Friday, July 29, 2016

Martin Zwick’s BerlinGutsrieslingCup 2016 - Rating Dry Entry-level Rieslings from Germany's Best Producers

Picture: BerlinGutsrieslingCup 2016 Runner-up Johannes Jülg, Weingut Jülg, Pfalz

The BerlinGutsrieslingCup 2016 took place in Berlin, Germany, a few weeks ago, orchestrated by Martin Zwick. 45 wines were included in the tasting. They were blind-tasted by a group of sommeliers, wine writers and wine retailers.


“Gutsriesling” is a combination of Gutswein (Estate Wine) and Riesling: Rated were wines that fulfilled the two criteria – being a Gutswein and a Riesling (from Germany).

This was the 5th BerlinGutsrieslingCup. See here for the previous years’s results:

Martin Zwick’s BerlinGutsrieslingCup 2015 - Rating Dry Entry-level Rieslings from Germany's Best Producers
Martin Zwick’s BerlinGutsweinrieslingCup 2014 - Rating Entry-level Rieslings from Germany's Best Producers
BerlinGutsrieslingCup 2013 – Rating Entry-level Rieslings from Germany
Berlin Gutsriesling Cup 2012, Germany

Picture: Winner (Photo: Facebook)

Gutswein

What is a Gutswein – Estate Wine? Gutswein is a term introduced and used by the members of the VDP association, Germany’s elite winemakers. A Gutswein is an entry level wine of a VDP member.

Picture: Top 3 (Photo: Facebook)

In sharp contrast with the standard classification system of the Law of 1971, the VDP classification system is based on the terroir principle. The pyramid of ripeness of the grapes at harvest (which dominates the standard German wine classification of 1971) has moved to the backburner in the VDP system. Instead, following Bourgogne, the terroir principle has taken center stage. Effective with the 2012 harvest, the VDP classification system consists of 4 layers. (In brackets, the equivalent quality classes in the classification system of the Bourgogne):

• VDP.Grosse Lage (Grand Cru in Burgundy)
• VDP.Erste Lage (Premier Cru in Burgundy)
• VDP.Ortswein (Village level in Burgundy)
• VDP.Gutswein (Bourgogne régional in Burgundy)

Note that for some legal reasons, the VDP has started to use the terms Grosse Lage, Erste Lage, Ortswein and Gutswein with the pre-fix VDP.

For more background information, see:
Steffen Christmann (Weingut A. Christmann) and Wilhelm Weil (Weingut Robert Weil) Presented the New Wine Classification of the VDP, Germany
German Wine Basics: Grosse Lage and Grosslage (and Grosses Gewaechs)
VDP.Grosses Gewaechs, Erstes Gewaechs, Spaetlese/Auslese Trocken, … Labeling Dry Ultra-Premium Wines in Germany
Approaches to Classifying German Wine: The Standard Approach (the Law of 1971), the VDP Approach and the Zero Classification Approach

Picture: Top 5 (Photo: Facebook)

Riesling

There are about 47000 hectares planted with Riesling worldwide. Germany – with 22500 hectares – accounts for about half of the total. The second and third largest Riesling producer are the US (mainly Washington State and Finger Lakes Region) with 4800 hectares and Australia with 4100 hectares. But this is only about 1/10 of the total. Alsace follows with 3500 hectares. Alsace, Ukraine and Austria follow with 3500 hectares, 2700 hectares and 1900 hectares, respectively.

Overall, Riesling is really a niche wine, accounting for less than 1 percent of total wine production in the world - but a very special niche wine. In terms of quality wines, Riesling is usually included in the top three white wine varieties, with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Riesling is highly terroir-expressive, meaning that the character of Riesling wines is clearly influenced by the wine’s place of origin.

Pictures: Wine Lunch with Johannes Jülg at Weingut Jülg, see: Wine Lunch at Weingut Jülg with Johannes Jülg – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015)

Martin Zwick and his Berlin Cups

Martin Zwick was initially known for organizing the BerlinRieslingCup every year. The BerlinRieslingCup is about Germany’s ultra-premium dry grand cru (Grosses Gewaechs) Rieslings from Grosse Lage vineyards. It typically takes place in the second half of September, following the release of the Grosses Gewaechs wines of the previous year.

In the following years, he added 3 other Berlin Cups: The BerlinGutsrieslingCup, which reviews and rates entry-level Rieslings. The BerlinKabinettCup: A ranking of off-dry, light Rieslings that carry the Kabinett predicate. Finally, the BerlinSpätburgunderCup, a ranking of German Pinot Noirs.

