Owner and winemaker Christian L. Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, was in town (Washington DC). Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, organized a winemaker dinner with him at the trendy BToo Restaurant on 14th Street NW.
40 German wine lovers had a great time with the excellent wines of Christian L. Stahl and the super food of Chef Dieter Samyn. The amazing Belgian/ French/ American food of Chef Dieter Samyn went very well with the bone-dry Franken wines of Christian L. Stahl.
Invitation
Dear Wine Folks,
you are in for a very special treat. Please join me on April 5, 2018 for a one-of-a-kind wine pairing dinner with Christian Stahl from Germany. Christian belongs to the wild generation of young wine makers in Germany who clearly want to renounce wine folklore, who clearly want to work with grape varieties true to their region, who clearly want to produce only upper premium quality wines.
Christian’s wines appeal to the demanding palate and to the ambitious gastronomy (Christian himself is also a brilliant chef!). And I do not need to mention that the menu Bart and Dieter created to match the wines will be outstanding!
For this dinner don’t think “Riesling”. Yes, I personally love German Rieslings, but there is more to German wine than Riesling. The majority of the 13 wine regions in Germany are not just “Riesling”. Christian Stahl makes wine in Franken. The Franken region straddles along the Main River (yes, that’s the river that you see when you land at Frankfurt am Main airport). The Main is with more than 320 miles the longest river lying entirely in Germany, going from East to West and flowing into the Rhine River in Mainz. This river rivals the beauty of the Mosel River with its many twist and turns and horseshoe bends. The Franken wine region starts just 60 miles east of Frankfurt Airport and is an easy 45 minute ride on the Autobahn. On your next stop over in Frankfurt - take a break and check it out!
Signature grape in Franken is the “Silvaner”. Silvaner is an ancient variety originally from Central Europe in Transylvania. During the 30-year war, around the mid 17-hundreds the grape came to the Franken region in Germany. Christian Stahl produces extremely racy, excitingly sleek Silvaner that can age very well.
Christian also focuses on two other unique German varieties: Müller-Thurgau and Scheurebe. Müller-Thurgau is a crossing of Riesling with Madeleine-Royale created in the late 19-hundreds. Christian understands to bring out the sexiness of the grape and to make a Müller-Thurgau that will keep you thinking about it. Scheurebe was created in 1916 by viticulturist Dr. Scheu. It is often regarded as the German answer of Sauvignon-Blanc. He crossed Riesling with Bouquet Blanc and created a grape that brings out wines with a lively acidity and intense, captivating aromas of lemongrass, papaya, passion fruit.
See you at the dinner.
CHEERS
Annette
US$69.69 per person (excluding tax and gratuity)
Winzerhof Stahl
With 3/5 grapes in the Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland 2018, Christian L. Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, belongs to the elite of winemakers in Germany. Winzerhof Stahl is in Franken. Like so many other colleagues from this region, Christian L. Stahl’s Franken wines are virtually unknown outside of Germany.
Within Germany, however, Christian has shown a very strong performance. When Christian Stahl took over the winery of his parents about 10 years ago, the vineyard area totaled 2 hectares. Within a decade, he has gone to 20 hectares. When Christian Stahl took over, the winery was not even mentioned in Germany’s wine guides, like the Gault Millau WeinGuide Deutschland. Within a decade, he has gone from 0/5 to 3/5 grapes. Christian got the second grape in 2012 and the third grape in 2014.
Dry, Fresh, Crisp White Wines
All of the wines of Winzerhof Stahl are bone-dry. He does not produce any sweet-style (fruity-sweet or noble-sweet) wines. Many wine drinkers, in particular outside of Europe, when they see a German wine in the shelves, have the association of a sweet-style wine. This is however misguided. German wines as a rule are dry wines.
Steffen Christmann, the President of the VDP, the German elite wine maker association, estimates that 95% of German wine beyond a price point of Euro 15 is dry. Christian Witte, Domain Administrator of Schloss Johannisberg, says that 85% of the wines he exports to the US are sweet-style. This was 95% 10 years ago. Thus, with his bone-dry wines, Christian L. Stahl is in a niche in the American market, but in a rapidly expanding niche as the world discovers German dry wine.
Wine Classification
Christian Stahl belongs to the group of German winemakers, who go their own way in terms of classifying and naming their wines. Also, he does not sell his wines in the traditional Bocksbeutel bottle, as most of his colleagues do in Franken, but in regular bottles, as in the rest of Germany. Right from the beginning when he took over, he has been using screw caps only.
With regard to classifying his wines, Christian disregards the German (standard) classification of 1971 and markets all his wines as Qualitätswein b.A. But he is not in the group of winemakers, who have instead adopted the VDP approach to classify their wines. He has developed his own, innovative classification system, playing with his name Stahl (= steel).
