schiller-wine

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Invitation: Tuscany Wine Tasting at the J. Marshall Chapter (Virginia) of the American Wine Society on Sunday, February 15, 2026, with Annette Schiller (ombiasy WineTours)

Invitation: Tuscany Wine Tasting at the J. Marshall Chapter (Virginia) of the American Wine Society on Sunday, February 15, 2026, with Annette Schiller (ombiasy WineTours)

Sunny Tuscany is so enticing now in this never-ending freezing weather! Get one step closer to Sunny Tuscany by attending our upcoming tasting on Sunday, 15 Feb, 630pm, Pearmund Cellars. Annette Schiller will present wines from Tuscany to warm our bellies and our spirits.

Please RSVP by sending $25/person to my zelle account (listed under my telephone number 703-626-0313).

This will be a combined meeting with the Bristow Chapter, so please RSVP early.

Cheers,

Doug

John Marshall Chapter Chair

Small Group (12 people) Wine Tours in 2026 (including to Tuscany) by ombiasy WineTours with Annette Schiller

Dear wine lovers,

In many parts of the US it snows right now. I would like to brighten your snow days by telling you where and when you could explore gorgeous wine regions later in the year. I have planned 3 fantastic wine tours for 2026. These provide for great dreams of sunny, warm days, a swimming pool, and great wines to sip (ok, the wine you can also sip right now hunkering down in front of a fire place)

Tuscany: 11 days, 10 nights - Monday, June 08 - Thursday, June 18, 2026

Few regions evoke such a feeling of longing as Tuscany. And indeed, this region is unique with its blend of history, incredible scenic beauty, magnificent wines, outstanding food and its "Dolce Vita".

Tuscany is located in Central Italy very roughly between Bologna and Rome and borders the Tyrrhenian Sea to the West with Florence as its most prestigious city and Siena, the historic Etruscan city. Tuscany is an absolutely beautiful landscape of rolling hills and incredible views. Most vineyards -except for the vineyards of Bolgheri and Maremma - are on relatively steep and abrupt hillsides. The hilly Tuscan vineyards are usually interspersed with olive groves, and forests. Most wine estates are fairly distant from the main roads and only accessible by winding dirt roads littered with potholes.

We will do winery visits and thorough tastings at top wine estates in the Chianti, Chianti Classico, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Bolgheri, and Maremma appellations.

The tour starts and ends in Florence. I booked accommodation in beautiful places: the first 4 nights we stay at a winery / hotel / restaurant in Panzano-Greve in the Chianti Classico appellation, the following 4 nights we also stay at a wine estate with accommodation and an on-site restaurant just south of the town of Montalcino, and the last 2 nights we can relax in a beautiful 5-star spa-beach-resort at the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea in the Bolgheri region.

Hurry up to book this tour: there is only 1 double room left!

Germany Classic: 12 days, 11 nights - Sunday, June 28 - Thursday, July 09, 2026

We will fully experience authentic Germany. We travel along the main Riesling wine arteries of Germany: the Rhine river, the Mosel river, and the Nahe river. We travel east of Frankfurt along the Main river to Bürgstadt to explore where phenomenal Silvaner and Pinot Noir wines are produced and will visit the Ahr wine region where Pinot Noir always was the main grape variety. On this tour we discover 7 of the 13 German wine regions: Franken, Rheinhessen, Rheingau, Mittelrhein, Ahr, Mosel, Nahe.

Roman, medieval, and modern history accompany us all the way and will help us to understand what German wine is all about. The beauty of the landscape, the steep vineyards, the romantic Rhein valley, the quaint villages, the stories behind the wineries and their families, and the gorgeous wines we will taste at world-renowned wine estates will give us a renewed understanding of German wines. Of course we also do a cruise on the Rhine river to experience the “German Rhine Romantic”.

The tour starts and ends in Frankfurt am Main. Accommodation will be in excellent 4+5 star hotels - all with air condition, which might come in handy during our summer travel time. However Germany never gets really, really hot and humid; it is a northern region with a moderate continental climate.

There are 1 single room and 2 double rooms left!

Trentino - Alto Adige: 8 days, 7 nights - Sunday, September 06 - Sunday, September 13, 2026

Being the northernmost wine region of Italy, Trentino -Alto Adige is a very special place where Italian and German traditions merge. It is a fascinating and unique region in the Alpes. It boasts of an extraordinary variety of landscapes: snow-capped mountains in the Dolomites, fertile valleys, streams, century-old breathtakingly beautiful towns true to their hybrid Germanic-Italian culture

During this wine tour we travel through 3 main valleys carved out by the rivers Adige (Etsch) and Isarco (Eisack). These valleys form a Y since in Bozen, the capital of the Alto Adige region, the Isarco joins the Adige. From Bozen we follow the Adige river further south and spend a day in Verona the city much beloved by Shakespeare who set more than just one play in this northern Italian town. We will use this opportunity to also visit some wineries where we taste the unique, delicious Amarone.