Thus, there are now 4 BerlinCups: BerlinRieslingCup, BerlinGutsRieslingCup, BerlinKabinettCup and BerlinSpätburgunderCup.

Pictures: Weingut Rings came in as #3. Here: Annette and Christian Schiller with Andreas Rings and his 2013 Weingut Rings, Kallstadter "Saumagen", Spätburgunder, in Frankfurt. The 2013 Weingut Rings, Kallstadter "Saumagen", Spätburgunder was #1 in the BerlinSpätburgunderCup 2013/2015, see: Germany's Best Pinot Noir Wines - BerlinSpätburgunderCup 2013/2015

The Ranking

Karl Schaefer 88
Jülg 87
Rings 87
Keller PdP Edition 87
Langwerth von Simmern 86
Laible 86
Adam 86
Johannisberg 86
Huff 86
Y-Sommelier 85
Weegmüller Literriesling 85
Wagner-Stempel 85
Koenen „Wirewalker“ 85
Siener 85
Maximin Grünhäuser 85
Emrich Schönleber 85
J. Baptist Schaefer 85
Wageck 85
Schwedhelm 85
Battenfeld-Spanier 85
Bunn „Fleißges Lieschen“ 85
Gold 85
Knebel 85
Brand 85
Gabel 85
Wittmann 85
Michel 84
Künstler 84
Schäfer-Fröhlich 84
Diel 84
Kühling-Gillot 83
Fußer 83
Bürklin-Wolf 83
Toni Jost 83
Walter 83
Ress 83
Gunderloch 83
Rebholz 83
K.H. Schneider 82
Zilliken 82
Werther-Windisch 82
von Buhl 81
Knewitz 81
St. Antony Rotschiefer 81
Schätzel 80

schiller-wine: Related Postings (Berlin Cups)

Germany’s Best Ultra-premium Dry Riesling Wines - BerlinRieslingCup 2015, Germany
Germany’s Best Ultra-premium Dry Riesling Wines - BerlinRieslingCup 2014, Germany
Germany’s Best Ultra-premium Dry Riesling Wines - BerlinRieslingCup 2013, Germany
Germany’s Ultra Premium Dry Riesling Wines – The Berlin Riesling Cup 2012
Germany’s Top Wines – The Berlin Riesling Cup 2011 Ranking

Martin Zwick’s BerlinGutsrieslingCup 2016 - Rating Dry Entry-level Rieslings from Germany's Best Producers
Martin Zwick’s BerlinGutsrieslingCup 2015 - Rating Dry Entry-level Rieslings from Germany's Best Producers
Martin Zwick’s BerlinGutsrieslingCup 2014 - Rating Entry-level Rieslings from Germany's Best Producers
BerlinGutsrieslingCup 2013 – Rating Entry-level Rieslings from Germany
Berlin Gutsriesling Cup 2012, Germany

Martin Zwick's BerlinKabinettCup 2016: Germany's Best 2015 Riesling Kabinett Wines
Martin Zwick's BerlinKabinettCup 2015: Germany's Best 2014 Riesling Kabinett Wines
Martin Zwick's BerlinKabinettCup 2014, Germany
BerlinKabinettCup 2013 - Kabinett 2012, Germany

Germany's Best Pinot Noir Wines - BerlinSpätburgunderCup 2013/2015
Germany's Best Pinot Noir Wines - BerlinSpätburgunderCup 2012/2014
BerlinSpaetburgunderCup 2011/2013, Germany

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Germany-East Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Art, Culture and History

Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: Quintessential German Riesling and the Northernmost Pinot Noir

Burgundy (and Champagne) 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Reims - Wine, Food, Culture and History

Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Steffen Christmann (Weingut A. Christmann) and Wilhelm Weil (Weingut Robert Weil) Presented the New Wine Classification of the VDP, Germany

Approaches to Classifying German Wine: The Standard Approach (the Law of 1971), the VDP Approach and the Zero Classification Approach

Germany's Best Pinot Noir Wines - BerlinSpätburgunderCup 2013/2015

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Vineyard Walk, Cellar Walk and Tasting at Domaine Ferret in Fuissé, Poully­ Fuissé, Mâconnais, with Winemaker Audrey Braccini - Burgundy (and Champagne) 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

Picture: At Domaine Ferret in Fuissé, Poully­ Fuissé, Mâconnais

Following Lunch at L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges, Paul Bocuse’s restaurant in Collonges­ au­ Mont­ d’Or, we drove to the North through the Beaujolais Region to Domaine Ferret in Fuissé, Pouilly­ Fuissé, Mâconnais.

There, Audrey Braccini, Winemaker and General Manager of Domaine Ferret, was our host. We took a quick vineyard tour, followed by a visit of the newly constructed modern winery, were we had a tasting.