Christian Stahl groups his wines into 3 categories:
Top: Edel STAHL (= precious steel)
Middle: DAMASZENER STAHL
Entry: feder STAHL
Winzerhof Stahl
Winzerhof Stahl is located in Auernhofen in the Franken wine area. Winemaking is only a recent activity in the Stahl family. Until the mid-1980s, Winzerhof Stahl did not exist. The Stahl family was doing farming and did not make any wine. Christian’s father then decided to acquire vineyards and to shift to winemaking. Today, the vineyard area totals 20 hectares. Winzerhof Stahl also includes a wine restaurant with 200 seats; the food there is at the highest level, as are the Winzerhof Stahl wines.
Christian L. Stahl
Born in 1978, Christian has been in charge of Winzerhof Stahl since 2005. He started his education at Weingut Stein in Würzburg (apprenticeship) in 1999, then spent some time with the biodynamic winemaker Jakob-Peter Kühn in the Rheingau and finished his studies with a Diploma at the Geisenheim University.
The Menu
Chef Dieter Samyn had composed a menu that mixed his love for American food with his Belgian heritage. The American/ Belgian food of Chef Dieter Samyn went very well with the Franken wines of Christian L. Stahl.
Welcome
Headcheese
Sparkling wine, Winzerhof Stahl, 2016 Secco
First Couse
Foie gras lollipop, cherries, speculoos cookies
Rosé, Winzerhof Stahl, 2016
Second Course
Cured seabass, avocado and cucumber, Persian lemon
Silvaner, Winzerhof Stahl, 2016
Third Course
White Asparagus, morel mushroom, slow poached egg
Müller-Thurgau, Winzerhof Stahl, 2016
Fourth Course
Faroe Island Salmon, ramps, griddled fiddlehead fern
Hasennest Steep Slope, Winzerhof Stahl, 2016 Müller Thurgau, Premier Cru
Fifth Course
Almond Cake, passion-mango sorbet, lemon thyme
Scheurebe, Winzerhof Stahl, 2016
The Dinner Wines
We enjoyed 6 wines, all (except for the last wine which we had with the dessert) bone-dry, non-Riesling and very affordable.
Sparkling wine, Winzerhof Stahl, 2016 Secco
Not well known in the world, but Germany is the largest market for sparkling wine in the world. 1 out of 4 bottles of sparkling wine produced around the globe is consumed in Germany. The Germans love bubblies.
50% Scheurebe and 50% Riesling. Brut. A lightly sparkling wine, i.e. the carbon dioxide pressure is much less than in a regular sparkling wine. It is almost a still wine which is a bit fizzy. Delicious.
Rosé, Winzerhof Stahl, 2016
A lovely floral, bright, silky roséthat is great for sipping! ...
Silvaner, Winzerhof Stahl, 2016
Silvaner (primarily grown in Alsace and Germany) is the signature grape of Franken. In Alsace, it is one of the four grape varieties that can be used to produce Alsace Grand Cru wine, although only in one vineyard, Zotzenberg. Subtle in aroma and mild in acidity. Well done Christian.
Müller-Thurgau, Winzerhof Stahl, 2016
Müller-Thurgau is a white grape variety that was created by Hermann Müller from the Swiss Canton of Thurgau in 1882. It is a crossing of Riesling and Madeleine Royale.
Hasennest Steep Slope, Winzerhof Stahl, 2016 Müller Thurgau, Premier Cru
This Müller-Thurgau comes from the Hasennest (rabbit nest), one of Christian's best vineyards.
Scheurebe, Winzerhof Stahl, 2016
Chef Bart Vandaele's BToo
Chef Bart Vandaele's BToo on 14th Street in Washington DC, NW, is a leading restaurant in the Nation's Capital. Annette Schiller and I love to go to winemaker dinners at BToo and organize ouerselves winemaker dinners there. The food of BToo Chef Dieter Samyn and Belga Cafe/ BToo Executive Chef Bart Vandaele is always most creative and delicious.
Chef Bart is a fun guy to hang around with and guide us through the evening. And BToo has a separate room in the basement that is perfect for special events like winemaker dinners.
Chef Dieter Samyn
Dieter Samyn was born and raised in Belgium. As a graduate of the Hotelschool Ter duinen, after several internships at Michelin starred restaurants in France, Spain and Belgium, he started working for Alain Ducasse, a 3 star Michelin chef, where he worked at Le Louis XV, Le Plaza Athenee and Spoon. From there he went to Peter Goossens, another 3 star Michelin chef located in Belgium, where he worked with for 4 years. In 2013, he joint Chef Bart at B Too.
