Annette Schiller, President of ombiasy WineTours and member of the American Wine Society, led 3 wine tastings at the 2025 National Conference of the American Wine Society: (1) The Terroir Expressive Riesling Grape: A Deep Dive, (2) Georgia: The Cradle of Wine and (3) Pinot Noir: A Comparison of the Top Three Pinot Noir Regions in the World.
The American Wine Society
The American Wine Society was founded in 1967 as a non-profit,
educational, consumer-oriented organization for those interested in
learning more about all aspects of wine. On October 7, 1967, around 200
grape growers, home winemakers, and wine lovers gathered at Dr.
Konstantin Frank’s vineyard on Keuka Lake near Hammondsport, NY for the
AWS’ initial meeting.
In December of the same year, the thirteen charter members, led by
Founder Dr. Konstantin Frank, met to determine the organization
structure of AWS and elect officers. Now in its 49th year, the American
Wine Society is the largest consumer based wine education
organization in North America. Membership is open to anyone
interested in wine and over 21 years of age.
The 58th American Wine Society National Conference in Chantilly, Virginia
Each November the Society hosts a three-day national conference with
two full days of nearly 50 educational seminars to choose from.
Winery owners, wine educators, and renowned wine makers are selected
to present sessions during this national event. In addition, a
program educating members to become AWS certified wine judges is
conducted on the day preceding the seminars.
The 58th American Wine Society (AWS) National Conference was held from November 6-8, 2025, at the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles in Chantilly, VA. Attendance was at around 600 wine lovers from all over the USA.
Thursday and Friday were the days of wine judging. There were full-day courses for
those who want to become a certified AWS Wine Judge. This is a 3-year
program. Also, the Amateur and Commercial Wine Competitions took place
on Thursday and earlier in the week.
Saturday and Sunday was filled with about 50 wine seminars, led by
winery owners, wine educators, and renowned winemakers. The breakfasts,
lunches, dinners and after-dinner gatherings provided ample
opportunities to network with other AWS members.
Postings on schiller-wine (Released and Forthcoming)
This is the ninth in a series of postings related to the American Wine Society National Conference 2025 in Chantilly, Virginia:
The 2025 American Wine Society National Conference in Chantilly/ Virginia/ USA, with Annette and Christian Schiller: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens
German Wines from Rheinland Pfalz - Mosel, Rheinhessen, Nahe, Pfalz: Annette and Christian Schiller Pour Premium German Wines at the Showcase of Wines of the 2025 American Wine Society National Conference in Chantilly, Virginia
The Terroir Expressive Riesling Grape: A Deep Dive - Seminar at the American Wine Society National Conference 2025 in Chantilly, Virginia, led by Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours
Georgia: The Cradle of Wine - Seminar at the American Wine Society National Conference 2025 in Chantilly, Virginia, led by Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours and Patrick Honnef, CEO and Winemaker, Château Mukhrani, GeorgiaLate-night Tasting of older French and Californian Wines, with about 20 Wine Friends, including 3 Winemakers - Joel Peterson, the Godfather of Zinfandel, Chris Pearmund, Pearmund Cellars, Virginia and Patrick Honnef, Château Mukhrani, Georgia - at the American Wine Society National Conference 2025 in Chantilly, Virginia
The Joy of Wine - Celebrating Wine with Wine Friends: The Grand Banquet at the American Wine Society National Conference 2025 in Chantilly, Virginia
Winemaker Michael Shaps, Virginia/ USA and Bourgogne/ France, Winner of the American Wine Society Merit Award 2025
Post-Conference Dinner with Patrick Honnef, CEO and Winemaker, Château Mukhrani, Georgia at our Home in McLean Virginia - American Wine Society National Conference 2025 in Chantilly, Virginia
Winemaker Michael Shaps, Virginia/ USA and Bourgogne/ France, Honored with 2025 American Wine Society Award of Merit at the American Wine Society National Conference 2025 in Chantilly, Virginia
November 13, 2025 (Chantilly, VA) — The American Wine Society (AWS) has named Michael Shaps the recipient of its 2025 Award of Merit, the organization’s highest honor, presented during the AWS National Conference at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly, Virginia. The American Wine Society Award of Merit recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the wine industry through winemaking, grape growing, education, marketing, or writing.
