - on Top 100 Wines from Washington State list for 2009

German American Wines: (1) Pacific Rim Riesling (2) Eroica and (3) Woelffer's Schillerwein

The German Winemakers at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA

Riesling Revolution in China: Weingut Dr. Loosen, Germany, Domaine Hugel et Fils, Alsace and Jim Barry, Australia - China Tour to Promote Riesling

A Riesling Guru and a Killer Guitarist cum Cult Winemaker: Ernst Loosen and Jay Somers and their J. Christopher Winery in Newberg, Oregon

Ernst Loosen Presented his Wines at Weingut Dr. Loosen, Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel Valley, Germany

The World of Riesling in Seattle - Fourth Riesling Rendezvous in Washington State, USA

On the Way from Düsseldorf, Germany, to Portland, Oregon: Winemaker Jay Somers, J. Christopher Wines, Stops in Northern Virginia, USA

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 with the Locals: At the Weinfest in Winningen, Terrassenmosel - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Guided Tour of Eltz Castle, a truely Fairytale Medieval Castle in the Hills above the Mosel - Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

3-course "Sommermenü" Lunch at Restaurant Heim in Hotel Reiler Hof 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 Borchert - 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 at 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

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Invitation: Bordeaux Wine Tasting at the WWCS (Washington Wine & Cheese Seminar) next Tuesday, November 26th at 7.45 pm, Washington DC

Dear wine friends,

I invite you to join me next Tuesday, November 26th at 7.45 pm when I take you to Bordeaux - to the world -famous Médoc region with its phenomenal red wines - to show you fantastic, delicious top Bordeaux wines for little money. These are also the perfect wines to go with your turkey on Thanksgiving.

How can it be that you can have delicious Médoc wines that do not stretch your wallet?

I show you 5 wines classified under the label “Cru Bourgeois”. 4 wines are classified “Cru Bourgeois”, 1 is classified “Cru Bourgeois Supérieurs”.

Bordeaux is the largest wine region in France and arguably the most renowned.

In 1855 Napoleon III ordered that the wines of the " Médoc”, deemed as the most exclusive wine growing area, be classified according to quality and price. We all know this classification of the 61 Châteaux listed as Grand Cru Classé ranging from 1^st down to 5^th growths.

But there are hundreds other Châteaux in the “Médoc” that make excellent wines for far less money than the well-known ‘Grand Cru Classé’ ones. Some great estates did not even exist in 1855, hence they did not have a chance in getting included in the 1855 classification.

One of the goals of coming up with classifications is to guide the consumer when choosing his wines. In 1932 the Cru Bourgeois du Médoc association was founded as a way to appreciate and to showcase great wine making estates that were not included in the 1855 classification. The original selection deemed worthy carrying the ‘Cru Bourgeois’ label comprised 444 Châteaux. Over the years, the system of how to evaluate the Châteaux included in the Cru Bourgeois classification has evolved and tightened. One big difference to the 1855 classification system is that the Cru Bourgeois classification is not set in stone. A re-evaluation occurs every five years. The last evaluation took place in 2020 (with 250 Châteaux selected), hence next year, in 2025 the next evaluation is coming up.

The Châteaux applying for Cru Bourgeois du Médoc classification have to undergo a rigorous process. This includes following requirements in viticultural and wine making methods, and presenting wines from five vintages for evaluation. The tastings are blind and the judges come from outside the Médoc area to be impartial.

The classification knows three quality levels from bottom to top: Cru Bourgeois, (in 2020: 180) Crus Bourgeois Supérieurs (in 2020: 56), Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnels (in 2020: 14).

Today the distinctive Cru Bourgeois du Médoc Logo is visibly placed on the bottle for the consumer to immediately recognize the wine on the shelf. These wines generally range from 18$ to 35$ and are an outstanding value for money.

I am looking forward to tasting these 5 wines with you.