As the climate gets warmer cool-climate winemaking has captured the interest of both sides of the wine business: the industry and the consumer. The focus shifts more and more to higher altitude, cooler climate regions such as Trentino-Alto Adige in search of elegant, moderate alcohol wines.

This tour starts and ends in Bozen. During this tour we do not change hotels. I booked 7 nights at the famous, beautiful 5-star Art-Nouveau style Parkhotel Laurin in Bozen.

There are 1 single room and 2 double rooms left!

Please browse the website: https://ombiasypr.com/index.php Here you find all information how to sign up for securing your spot for the tours. The registration pages are online!

The itineraries of the Tuscany and Germany tours are finalized. I am currently working on putting them on my website. If you want to know the details of the itinerary, do not hesitate to contact me either via email or whats app. I am happy to send them to you.

The itinerary of the Trentino-Alto-Adige tour is in the process of being finalized. If you want to know more about it, please get in touch with me.

AND: what also is important: to match wine with food. As always: wine epicurean delights play an important part of our journeys through the wine regions.

Come along and join me on these wine tours. As usual: in a nutshell: the tours are wine classes on the ground: you learn by doing and this is much more fun than learning about a wine region out of a book.

COSY UP WITH A GOOD WINE AND WATCH THE WORLD TURN WHITE.

CHEERS ANNETTE

WINE EDUCATION /// WINE TOURS

Annette Schiller, Diplom-Volkswirt

Professional Member and Wine Educator
American Wine Society AWS

German Wine Society, Capital Chapter
ombiasy PR, LLC
Washington DC - Frankfurt am Main
T: +1 (703) 459.7513
T: + 49 (0) 177.337.0281
aschiller@ombiasypr.com
web: ombiasypr.com
blog: schiller-wine.blogspot.com

Wine Country Italy - Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige - in the Summer of 2025

From June 16 to July 3, 2025, Annette and I spent time in wine country Italy, by car.

For an overview, go to: Wine Country Italy - Lake Como, Tuscany, Alto Adige - in the Summer of 2025

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Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings – Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2025

Pictures: With Philipp Wittmann, Weingut Wittmann

The results of the Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2025 - Germany’s Best Dry Rieslings - were published in the February 2025 issue of Der Feinschmecker, Germany's leading gourmet journal.

Der Feinschmecker: Beim Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2025 steht Philipp Wittmanns Westhofener Morstein oben auf der Siegertreppe, das Weingut Gunderloch holt Bronze, aber auch Franken machte eine glänzende Figur. Guts- und Ortsweine ernteten ebenfalls Lorbeeren.

Dry Riesling in Germany

There are approximately 47,000 hectares planted with Riesling worldwide. Germany—with 22,500 hectares—accounts for about half of the total. From a global perspective, Riesling is a niche grape variety, accounting for less than 1% of world wine production. From a global perspective, it is the fruity-sweet style (with the fermentation stopped so that the wine remains sweet and the level of alcohol low) and the rare noble-sweet style (lusciously sweet wines due to noble rot or frost in the vineyard) that are receiving the attention of the connoisseurs of premium wines.

Dry Riesling has played a minor role in the world of wine, but this is changing. The Rieslings from Alsace and Austria, both considerably smaller producers of Riesling than Germany (Alsace produces approximately 15% and Austria approximately 7% of what Germany produces), have always been in the dry category (although the Rieslings from Alsace have shown a trend toward an increasing level of remaining sweetness in the wine over the past decades), and, importantly, Germany, the dominating Riesling force in the world, has undergone a major trans-formation in the past 40 years: The fruity-sweet Rieslings have been crowded out from the wine lists in Germany, while the “dry wave” — “Trockenwelle” — has swept the country. When you go to a wine bar, wine store, or restaurant in say Frankfurt, Berlin, or Munich, it is very difficult to find a fruity-sweet Riesling. The wine lists are dominated by dry Riesling.