Over the past three decades, Michael Shaps has been a driving force behind the growth and rising quality of Virginia’s wine industry. Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Virginia winemaking, Shaps has combined technical skill, innovation, and mentorship to help shape the state’s modern wine identity. Shaps’ own wines have earned an unprecedented 83 gold medals at the annual Virginia Governor’s Cup competition, with nine appearances in the Governor’s Case since 2016 and two Governor’s Cup-winning wines. Beyond his personal achievements, he has shared his expertise with dozens of aspiring winemakers across the Commonwealth, many of whom now operate some of Virginia’s most acclaimed wineries.
In addition to his Virginia operations, Shaps has extended his influence internationally. In 2004, he established a winery in Meursault, France, where he produces a line of Burgundies under the Maison Shaps label. In Virginia, Michael Shaps Wineworks crafts wines from a wide range of varietals for his own label and more than 20 clients. A firm believer in matching varietals to terroir, Shaps selects vineyard sites across the state to highlight Virginia’s unique character. His wines have been featured in leading publications including Saveur, Wine Spectator, Decanter, and Wine Advocate.
“Michael Shaps has not only elevated the standard of Virginia wine but has also shared his knowledge generously, helping countless others succeed,” said Natalie Dippenaar, Executive Director of the American Wine Society. “His influence is felt across vineyards, cellars, and tasting rooms throughout the Commonwealth.”
Annette and I had the pleasure of attending a winemaker dinner with Michael Shaps who makes wine both in Virginia, USA, and Bourgogne, France.
Invitation
Friday, November 8, 2019 7:00 PM
$106.00; excluding tax and gratuity, for a total of $135.00
Please join us for an extraordinary event on Friday, November 8th, 2019 at 7:00 PM, where France meets Virginia in the wines of Michael Shaps Wineworks and Maison Shaps.
Known for his innovation and winemaking expertise, Michael Shaps has established himself at the forefront of the modern Virginia wine industry.
Producing wines under the Michael Shaps label and for several prestigious wineries throughout the state–one winning the Governor’s Cup in 2017–his accolades and national recognition are beyond compare.
Mr. Shaps also holds a degree in Enology and Viticulture from the Lycée Viticole de Beaune in Burgundy, and has been making wine in Burgundy since 2004.
Both his French and Virginian wines are made in traditional, old-world style, with careful attention to detail but minimal intervention.
Michael Shaps
In 1990 Michael moved to France where he enrolled in the Lycée Viticole de Beaune in Burgundy to study oenology and viticulture. Here he was privileged to study under the guidance of Burgundy's noted professors and winemakers, working two vintages at the esteemed Maison Chartron et Trebuchet in Puligny Montrachet.
In 1995 Michael moved to Virginia to work at Jefferson Vineyards as head winemaker and general manager, where he quickly accumulated numerous awards and acquired a reputation as one of Virginia’s up-and-coming winemakers. After six vintages Michael ventured out on his own and began producing wine under the now highly regarded “Michael Shaps” label. He initially partnered with King Family Vineyards, where he helped launch their brand as well as his own.
In 2004 he partnered with his old mentor and head winemaker at Maison Chartron et Trebuchet and together they opened a winery and rental house in Meursault, France, one of Burgundy’s most renowned winemaking villages.
Maison Shaps—now named solely after Michael as his partner sold out in 2012—is a garage-ist style winery, focusing on small vineyard lots from some of Burgundy’s most famous vineyard sites. These artisanal-style wines are imported to the United States and sold along the East Coast as well as in the two Tasting Rooms at Wineworks.
After seven vintages at King Family, Michael found a new home for his brand when he and a partner opened Virginia Wineworks in 2007. This multi-faceted operation is both the home of the Michael Shaps brand and Virginia’s first and largest contract winemaking operation, more commonly known as custom crush. In 2014 Michael bought out his partner and with investors expanded Wineworks into an operation that approaches 30,000 cases of annual wine production, including over a dozen contract winemaking clients. The winery is now marketed as Michael Shaps Wineworks and is growing exponentially. In 2014 a million dollar expansion project was completed to include a new office building, tasting room, and crush pad, with a 16,000 square foot warehouse to store wine and serve as the new bottling facility.
