schiller-wine

Sunday, April 26, 2026

Special Awards - HENRIS WeinGuide Deutschland/ Germany 2026

Pictures: Hans Rebholz, Weingut Oekonomierat Rebholz, Pfalz, Presenting his Wines at the German Embassy in Washington DC, USA (January 2025)

The HENRIS WeinGuide Germany 2026 was released recently. Otto Geisel and his tasting team awarded 5 red grapes - the top category in the HENRIS WeinGuide Germany - to 12 wineries.

HENRIS WeinGuide Germany 2026

The HENRIS WeinGuide Germany 2026 was released recently by HENRIS, a publishing house based in Munich. This is the first HENRIS WeinGuide Germany. Until very recently, the HENRIS publishing house was in charge of the Gault&Millau Guides for Germany, both for restaurants and wine. Basically, the HENRIS WineGuide Germany is the old Gault&Millau WeinGuide Germany with a new name. The team of tasters remained the same, with Otto Geisel heading the team.

HENRIS Awards

WEINPERSÖNLICHKEIT DES JAHRES/ Wine Personality of the Year: Hans-Josef Becker, Weingut J. B. Becker, Rheingau

Picture: Tasting with Hajo Becker, Weingut J.B. Becker in Walluf/ Rheingau. See: Tasting at Weingut J.B. Becker in Walluf, Rheingau, with Hajo Becker – Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

KOLLEKTION DES JAHRES/ Collection of the Year: Ökonomierat Rebholz, Pfalz

Picture: In the Cellar of Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz, Siebeldingen, Pfalz, with Hansjörg and Valentin Rebholz. See: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in Siebeldingen, Pfalz, with Hansjörg and Valentin Rebholz and Sabine Wagner - Germany-South and Alsace 2017 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

GENOSSENSCHAFT DES JAHRES/ Co-op of the Year: Winzer Sommerach, Franken

HANDSCHRIFT DES JAHRES: Handwriting of the Year: Clemens Busch, Weingut Clemens Busch, Mosel

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

WEINGUTSLEITER DES JAHRES/ Winery General Manager of the Year: Claus Burmeister, Burg Ravensburg, Baden

Picture: Back after 45 Years: Winemaker Dinner at Hotel Erbprinz in Ettlingen, with Claus Burmeister, Weingut Heitlinger and Weingut Burg Ravensburg, Baden, Germany

IMPULSGEBER DES JAHRES/ Driving Force of the Year: Kaiserstuhl Touristik Ihringen e.V., Weinwirtschaft Ihringen, Baden

HÖCHSTER NEUEINSTEIGER DES JAHRES/ Newcomer of the Year: Oliver Zeter, Weingut Oliver Zeter, Pfalz

GENOSSENSCHAFTLICHER NEUEINSTIEG DES JAHRES/ Co-op Newcomer of the Year: Remstalkellerei eG, Württemberg

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Announcement: Small Group (12 people) Wine Tours to Europe (Italy and Germany) this Year (2026) by ombiasy WineTours with Annette Schiller

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 of Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours, led by Annette Schiller: Wine, Food, History, Culture
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
Christian Schiller`s SCHILLER-WINE Blog on Corking Wines` Top 101 Wine Writers of 2020 List
The 2025 American Wine Society National Conference in Chantilly/ Virginia/ 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
The New German Wine Law of 2021 - Tasting at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), presented by Annette Schiller
schiller-wine Blog of Christian Schiller Top Washington DC Alcohol Blog (December, 2024)
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
Masterclass - The Wines of Germany: Presentation by Annette Schiller at the German Embassy in Washington DC/ Consular Conference March 2024
Dinner at JAN in Munich, Germany, with Jan Hartwig, one of the ten German 3-star Michelin Chefs (September 2024)
Hans Rebholz, Weingut Oekonomierat Rebholz, Pfalz, Presenting his Wines at the German Embassy in Washington DC, USA (January 2025)

2025 Rieslingfeier Gala Dinner in New York City, Sky Loft, 32nd Floor of 50 Hudson Yard, with 15 #worldclass Winemakers from Germany + Austria and Estimated 300 Wines, many 20, 30, 40 Years old, many Larger Format and almost all Ultra-premium

Christian Schiller: Re-elected to the Board of the "Weinfeder", the Association of German Wine Journalists (January 2025)

Annette and Christian Schiller Awarded German Wine Society Silver Medallion for their Superior Knowledge of German Wine (USA, Washington DC, December 12, 2025)

Visit of Château de Chambord: "An Epitome of what Human Art can Produce" said Charles V. (Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nations) - Loire Valley 2026 by ombiasy WineTours

With a Large Cheese Cart and Soufflé Flambé au Cognac: 5-course Menu Inspiration - Leisurely Sunday Lunch at Restaurant La Croix Blanche on the Banks of the Loire between Amboise and Blois, with Owner/ Chef Jean-François Beauduin (Bib Gourmand Michelin) - Loire Valley 2025 by ombiasy WineTours

Annette Schiller Elected Director of Education and Christian Schiller Re-elected Vice-president at the Membership Meeting of the Washington DC Chapter of the German Wine Society USA (via Zoom), February 21, 2026

Lovely dinner at Cafe Tatti French Bistro right in the center of McLean, next to Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen. Neutral Ground and Cafe Tatti are both great places, but could not be more different.

Pictures: Dinner with #worldclass Patricia Green Cellars (Oregon) Winemaker and Founding Owner Jim Anderson at Neutral Ground in McLean, Virginia, USA , with Acclaimed Chef/ Owner David Guas (March 2026)

Cafe Tatti, which has been there for several decades, is a cute, old-style French restaurant with plenty of European flair, serving traditional French food. You could easily be in a traditional bistro in Strasbourg/ Alsace or in Montalcino/ Toscana.

It recently got a fresh spark with Giovanni Carlo being the new Chef in the kitchen and new Owner of the restaurant. He was born and raised in Italy. Carlo made his journey to the USA at age 21 and began his culinary career as sous chef for Roberto Donna at the iconic Gallileo restaurant in Washington DC downtown. He worked for Roberto for the next 8 years and then went on to become the Executive Chef of Paolo's in Georgetown, Ovvio Osteria in Merrifield and Panache in Tysons Corner before taking over Cafe Tatti in McLean.

Annette Schiller and I enjoyed the evening very much. You could really feel Chef/ Owner Giovanni's passion coming through in the food and the vibe. We will be back. Next time with a bottle of wine from my cellar. Corkage fee is US$ 30, the same as at Tatti's neighbor, Neutral Ground.

Already the following evening we went back to Cafe Tatti for our first al fresco dinner of the season. I brought a Bourgogne from my cellar. We met Giovanni's wife, host and co-owner Sema Carlo.

Newt Gingrich (who is a McLean Resident) on X (Twitter)

@newtgingrich

Cafe Tatti in Mclean is an amazing old style European restaurant with amazing food and a wonderful quiet European ambiance. Giovanni Carlo is a superb chef and his wife Sema is a great hostess. Their lamb chops may be the best we have ever had. Their bolognese takes you right back to Italy where Giovanni grew up and equals what we get in Rome, Ravello and elsewhere.

First Dinner (Inside)

Arriving