Pictures: Fuissé

Domaine Ferret

Domaine Ferret has played a key role in defining the quality of the region. It was the first Domaine in Pouilly-Fuissé to begin bottling on the estate, shortly after the Second World War. Further, its long-standing focus on vinifying each parcel of vines separately has allowed for the identification of the top terroirs.

The Domaine Ferret portfolio falls into three tiers: Classic, Têtes de Cru and Cuvée Hors-Classe. The Tête de Cru and Hors-Classe parcels that have been identified are a precursor to the stratification of the appellation system (which is currently under consideration by the Institut National des Appellations d’Origine). As in the Côte d’Or, the wines in each range reflect their particular terroir, and these top cuvées are produced only in great vintages.

Under the formidable leadership of Jeanne Ferret, who ran the house with a rod of iron for half a century, Domaine Ferret became a major force in the region. She was well into her eighties and still very much in charge when her daughter, Colette, joined her in 1992. Jeanne Ferret died in 1993. Colette Ferret died in 2007, leaving no heirs, and so after 150 years in the Ferret family, the Domaine was put up for sale. When Louis Jadot bought Domaine Ferret in 2008, Audrey Braccini was appointed Winemaker and General Manager of Domaine Ferret.

Picture:  Winemaker Audrey Braccini Welcoming us

Audrey Braccini

Audrey Braccini was born in 1979 in the Lorraine region of northeast France, where she grew up admiring her father’s dedication to cultivating his wine cellar. Inspired by his passion, Audrey Braccini moved to the heart of the renowned wine region of Languedoc-Roussillon, and enrolled in Montpellier University’s prestigious enology program. After successfully earning a master’s degree in vineyards and wine, she launched her career in Beaujolais the Fleurie Co-operative. In 2008, Braccini’s talents earned her the position of Managing Director and Winemaker for the historic Domaine Ferret estate in the nearby Mâconnais region. Drawing on her years of experience and expertise, she dove headfirst into the regional Chardonnay and Pouilly-Fuissé appellations.

Audrey has made many small changes, for example trying to avoid using commercial yeasts, whereas before 2008 Ferret used only commercial yeast, chosen for reliability. And Louis Jadot has made an extensive investment too: we took a five minute stroll from the original winery to a slick, efficient and modern new winery tucked behind a village wall. It opened just in time for the 2012 harvest and gives Audrey a huge amount of extra space to work with, and complete control with three bladder presses so grapes never have to wait to be pressed, and an all gravity-flow winery built on site that slopes four-metres from front to back of the winery.

Since 1840 Domaine Ferret has had an uninterrupted tradition of women as directors/winemakers, a tradition that has been continued by Audrey Braccini since 2008.

Vineyards

The Pouilly-Fuissé vineyards lie on a narrow band of land in southern Burgundy. Since the creation of the appellation in 1936, only wines from the villages of Chaintré, Fuissé, Solutré-Pouilly and Vergisson are authorized to bear the Pouilly-Fuissé name. Domaine Ferret’s estate vineyards are comprised of 18 hectares throughout the Pouilly-Fuissé appellation; 14 of these are located in the amphitheater of hills surrounding the town of Fuissé and 4 are near the Roche de Vergisson, in the north of the appellation.

The spectrum of rocks present in Fuissé is the most diverse within the Maconnais, and the Ferret vineyards, which are spread across the appellation's entire range of soil types, is one of its best ambassadors. The soils can be poor, made up of hard limestone and even calcite, but they can also be richer clays, based on alluvial marl deposits, schist's and even volcanic-sedimentary pebbles. More than 330 million years separate the most ancient of these rocks from the most recent deposits. These foundation rocks, located on the eastern fringe of the Beauregard plateau, are made up of limestone deposited by ancient lakes.

Domaine Ferret practices sustainable viticulture. This basic level of green viticulture shows an awareness of the need to preserve the environment, promote biodiversity and maintain soil health by minimizing the use of chemical treatments, among other approaches.

Pictures: In the Vineyards

Louis Jadot

Domaine Ferret is owned by Maison Louis Jadot. Maison Louis Jadot was founded by Louis Henry Denis Jadot in 1859 and is a family wine company that produces and markets Burgundy wine. It operates both its own vineyards and also buys grapes from many growers. It controls 270 hectares of vineyards in Burgundy (including Beaujolais Crus) and produces only AOC wines.

In 1985 Maison Louis Jadot - excluding the vineyards, which remained the property of the Jadot and Gagey families - was sold to the family of Rudy Kopf, who also own Kobrand, Jadot’s US importer.
In 1997, Maison Louis Jadot ventured outside of the Beaune region for the first time, purchasing the substantial holdings of Chateau des Jacques in the Beaujolais, one of the most important estates of the Moulin-à-Vent appellation.