Known in the industry for his innovation and winemaking expertise, he introduced the “bag in a box” wines to Virginia wine consumers and most recently introduced wine in kegs and a refillable wine growler. He has won numerous awards, spoken at wine conferences in California and throughout the East Coast, and consulted at dozens of reputable wineries in the mid-Atlantic region. Both an innovator and entrepreneur by nature, Michael continues to be a leader in the Virginia wine scene.
Michael Shaps Wineworks
Founded in 2007, Michael Shaps Wineworks is located in the former Montdomaine Winery, located twelve miles south of Charlottesville, Virginia. The original concept was to use the facility for production of the existing Michael Shaps brand of wines, and to produce a second brand called Wineworks, a more value-oriented line of Virginia wines. Within the first year the opportunity arose to develop Virginia's first contract winemaking operation--more commonly known as custom crush--to make wine for independent growers who want their own brand. Found in many wine regions around the world, this previously untapped market became a focus for Wineworks. Between 2008-2014 the customer base grew to over twenty contract winemaking clients and the facility grew in size and capacity, reequiring two expansions. Wineworks quickly became a regional leader for contract winemaing, serving clients from Tennessee to Delaware.
When Michael's founding partner left in 2014, he brought in investors to expand the winery facility to increase production capacity to 30,000 cases of wine and changed the name from Virginia Wineworks to Michael Shaps Wineworks. In 2015 the processing volume reached 430 tons (approximately 28,000 cases) and the 2017 harvest brought in over 500 tons. In 2015 Wineworks acquired a 16,000 square foot warehouse on Avon Street Extended, located one mile from downtown Charlottesville. The primary goal was to find a location to bottle and warehouse wine for Wineworks and it's clients, due to the land constraints of the original winery location at Harris Creek Way. In August 2015 renovations to the warehouse site began and were completed in early 2016.
In addition to developing the Avon Street location into a warehouse and bottling facility, Wineworks converted what was once office space into a second tasting room, with an upper level private room with a catering kitchen that can accomodate up to 50 seated guests for private tastings, parties or meetings. Less than a mile from Charlottesville's Downtown Mall, the warehouse is located directly across the street from the Fifth Street Station shopping center. The tasting room is designed to be a neighborhood wine bar and taphouse--featuring wine on tap with six different taps for growlers, carafes and wine by the glass. Bottle sales include Michael Shaps wines, Wineworks wines (bag-in-box) and imported wines from Maison Shaps in France, as well as other French imports.
Maison Shaps
Originally founded in 2004 as Maison Shaps & Roucher-Serrazin, Michael Shaps took over ownership in 2012, changed the name to Maison Shaps, and focused on producing high-end Burgundian wine. Continuing with the same philosophy as before, Maison Shaps is a small garage-iste winery producing less than 12,000 bottles per year from Burgundy’s finest appellations and vineyard sites including some premier crus.
In 2017 Michael and two partners took a big leap and purchased vineyards in and around Pommard, including some grand cru designated plots. Michael crafts these wines by traditional Burgundian techniques. His objective is to make authentic wines that exemplify the rich heritage of the Burgundian villages.
From natural gravity flow to process the grapes, to native yeast fermentations and minimal filtrations, the style of winemaking at Maison Shaps strives for minimal manipulation of the grapes. Maison Shaps exemplifies the adage “The wines are made in the vineyard,” allowing for the true character of the region to be evoked in the wine.
These artisanal-style wines are exported to the United States where they are sold on the East Coast and at Michael Shaps Wineworks.