Please join me for a great tasting adventure and a pre Thanksgiving celebration. This is a very social event.

Best

Annette

This is a 30$ tasting. As usual 2 cheeses and delicious baguettes will accompany the tasting.

The Seminar meets at 7:45PM every Tuesday (except for July, August and the weeks of December 25th and January 1st) at St. Patricks Episcopal Church at 4700 Whitehaven Pky, between Foxhall Road and MacArthur Blvd.

No reservations are required. You just show up (side entrance where the parking is) and pay cash or check when you are there.

Coming up: Bordeaux by ombiasy WineTours led by Annette Schiller (Tuesday May 20 – Thursday May 29, 2025)

ANNOUNCEMENT: Wine Tours in Europe by ombiasy with Annette Schiller 2025

Total Immersioin in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Join us as we explore Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, Médoc, Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Sauternes, Pessac-Léognan, where we will visit well-known classified Châteaux, classified under-the-radar Châteaux, and so-called “Petits-Châteaux” producing phenomenal wines. Wine and food, that’s so important in Bordeaux, and wine pairing lunches or dinners at famous châteaux with the owner or Managing Director are an almost daily routine. Besides doing Châteaux hopping, I will also show you other aspects of “Bordeaux” that the usual wine tours do not do: we will be introduced to the “Place de Bordeaux” buying and selling system unique in Bordeaux by visiting a négociant house, a wine merchant; we will visit a cooper to see from A to Z how a barrique is being made; we go to the basin d’Arcachon to see how an oyster is raised; we will experience the big bodies of water so important for the Bordeaux climate: the mighty Gironde estuary and the Atlantic ocean. Instead of sitting for 3 to 4 hours in traffic every day going back and forth to Bordeaux city we will travel around, spending nights in the heart of the Left Bank in Pauillac and in the heart of the Right Bank in Saint-Émilion to “feel” the vineyards; and of course we will spend some time in the vibrant, hip, cultural, cool city of Bordeaux.

This is a 9-nights – 10-days wine tour. The tour starts and ends in Bordeaux city.

All wine tours are guided by my husband Christian and me. Once you arrive at the starting destination you are taken care off. All transport, meals, winery visits, accommodation in 4-star hotels, sightseeing and other cultural events, are included in the price. Prices will be made available on my website as of December 1st as well as the possibility of signing up for the tours.

To get an idea how the tours are conducted please visit the website: www.ombiasypr.com

My husband publishes a wine blog and he writes a summary on each wine tour as well as a detailed description of each winery visit. For past wine tours you can browse his blog: http://schiller-wine.blogspot.com/2019/10/total-immersion-in-bordeaux-world-class.html

schiller-wine: Related Postings

ANNOUNCEMENT: Wine Tours in Europe by ombiasy with Annette Schiller 2025

Overview: Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours led by Annette Schiller - Facebook Day-by-day Postings

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

Summary: Loire 2024 - Châteaux and Wine - by ombiasy WineTours, led by Annette Schiller

Summary: Germany "From Berlin to Frankfurt" 2023 (Saale Unstrut, Sachsen, Franken, Württemberg) by ombiasy WineTours

Summary: From Lyon to Paris - Total Immersion in Burgundy and Champagne 2023 by ombiasy WineTours (July 02 - 13, 2023)

Summary: Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours - 12 Days: May 28 - June 08, 2023

Total Immersioin in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2022 by ombiasy WineTours, France

Visit at Domaine des Aubuisières, Bernard Fouquet, in Vouvray, Touraine - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Guided Visit of Château Chenonceau, Residence of Diana de Poitier and of Katharina de Medici, Mistress (the Former) and Wife (the Latter) of King Henry II - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

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

The 2024 American Wine Society National Conference in Winston-Salem, North Carolina/ USA with Annette and Christian Schiller: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens

2022 Annual Riesling Party at the Schiller Residence in McLean, Virginia, USA

Massive Tasting of Bordeaux 1982 - the Vintage that made Robert Parker a Star, USA/ France