Today, Maison Louis Jadot controls 225 hectares of vineyards in Burgundy, of which 119 hectares lie in the Côte d'Or: Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot, Domaine Louis Jadot, Domaine Gagey and Domaine du Duc de Magenta.

The Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot has long belonged to the Jadot family. Domaine Louis Jadot grew in 1985 with the purchase of Domaine Clair Daü. Domaine Gagey has belonged to André Gagey's family for generations. The Domaine du Duc de Magenta belongs to an established Burgundian family that has given Maison Louis Jadot the right to vinify and sell the wines from its vineyards of Chassagne Montrachet Premier Cru Morgeot Clos de la Chapelle and Puligny Montrachet Premier Cru Clos de la Garenne. Maison Louis Jadot is settled in Beaujolais since 1996: the Château des Jacques property includes 80 hectares of Moulin à Vent, Morgon, Fleurie and Chénas. In 2008, Maison Louis Jadot bought Domaine Ferret, which is located in the heart of the Pouilly Fuissé appellation.

Pictures: Tour of the new Winery

Kobrand and the Kopf Family

Kobrand is owned by the 3 daughters of the firm's founder, Rudolph C. Kopf. Kopf was born in the Queens in New York City and graduated from the University of Columbia's Business School in 1927. All his youth, he lived under prohibition. Prohibition was repealed by President Franklin Roosevelt, when he took office in 1933. It was in that year that Kopf started a wine and spirits department at New York's famed Macy's department store. Under his guidance, it became known as one of the best shops in the country and Kopf established himself as an industry force.

In 1944, at the age of 38, he struck out on his own and formed his own wine and spirits marketing company, which he called the Kobrand Corporation. Although light on money, Kopf was well connected, having established relationships in the wine and spirits business around the world.

Kopf's big break came in 1945 when he lined up his first major wine brand to represent, Maison Louis Jadot, which was established in France in 1859. With the Jadot business in hand, Kopf's next notable achievement was landing a spirits brand: Beefeater Gin. A third key brand acquisition in another important category, champagne, took place shortly after the Beefeater deal, when Kopf secured the marketing rights to Taittinger Champagne.

In 1985, Kobrand bought Maison Louis Jadot. Only a few months after the Jadot deal was completed, Kopf died at age 80 and his three daughters shared in the ownership of Kobrand. Also in 1985 Kobrand acquired its first stake in a California company, Napa Valley's Sequoia Grove Vineyards. A year later, Kobrand turned its attention to Northern California, forming a joint venture with Taittinger called Domaine Carneros. Kobrand added further to its California interests in 1987 when it reached a marketing agreement with Cakebread Cellars.

The year 1987 also marked the end of the relationship with Beefeater Gin. In the late 1980s and early 1990s Kobrand added a host of brands, making the firm a major marketer of Italian wines. These labels included Sassicala, Ornellaia, Terriccio, Spalletti, and Chiehe Chiarlo.

Kobrand continues to be a family company, owned by the founders three daughters.

Pictures: Tasting at Domaine Ferret in Fuissé, Poully­ Fuissé, Mâconnais, with Winemaker Audrey Braccini

Tasting

At the end of the tour of the new winery, we were offered a tasting in the winery. We tasted the following wines.


2014 Domaine Ferret Pouilly-Fuissé

The Pouilly-Fuissé is a blend of the best vineyard parcels with 10- to 35-year-old vines from the Fuissé amphitheater of limestone and clay soils. Each parcel is vinified separately to ensure the finest expression of the fruit. Half the wine is fermented in enameled tanks and half in used oak barrels.

Subtle notes include minerals, yellow fruits, flowers, fresh hazelnuts and spices, with an intense finish. The perfect equilibrium of this wine allows it to retain its vibrancy with age.


2014 Domaine Ferret Pouilly-Fuissé Autour de la Roche


2014 Domaine Ferret Pouilly-Fuissé Tête de Cru Le Clos

Situated between the winery building and Fuissé’s old church, the Le Clos parcel is 1.65 acres, and one of few parcels to enjoy an exposure to the east. Half of its vines are 20 years old, while the other half are at least 40 years of age. They grow on a thin topsoil covering limestone and shale. The wine is fermented in oak barrels and sees significant barrel maturation, a part of it on the lees.

This is a powerful wine that offers refined flavors of fresh almond, apricot, yellow fruit and minerals. Overall it is vivacious and balanced, with an exceptional, intense finish.