Christian L. Stahl in the US
Christian has been coming to the US since 2016. His first tasting in the US in January 2016 at Cleveland Park Fine Wines and Liquor Store. See: Welcome to the USA: Christian L. Stahl from Winzerhof Stahl in Franken, Germany
Later in the year, when Christian came for the second time, he was our guest of honor at our Riesling Party 2016, where he presented his wines. See: Annette and Christian Schiller’s Summer of Riesling 2016 in McLean, Virginia, with German Star Winemaker Christian L. Stahl, German Wine Journalist Joachim A.J. Kaiser and Virginia Star Winemaker Chris Pearmund
In January 2017 Annette organized a winemaker dinner with him at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia. See: Franken Wines, Virginia Oysters and French-Mediterranian Food: Winemaker Dinner with Christian L. Stahl from Winzerhof Stahl, Germany, and Chef Driss Zahidi at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia
Before the dinner, Annette and Christian Schiller, had invited to a reception with Christian L. Stahl had their private home. We had Rappahanock oysters from Virginia and Stahl wine. They paired very well. See: Franken Wines, Virginia Oysters and French-Mediterranian Food: Winemaker Dinner with Christian L. Stahl from Winzerhof Stahl, Germany, and Chef Driss Zahidi at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia
Later in the year, we visited Christian L. Stahl at the Winzerhof Stahl in Franken and experienced first hand that Christian is not only a gifted winemaker but also a Highly talented chef. Those who came on the Germany-East Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017 will definitely remember the out-of-this-world lunch Christian cooked for us at Winzerhof Stahl. See: Lunch with Christian L. Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, Franken: Not only a Gifted Winemaker but also a Gifted Chef - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
I had met Christian some time ago in Germany at the top Restaurant SchauMahl in Frankfurt/ Germany, were he came for a winemaker dinner.
Anthony Quinn's Impressions
Anthony Quinn on Facebook: Great evening and one that we are thrilled to continue here tonight at Cleveland Park Wine & Spirits join us all Cleveland Park Business Association Cleveland Park in the City Cleveland Park Life with Christian Stahl the owner-winemaker-chef of his own Christian L. Stahl wines in #Franken #Germany 5-8PM, taste here, #freewinetasting enjoy relax smile grin laugh, languish and linger and long and love yourselves, where you are, the moment, ALL! Five wines to taste tonight : 1) Bes of Silvaner 2) Spark sparkling 3) Pink dry rose 4) Muller Thurghau and the 5) Summertime blend of #Bacchus #MullerThurgau and #Silvaner - YES si oui Prosit to one and to all.
Thank you Annette Schiller and Christian Schiller for with B Too restaurant on 14th Street NW Washington DC, we rocked it too, so much happiness, so much joy, everyone pleased, circulating around, one glorious family and community of those that took the time to come and be a part of this 5-course meal last night, with five of Christian's wines. Christian spoke soooooo well in English ( just imagine what he could have done in German ?!?! It does beg the question as he, too made reference to that, and he told so many great jokes and stories and drew us all in, with Annette later filling in more precise specifics about the grapes. ). A grand event, I was thrilled and honored to be there, to be included, met Richard and Marta from Brasil, McCall from North Carolina, Raymond ( that would buy but would not drive back into DC to get the wines ), Thomas, Al, Albert, Martin, Tom, Reinhard - and so many others -... COME JOIN US tonight, 202-363-4265 call if you have any questions! Cheers all! #DrinkGermanWeine!
Bye-bye
Many thanks for a great evening.
schiller-wine: Related Postings
Upcoming Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: April 2, 2018)
Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017
Lunch with Christian L. Stahl, Winzerhof Stahl, Franken: Not only a Gifted Winemaker but also a Gifted Chef - Germany-East Tour 2017 by ombiasy WineTours
Franken Wines, Virginia Oysters and French-Mediterranian Food: Winemaker Dinner with Christian L. Stahl from Winzerhof Stahl, Germany, and Chef Driss Zahidi at Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia
Annette and Christian Schiller’s Summer of Riesling 2016 in McLean, Virginia, with German Star Winemaker Christian L. Stahl, German Wine Journalist Joachim A.J. Kaiser and Virginia Star Winemaker Chris Pearmund
JJ Prüm Winemaker Dinner at BToo in Washington DC/ USA, with Wilhelm Steifensand ("Herr Prüm") and Chef Bart Vandaele
Germany meets France: Bourgogne, Baden, Alsace and Pfalz - Tasting with the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), led by Annette Schiller, USA/ France/ Germany
Welcome to the USA: Christian L. Stahl from Winzerhof Stahl in Franken, Germany
The Bistronomics Cuisine of Chef Christoph Kubenz and the Wines of Winemaker Christian Stahl at Restaurant schauMahl in Frankfurt, Germany
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