Der Feinschmecker Riesling Cup 2018 - Top 15 Dry Rieslings

Platz 1: Weingut Wittmann, Rheinhessen

2024 WESTHOFENER MORSTEIN RIESLING VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS
Die Familie Wittmann gehört zu den ersten Weinmachern in Rheinhessen, die konsequent auf biologischen Anbau gesetzt und dann auch die biodynamische Wirtschaftsweise mit einbezogen haben. Kaum irgendwo sonst findet man Weinberge in einem so perfekten Zustand. Das ist die Basis für dieses Große Gewächs, das Caro Maurer MW als „Role Model“ dafür sieht „wie gut knackige Säure eingebettet sein kann“. Philipp Wittmann erinnert der 2024er Jahrgang dabei an seinen 2002er, „gleichzeitig ist das aber auch ein Wein, wie ihn mein Vater in den 1990ern gemacht hat: unplugged, ohne Verstärker. Und er hat das, was als Begriff in den vergangenen 20 Jahren inflationär genutzt wurde, hier aber zutrifft: Der Wein strotzt nur so vor Mineralität.“

€ 79, www.wittmannweingut.com

Picture: Extraordinaire Wine Dinner with Chef Frank Buchholz and Winemaker Philipp Wittmann/ Rheinhessen in Mainz/ Germany (February 2024)

Platz 2: Weingut Max Müller I, Franken

2024 ESCHERNDORFER „AM LUMPEN 1655“ RIESLING VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS
Die Müllers, die nicht mehr Max heißen, sondern Christian (r.), Jennifer, Rainer und Moni, haben im Jahr 2024 einen bild schönen Riesling „voller Harmonie und Balance“ (Maximilian Wilm) erzeugt. Geprägt von kühler Steinobst- und Zitrusaromatik konnten sie den Jahrgang für ein gelungenes Spiel aus Säure und Süße nutzen. Laut Jens Priewe ein „straffer Riesling mit bester Substanz, Länge und fein ziselierter Frucht“.

€ 38, www.max-mueller.de

Platz 3: Weingut Gunderloch, Rheinhessen

2024 NIERSTEINER PETTEN THAL RIESLING VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS
Johannes Hasselbachs Pettenthal ist ein eleganter und in hohem Maße charmanter Riesling vom Roten Hang. Aktuell wirkt er schon erstaunlich offen und einladend, noch leicht reduktiv, aber voller Finesse und tänzelnder Leichtigkeit. „Unglaublich lang, sehr animierend, salzig, mundwässernd und balanciert zwischen Frucht und Mineralität“, so Jurorin Katharina Iglesias.

€ 44, www.gunderloch.de

Picture: Anniversary Celebration: 125 Years Weingut Gunderloch in Nackenheim, Rheinhessen, Germany

Platz 4: Weingut Rudolf Fürst, Franken

2024 BÜRGSTADTER CENTGRAFENBERG RIESLING VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS
„Gibt viel, zeigt viel“, schreibt Caro Maurer MW zum Wein von Sebastian Fürst, den der Feinschmecker bei den WINE AWARDS 2025 zum „Winzer des Jahres“ kürte (s. S. 150). Es ist ein Wein mit „fili graner Textur, dichtem Körper und langem Abgang, mit viel Schmelz und langem Nachhall“, fasst es Juror Florian Richter treffend zusammen. Ein Riesling mit Schliff und viel reifer, zitrischer Frucht und Spannung.
€ 59, www.gute-weine.de

Picture: Winemaker Dinner at Restaurant Medici in Frankfurt, Germany, with the #worldclass Pinot Noirs of Sebastian Fuerst, Weingut Rudolf Fuerst, Franken, Germany and the High-end Food of Chefs/ Owners Stamatios and Christos Simiakos (October 2025)

Platz 5: Weingut Hain, Mosel

2024 PIESPORTER GOLDTRÖPFCHEN RIESLING GROSSES GEWÄCHS
Ein Wein mit klassischer Moselaner Riesling-Nase. Dabei zeigt der Wein durchaus breite Schultern, bietet süßen Extrakt und Exotik. Für Jens Priewe ein „mitreißender Riesling“, für Michael Quentel zudem „feinsaftig mit griffiger Struktur und Eleganz“. Ein Charakter mit viel Schmelz und ebenso mit Finesse und Frucht.
€ 27, weingut-hain.de

Platz 6: Weingut Ansgar Clüsserath, Mosel

2024 TRITTENHEIMER APOTHEKE RIESLING TROCKEN
Kräuterwürze, eine klare Frucht zwischen zitrischen Noten, Steinobst und einem Hauch von Exotik zeichnen den Riesling aus der Trittenheimer Apotheke ebenso aus wie „tolle Texturen, eine gute Substanz und viel Schliff“ (Jens Priewe). Das ist ein Moselaner mit einem „balancierten und intensiven Körper und griffiger Säure“ (Florian Richter), der schon jetzt viel Trinkfluss bietet.
€ 35 (ab März), www.weingutwittmann.de