2014 Domaine Ferret Pouilly-Fuissé Tête de Cru Les Perrières

Les Perrières is situated on a sloping southeast exposure just above the Le Clos parcel, and has limestone and young clay soils. The vines are an average of 35 years old. The wine is fermented in oak barrels before further barrel maturation, a part of it on the lees.

Opens with floral and spice notes on the nose and palate. A generous, creamy mouthfeel complements a nice ripeness and intense richness. The wine is ample, smooth and well balanced, with a vivid, spicy finish. With age, it will gain in richness and fully reveal itself.


2014 Domaine Ferret Pouilly-Fuissé Hors-Classe Les Ménétrières

Les Ménétrières is a southeast-facing vineyard less than one hectare in size that borders the village of Fuissé. One third of the vines are 40 years old; one third are 20, and a third are 10. The upper half of the vineyard is planted on shale, while the lower half is planted on pearly slabs. The soil is composed of alluvial deposits, a mix of deep silt and clay with few stones. The subsoil features streaks of limestone and limestone marls, while top layers are rich in stone-free limestone deposits and light marls. Fermentation takes place in oak barrels, of which 20% are new, and is followed by a period of six months’ aging on fine lees.

Superbly rich and generous, the wine has aromas of subtle cream blended with rich Chardonnay fruit, with honey notes. On the palate, ripe fruit, toast and quince paste punctuate a full-bodied, generous rich wine that is powerful, intense and vivid, with a long, haunting finish. The wine will benefit from further maturing in bottle.


2014 Domaine Ferret Pouilly-Fuissé Hors-Classe Tournant de Pouilly

Situated in the northern Fuissé region, bordering on the hamlet of Pouilly, the Tournant de Pouilly vineyard of just under one hectare lies on an east-facing slope. Old vines of an average 50 years old are planted along a narrow band of pearly slabs of fossilized oyster shells that twist their way between Fuissé and Pouilly, which give this wine a linear, mineral character. There is deep, limestone-rich silt and clay containing a few stones, as well. Fermentation takes place in oak barrels, of which 20% are new, and is followed by a period of six months’ aging on fine.

Aromas of grilled almonds and lime-leaf tea with notes of wax preced rich, luxurious flavors on the palate, balanced by precise minerality. The finish is particularly long and intense, and this wine can age for 10-15 years.


Bye-bye

Thanks Audrey for a great tour and tasting.

Pictures: Annette Schiller. Christian Schiller and Winemaker Audrey Braccini

Postings: Burgundy (and Champagne) 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Reims - Wine, Food, Culture and History (Published and Forthcoming Postings)

Burgundy (and Champagne) 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours: From Lyon to Reims - Wine, Food, Culture and History

Dinner at a Bouchon - Chez Paul - in Lyon: Schiller’s Favorite Bouchons in Lyon, France

Introduction to the Burgundy Wine Region at Antic Wine in Lyon with Flying Sommelier Georges Dos Santos - Burgundy (and Champagne) 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at L’Auberge du Pont de Collonges, Paul Bocuse’s Iconic Restaurant in Collonges­ au­ Mont­ d’Or, France - Burgundy (and Champagne) 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

In the Most Prestigious AOC in the Mâconnais: Pouilly-Fuissé, France

Vineyard Walk, Cellar Walk and Tasting at Domaine Ferret in Fuissé, Poully ­Fuissé, Mâconnais, with Winemaker Audrey Braccini

Vineyard Walk, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Georges Descombes in Vermont,Villié­ Morgon, Beaujolais, with Madame Descombes

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Theulot­-Juillot in Mercurey, Côte Chalonnaise, with Ow ner/ Winemaker Nathalie Juillot

Visit of Château de Rully and Tasting of the Château de Rully Wines with Count Raoul de Ternay

Cellar Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Domaine Michel Prunier & Fille in Auxey­ Duresses, Côte de Beaune, with Michel Prunier

Vineyard walk in Meursault with Karoline Knoth

Maison Olivier Leflaive in Puligny­ Montrachet, Côte de Beaune: Vineyard Walk and Cellar Tour with Olivier and Patrick Leflaive along with Sommelier Charles Devarennes

Wine Pairing Lunch at Restaurant La Table d’Olivier Leflaive in Puligny­ Montrachet

Visit of the Hospice de Beaune

Lunch at Brasserie le Carnot in Beaune

Tour of the Ancient Cellars and Tasting at Maison Joseph Drouhin in Beaune, Côte de Beaune

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Beaune, Bourgogne

An American in Burgundy: Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Dublère in Savigny ­lès­ Beaune with Owner/ Winemaker Blair Pethel