Kékfrankos - Blaufränkisch - Lemberger: A Grape’s Immigration Story From Central Europe To The US West Coast - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

All Sorts of Sparklers: How do the Bubbles get into that Bottle? - Tasting at the American Wine Society (NoVa Chapter) led by Annette Schiller

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Tasting at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), presented by Annette Schiller

Christian Schiller: Re-elected to the Board of the "Weinfeder", the Association of German Wine Journalists

20 Best Washington DC (USA) Alcohol Blogs + Websites (December 31, 2023): #3 schiller-wine by Christian Schiller

2024 Annual Meeting of the Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim, a 45 Years Old Wine Brotherhood in the Famous Wine Village Hochheim, Rheingau, Germany, with Annette Schiller, Founding Member, and Christian Schiller

German Wine Society (Capital Chapter) Membership Meeting 2024: Carl Willner Re-elected President and Christian Schiller Re-elected Vice-president, USA/ Germany

Masterclass - The Wines of Germany: Presentation by Annette Schiller at the German Embassy in Washington DC/ Consular Conference March 2024

The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Shifting from the Sugar Level at Harvest to the Wine's Geographic Origin

Dinner at JAN in Munich, Germany, with Jan Hartwig, one of the ten German 3-star Michelin Chefs (September 2024)

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

2019 Einheit (German Re-unification Wine), Weingut Spreitzer & Weingut Pawis, Germany; 1989 & 2006 Château La Conseillante, Pomerol: 2007 Sassicaia, Tuscany, and Other Most Interesting Wines at Cellar Club (Washington DC, November 2024)

Organized by Grant Crandall, on November 16, 2024, the Cellar Club Group met at "Tenuta Castelli" in Virginia. Stephanie Castelli and Brian had selected "Open That Bottle Night" as theme of the tasting. As usual, everybody brought a bottle of wine and a corresponding dish. There were 17 of us.

Annette and I brought as one of our 2 wines a bottle of the 2019 EINHEIT, an east-west-cooperation of Weingut Josef Spreitzer in the Rheingau and Weingut Pawis in Saale-Unstrut to celebrate German re-unification in 1989. Only 2020 bottles made. We got 6 of them.

Pre-dinner

Dinner

2019 Einheit and Borscht - An East German Favorite

Annette and I brought as one of our 2 wines a bottle of the 2019 EINHEIT, an east-west-cooperation of Weingut Josef Spreitzer in the Rheingau and Weingut Pawis in Saale-Unstrut to celebrate German re-unification in 1989. Only 2020 bottles made. We got 6 of them.

German Wine Critics' Prize/ EINHEIT, Michael Apitz, Weingut Josef Spreitzer (Rheingau) and Weingut Pawis (Saale Unstrut), Germany

See: Weinfeder Award Ceremony at Weingut Spreitzer, September 2020: Wine Personality of the Year/ Georg Prinz zur Lippe, Weingut Schloss Proschwitz and German Wine Critics' Prize/ EINHEIT, Michael Apitz, Weingut Josef Spreitzer (Rheingau) and Weingut Pawis (Saale Unstrut), Germany

Euro 19.90 - 2020 bottles. At Weingut Spreitzer and Weingut Pawis

Weingut Josef Spreitzer

Weingut Spreitzer is a leading producer in the Rheingau. In contrast to both Weingut Pawis and Weingut Schloss Proschwitz, Weingut Spreitzer is a familiar name in the German wine circles in the USA. The wines of Weingut Spreitzer are imported by Skurnik Wines. Weingut Spreitzer is currently owned and managed by Andreas and Bernd Spreitzer. In the USA, we mostly get to see Andi Spreitzer. He recently flew over just for an evening at the German Embassy in Washington DC, when the Ambassador poured his wines at a Weingut Spreitzer Winemaker Gala Dinner at the Embassy.