Platz 7: Weingut Holger Alt, Nahe

2024 MONZINGER HALENBERG RIESLING TROCKEN
Holger Alt hat mit diesem Halenberg einen blütenduftigen und kräuterbetonten Riesling geschaffen, dessen Aromatik sich mit dem Duft von nassem Gestein verbindet. Die Frucht ist gestochen scharf, der Körper kraftvoll mit „recht viel Speck auf den Hüften“ (Caro Maurer MW), aber einer klaren, animierenden Säurestruktur und Salzigkeit.
€ 11, www.weingut-alt.de

Platz 8: Weingut Philipp Kuhn, Pfalz

2024 KALLSTADTER SAUMAGEN RIESLING VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS
Für Jens Priewe war das Fazit klar: „Ein begeisternder, toller, facettenreicher Wein mit viel Saft und viel Mineralität.“ Michael Quentel hatte die Sorge, „dass der Wein aufgrund seiner leisen Art nicht die ganz hohen Noten bekommt, doch wer Finesse und Harmonie liebt, wird hier reich beschenkt.“ Ein graziler, finessenreicher, eleganter Riesling.
€ 42, www.weinshop-philipp-kuhn.de

Platz 9: Weingut Pfeffingen, Pfalz

2024 UNGSTEINER HERRENBERG RIESLING VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS
Jan Eymaels Lieblingsrebsorte ist die Scheurebe – ein bisschen davon spürt man auch in diesem Riesling. Es ist ein aromatisch dichter Wein voller Konzentration. Mandarine und Williamsbirne, Mango und Ananas hat man hier ebenso wie einen blütenduftigen Auftakt samt weißer Beeren. Am Gaumen hell, frisch, saftig, eigenständig mit druckvoller Säure und Mineralität, würziges Finale.
€ 35, www.pfeffingen.de

Platz 10: Weingut Fritz Haag, Mosel

2024 BRAUNEBERGER JUFFER RIESLING VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS
Ein klassischer Mosel-Riesling aus dem Weingut von Oliver Haag: Hier ist auch in extremen Jahren Verlass auf einen duftigen, schieferwürzigen Wein mit „vollem Körper und dichter Struktur“ (Florian Richter). Das „lässt die Zunge schnalzen“, schreibt Michael Quentel, „aufgrund dieser gelungenen Mischung aus Salzigkeit, saftiger Frucht, Steinigkeit, Grip und Würze.“
€ 32, fritzhaag.shop

Picture: Tasting and Vineyard Walk with Oliver Haag, Weingut Fritz Haag – Germany-North Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours

Platz 11: Weingut Claes Schmitt Erben, Mosel

2024 TRITTENHEIMER APOTHEKE „SONNTHEILEN“ RIESLING TROCKEN
Gleich zweimal findet sich die Trittenheimer Apotheke unter den besten 13 Rieslingen des Cups. Das ist ein weiteres Novum in diesem Jahr. Bei Claes Schmitt Erben gibt es viel Substanz und viel Schmelz. Es ist, so Maximilian Wilm, ein „klassischer deutscher Riesling, mit viel Frucht aber auch mit Frische und Finesse“.
€ 16, www.claeswein.de, bestellung@claeswein.de

Platz 12: Weingut August Kesseler, Rheingau

2024 RÜDESHEIMER BERG ROSENECK VDP. GROSSES GEWÄCHS
Aus dem Weingut August Kessler stammt dieser spielerisch unbeschwerte, fruchtige Riesling mit feiner Säure. Ein Wein mit „schöner Frucht und feiner Balance. Mineralisch mit guter Säurestruktur, ein kraftvoller Körper mit langem Abgang“, so lobt Jurorin Katharina Iglesias.
€ 45, shop.august-kesseler.de

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

Platz 13: Weingut Theo Minges, Pfalz

2024 BURRWEILER SCHWÄER VDP. GROSSES GEWÄCHS
„Schäwer“ ist das Pfälzer Synonym für Schiefer, einem dort sehr seltenen Gestein. Der Riesling hat eine prägnante Salzigkeit, gepaart mit Trinkfluss, animierender Säure, Balance und mineralischem Abgang. Michael Quentel hebt die animierende Säure und viel Kräuterwürze hervor: „Das hat viel Zug, gute Länge, sehr stark!“

€ 30, www.weingut-minges.com