Charcuterie and Cheese Paired with 12 Burgundy Wines at La Maison de Maurice in Beaune with Maurice Marle

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Faiveley in Nuits-­Saint­-George, Côte de Nuits

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Jean­-Jacques Confuron in Prémeaux­-Prissey Côte de Nuits with Louis Meunier

Lunch at Restaurant La Cabotte in Nuits-­Saint-­George

Visit and Tasting at Domaine Thibault Liger­-Belair in Nuits­-Saint­-George with Thibault Liger-­Belair

Visit of Château du Clos de Vougeot

Where the Most Expensive Red Wines Come from: Vineyard Walk, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Anne Gros in Vosne­-Romanée, Côte de Nuits

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Guillon & Fils in Gevrey­-Chambertin, Côte de Nuits, with Jean-Michel Guillon

An Institution: Lunch at Restaurant Chez Guy in Gevrey­-Chambertin

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Armelle et Bernhard Rion in Vosne­-Romanée, Côte de Nuits, with Alice Rion

Tour at the Fontenay Abbey (Bernard de Clairveau), Montbard

Wine Pairing Lunch, Cellar Visit, Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Domaine Jean­ Marc Brocard in Préhy, Chablis

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars and other Wine Venues in Chablis, France

Champagne – An Introduction, France

French Champagne Houses and German Roots 

Visit and Tasting at the Grower Champagne House Champagne Jean Josselin in Gyé­ sur ­Seine, Champagne, with Jean Pierre Josselin, his Wife and Sharona Tsubota

Cellar Visit and Tasting at the Champagner House AR Lenoble in Epernay, Champagne, with Export Manager Christian Holthausen

Cellar Visit and Tasting at the Champagner House Taittinger in Reims, Champagne

Lunch at Brasserie Flo in Reims 

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Charleston, South Carolina, USA

Picture: At McCrady's with Bartender Bethany Kocak - Note the Enormous Wine List

Charleston in South Carolina in the U. S. is a coastal town rich in history and tradition that also has plenty to offer for food and wine aficionados, including several outstanding wine bars.

Built 3 centuries ago, the city of Charleston is one of the best preserved architectural treasures in the U.S. The meticulously restored colonial homes lining its charming streets are a reminder of the city’s long and colorful history. The birthplace of the Charleston dance – made famous by Josephine Baker – the city still has all the charm that it owes to its multi-ethnic European origins.

This posting is an update of: Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Charleston, South Carolina, USA (2013)

Pictures: Charleston in South Carolina - Beach, City, Our Temporary Home, Magnolia Plantation

Schiller’s Favorites

The wine bars are in alphabetical order.

Bin 152 Wine Bar

152 King Street

Open until 2:00 am daily.

Bin 152 is a casual wine bar. The décor conveys a relaxed feel. Large paintings by local artists hang on the walls and antique tables and chairs are scattered throughout. The owners are an American husband and French wife.

Bin 152 has a selection of 30 wines by the glass and more than 100 wines by the bottle, a nice blend of Old and New World. Wines by the glass start at $7 and bottles of wine start at $30. In terms of food, Bin 152 has a most interesting assortment of cheese and charcuterie to accompany the wine.

Pictures: At Bin 152, with Annette Schiller and Keith Edward

Charleston Grill

224 King Street

Among the top wine lists in town. There is live Jazz every evening.

Charleston Grill is fine dining at its best, situation within the Charleston Place Hotel. The seasonal menu has four categories: Pure, Southern, Cosmopolitan and Lush, but you can mix and match and create the perfect meal.

Charleston Grill also has bar with an excellent wine list with 1300 items, well sorted and with a strong focus on old world wines. Interestingly, the list of dry Rieslings has no German wine, but the list of sweet Rieslings is long and dominated by German producers.

Picture: Christian Schiller with Rick Rubel, Sommelier of Charleston Grill

Charlestowne Tobacco & Wine

189 E Bay St (Btw Cumberland St. And Queen St.)

Topher Cassidy: Awesome place. Acacia Pinot Noir is amazing. Great place to have a cigar, a glass of wine, and listen to live acoustic music.

Picture: Charlestowne Tobacco & Wine

Cypress

167 E. Bay Street

If you want to treat yourself to an upscale culinary experience, put Cypress on your list. The cuisine is eclectic American with a subtle blend of French and Asian. But if you want just a glass of wines, Cypress also has a swanky mezzanine bar upstairs.

When you enter the restaurant you will notice an astonishing three story wine wall to your right. The wine comes from all over the world. There is clearly a focus on well established estates. You find quite a selection of grand cru Bordeaux wines. All in all, about 300 bottles on the wine list.