The Dinner
Chef Jacques’ Seasonal Canapes
Maison Shaps Bourgogne Chardonnay 2017 US$23
Sauteed Chesapeake Rockfish, Roasted Butternut Squash, Sage Beurre Blanc
Michael Shaps Petit Manseng, Monticello 2016 US$29
Grilled Free Range Breast of Chicken Stuffed with Mushroom Medley
Maison Shaps Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2017 US$25
Maison Shaps Pommard 2015 US$72
Classic Steak Au Poivre with Bordelaise Sauce, Seasonal Vegetables
Michael Shaps Tannat, Monticello 2016 US$33
Passionfruit and Chocolate Gâteau
Gilette’s Locally Roasted Coffee, Selection of Harney & Sons Fine Teas
Discovery of the Off-the-Beaten-Path Wine Regions of France - Seminar at the American Wine
Society National Conference 2024 in Winston-Salem,
North Carolina, led by Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours
Germany’s Perfect Home for Pinot Grapes - Seminar at the American Wine Society National Conference 2024 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, led by Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours
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
Dive Deep Into Burgundy With Louis Jadot - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Thibaut Marquis, North America Export Manager, Louis Jadot, with Annette Schiller
A Journey Through The Loire Valley - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette SchillerAnnette Schiller's Presentations at the American Wine Society National Conference 2022 in Bellevue/ Seattle, Washington State
The American Wine Society National Conference 2022 in Bellevue/ Seattle, Washington State - Seen through Christian Schiller`s Camera Lens
The End of the "Grosslage" in Germany - Seminar about the new German Wine Law of 2022 at the 2022 American Wine Society National Conference in Bellevue/ Seattle, Washington State, led by Annette Schiller
Towards the Freedom to Make the Right Wine - Seminar at the 2022 American Wine Society National Conference in Bellevue/ Seattle, Washington State, led by Annette SchillerAnnette Schiller's Presentations at the American Wine Society National Conference 2021 in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Annette Schiller`s 3 Presentations at the American Wine Society National Conference 2021 in Atlantic City, New Jersey: Sparkling Wines, Austria, Bordeaux
All Sorts of Sparklers: How do the Bubbles get into that Bottle? - Presentation by Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, at the 2021 American Wine Society National Conference in Atlantic City
The Wines of Austria - Presentation by Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, at the 2021 American Wine Society National Conference in Atlantic City
Good Value Bordeaux Wines: Discover the Petits Châteaux - Presentation by Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, at the 2021 American Wine Society National Conference in Atlantic City
Annette Schiller's Presentations at the 2018 American Wine Society Annual Meetings in in Buffalo, New York State
The 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State, USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens
VDP at AWS: Tasting Premium German Wines at
the Showcase of Wines of the 2018 American Wine Society National
Conference in Buffalo, New York State, with Annette and Christian
Schiller
"Abbey Wines”: The Importance of the Monasteries for the Development of Viticulture - Seminar at the 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State,USA, led by Annette Schiller
Burgundy Pinot Noir and German Pinot Noir: Differences and Similarities - Seminar at the 2018 American Wine Society National Conference in Buffalo, New York State, USA, led by Annette Schiller
A Journey through the Rhône Valley
- Seminar at the 2018 American Wine Society National Conference
in Buffalo, New York State,USA, led by Annette Schiller
Annette Schiller's Presentations at the 2017 American Wine Society Annual Meetings in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania
The 2017 American Wine Society National Conference in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens
Showcase of Wines at the 2017 National Conference of the American Wine Society: Annette and Christian Schiller Present German/ VDP/ Loosen Bros. USA Wines
A Journey through the Vineyards of Alsace -
A Tasting Seminar at the National Conference 2017 of the
American Wine Society, led by Annette Schiller (ombiasyPR &
WineTours)
Burgundy: What makes it so Special?
- A Tasting Seminar at the 2017 American Wine Society National
Conference in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, led by Annette
Schiller (ombiasyPR & WineTours)
German Wines in the 21st Century -
A Tasting Seminar at the 2017 American Wine Society National
Conference in in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, led by
Annette Schiller (ombiasyPR & WineTours)
Annette Schiller's Presentations at the 2016 American Wine Society Annual Meetings in California
The 2016 American Wine Society National Conference in California, USA: Seen Through Christian Schiller's Camera Lens
The New Germany: Red, Sparkling and Dry - Tasting at the American Wine Society 2016 National Conference in Los Angeles, USA, led by Annette Schiller
The New Classification of German Wines: The VDP Classification - Annette Schiller Conducting a Seminar at the 2016 National Convention of the American Wine Society in Los Angeles, USA
The Insider’s View of Charles Krug Winery - Peter Mondavi Jr., Co-Proprietor, Charles Krug Winery
Château Climens, Premier Cru Barsac and Savory Dishes…who knew? - Bérénice Lurton, Owner of Château Climens and Tony Lawrence, Global Food & Wine Pairing Specialist
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