Both the dining area and the mezzanine bar have a modern, chic vibe.

Pictures: Annette Schiller at Cypress with Johannes Leitz Dragonstone Riesling and Sommelier Bill Netherland

Pictures: Sommelier Bill Netherland at Cypress

Picture: Christian Schiller, Annette Schiller, Keith Edwards and Parlo Edwards at Cypress in Charleston. South Carolina, see: Dining and Wining in Charleston, South Carolina, at Cypress, McCrady’s and Bin 152 with #winelover and Blogger Keith Edwards and Parlo Edwards

Edmund’s Oast

549 East Bay Street

Housed in a timber-framed 6,000-square-foot warehouse, it's the kind of brewery-restaurant that has a lot of everything for everyone. There are 40-plus beers on tap. But Edmond’s Oast also has a short, yet most interesting wine list. An interesting place in general. However, people do not come here for the wine but for the beer.

Pictures: At Edmund’s Oast

Elliotborough Mini Bar

Percy Street/Bogard Street

Tucked away neighborhood spot, used to be part of Trattoria Lucca.

Pictures: At Elliotborough Mini Bar

Fig

232 Meeting Street

Fig – food is good. FIG is an interesting restaurant located in the heart of downtown Charleston, serving seasonally inspired cuisine with a commitment to using local and sustainable foods. The bar is a popular place for appetizers and the wine list is interesting.

Pictures: At Fig

Husk

76 Queen St

A lot has been written about Husk. It's all Southern, all the time. At Husk you will eat what is popping out of the ground this minute, and maybe even look at an old classic in a new way. Next to the restaurant is a separate bar.

Husk has a very innovative wine list. The wines are not grouped by regions are by grape varieties, but by terroir type: SLATE - Slate is a dark, plate-like metamorphic rock formed under low pressure. It retains heat and water well. Often gives the wine a “flinty” taste. CLAY. LIMESTONE - Limestone is made primarily from fossilized seashells. It possesses the ability to store water for irrigation, which is essential for wine growth. Its alkaline nature encourages high acidity grapes to flourish. PRIMARY ROCK - Primary Rock is a term used to describe rocks being first formed containing crystalline and no organic remains. These soils usually warm quickly and hold heat well, they allow the vines to dig deep to find nutrients needed for growth and have the best possible drainage. VOLCANIC - Volcanic soils have two types; vent based and lava based. Volcanic influenced soils are found to have some of the most nutrient rich soils for vine growth.

Pictures: At Husk Wine Bar

McCrady's

2 Unity Alley

Among the top wine lists in town.

New Southern fine dining fresh from the farm and a gorgeous space that dates from the early 1800’s make McCrady’s one of the best restaurants in town.

McCrady’s also has a very nice bar, which features an amazing wine list, as well as a diverse and delicious bar snack menu. Each day, a chalkboard above the bar will offer several featured snacks.

Pictures: Annette Schiller with Garth Herr, Manager and Sommelier, at McCrady's

Pictures: Garth Herr, Manager and Sommelier, and Jodi Bronchtein, Sommelier. at McCrady's

Pictures: Dinner at McCrady's with Jodi Bronchtein, see: Dining and Wining in Charleston, South Carolina, at Cypress, McCrady’s and Bin 152 with #winelover and Blogger Keith Edwards and Parlo Edwards

Picture: McCrady's Sommelier Jodi Bronchtein at Bin 152

Muse Restaurant and Wine Bar

82 Society Street

Located off the beaten path on Society Street. A cozy dining area, in addition to a fun bar area.

Robert Moss: With dozens of good selections by the glass, Muse’s wine list is among the most comprehensive in town. Whether you snag an outdoor table in the small courtyard, a cozy seat in one of the small dining rooms, or a stool at the wine bar in the front room, you’re bound to have a pleasant Mediterranean journey.

Pictures: At Muse

O’Hara and Flynn

225 Meeting Street

Yelp: This is a great little wine shop/bar located in a busy part of town yet manages to stay low key. The atmosphere here is what every wine shop should strive for. Lite music playing in the background and candles set the mood for a relaxing glass of wine. Service was personable and attentive without being overbearing. We were left to enjoy our meal and wine at a leisurely pace. They offer a great wine list with reasonable prices and nice size pours.

Pictures: At O’Hara and Flynn

Peninsula Grill at the Planters Inn

112 N. Market St.

Originally built in 1844, the Planters Inn is located in the very heart of Charleston’s famed Historic District. Elegant, stylish while simultaneously refined and relaxed, the Peninsula Grill captures the true essence of Charleston in both ambiance and cuisine. The courtyard and verandas, with their ornate landscaping and fountains, create an urban oasis in which to relax, sip delicious cocktails and taste the generous regional American cuisine of the acclaimed Peninsula Grill.

The wine menu is excellent with a good selection of wines by the glass. There is no separate bar.

Proof

437 King Street

Open until 2 am daily.

Upscale cocktails. Wines by the glass. Craft beers. Plus nibbles like homemade sloppy joes. Proof is an intimate craft cocktail bar with an extensive wines by the glass list and a real good beer list.

Pictures: At Proof

Stems & Skins

1070 East Montague Avenue

Open until 2:00 am daily.

A neighborhood bar serving natural wines, classic cocktails and beer from around the world. Stems and Skins' wine list features rotating selections curated by former Husk Sommelier Matt Tunstall and with plenty of red, white, and sparkling as well as ciders, sherries, and even vermouths. Matt says many of his ferments come from small batches, so expect to see plenty of variety in what's available night-to-night. Matt and his wife Angie man the bar each night and serve small plates and cheeses.

Pictures: At Stems & Skins with Owner Matt Tunstall

Pictures: Summer of Riesling at Stems & Skins, see also: Summer of Riesling. All Summer. All German. – 3 German Rieslings from Tesch, JJ Prüm and Leitz at Aldo Sohm Wine Bar in New York and Germany-North 2016 Tour by ombiasy WineTours

The Ordinary

544 King Street

Washington Post: Anything but ordinary, this seafood attraction -- a sister to Fig set in a former bank -- impresses diners with its art deco bones and sublime surf. Cue the hush puppies stuffed with diver scallops and served with chowchow tartar sauce.

Pictures: Oysters at The Ordinary

Schiller’ Favorites

Here is a complete list of Schiller's Favorites:

Europe

Germany

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Taverns in Würzburg, Franken, Germany
Schiller’s Favorites: 2 Legendary Wine Taverns in Würzburg – Juliusspital and Bürgerspital
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars and Wine Taverns in Freiburg, Baden, Germany
Schiller's Favorites: Frankfurt Apple Wine Taverns that Make their own Apple Wine
Schiller's Favorite Winemakers in Sachsen (Saxony), Germany
Schiller’s Favorite Winemakers in the Saale-Unstrut Region, Germany
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Taverns in Trier, Germany
Schiller's Favorite (Wine-) Restaurants in Deidesheim in the Pfalz, Germany
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in Berlin, Germany
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Frankfurt am Main, 2013, Germany
Schiller's Favorite Apple Wine Taverns in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Taverns in Mainz, Germany

France

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars and other Wine Venues in Chablis, France
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Beaune, Bourgogne
Dinner at a Bouchon - Chez Paul - in Lyon: Schiller’s Favorite Bouchons in Lyon, France
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Beaune, Bourgogne, France (2015)
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Bordeaux City, France
Schiller’s Favorite Restaurants, Brasseries, Bistros, Cafes and Wine Bars in Paris, France
Schiller's Favorite Seafood Places in Bordeaux City, France
Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in Bordeaux City, France, 2014
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in St. Emilion, France
Schiller’s Favorite Restaurants, Brasseries, Bistros, Cafes and Wine Bars in Paris, 2012 France
Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in Bordeaux (City) (2012), France

UK, Spain, Austria, Hungary

Schiller's Favorite Winebars in London, UK
Schiller’s Favorite Tapas Bars in Logroño in La Rioja, Spain
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in London, 2012, UK
Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars and Other Wine Spots in Vienna, Austria
Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in Budapest, Hungary
Schiller’s Favorite Spots to Drink Wine in Vienna, Austria (2011)

USA

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Austin, Texas, USA
Riesling Crawl in New York City – Or, Where to Buy German Wine in Manhattan: Schiller's Favorite Wine Stores, USA
Schiller's Favorite Oyster Bars and Seafood Places in Seattle, USA
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in New York City, USA
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Seattle, USA
Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in Washington DC, USA
Schiller’s Favorite Crab Houses in the Washington DC Region, USA
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in New York City, 2012, USA
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Charleston, South Carolina, USA (2013)
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in San Francisco, USA
Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars and Other Places Where You Can Have a Glass of Wine in Healdsburg, California

Asia

Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars in Singapore
Schiller s Favorite Winebars in Beijing, 2014, China

Africa

Schiller's Favorite Wines of Madagascar
Schiller’s 12 Favorite Restaurants of Antananarivo, the Capital of Madagascar

schiller-wine: Related Postings 

Dining and Wining in Charleston, South Carolina, at Cypress, McCrady’s and Bin 152 with #winelover and Blogger Keith Edwards and Parlo Edwards