Monday, February 23, 2026

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








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).

Report (Excerpts) by Carl Willner 

Fellow German Wine Society Capital Chapter Board Members,

On Saturday, February 21, 2026, the Capital Chapter of the German Wine Society held its annual membership meeting and election of the Board, along with a wine quiz and award of wine prizes.  The meeting was conducted online using Zoom, as it has been since 2021, helping to avoid risks of inclement weather delaying the event (indeed, another snowstorm was predicted for the day following the meeting) and making attendance more convenient.  We had 24 persons registered to attend with 19 distinct e-mail accounts... 
 
All of the candidates for election or re-election to the Capital Chapter Board attended, as required by our chapter by-laws.

The meeting was scheduled to start at 4 pm, and actually commenced at 4:15 pm after allowing time for people to log in, while those present shared wine choices.  The first part of the meeting featured a tribute of Jim Palanchar, who is retiring from the Capital Chapter Board after more than six years of service....  

Next, officers of the chapter delivered reports on their areas of responsibility, including written materials distributed by Karen Stokes for membership and events, Chapter finances and the cellar.... 

Next, the chapter conducted its Board election.  All available positions on the Board had one candidate running for them, with no positions contested.  Most of the candidates were seeking re-election, but there were two new candidates for Director positions, Maria So and Annette Schiller. Both of those candidates spoke to chapter members, Maria So explaining her desire to give back to the chapter and how much she enjoyed our events (she had served before as Webmaster), and Annette Schiller discussing her interest in wine education. The Secretary reported that one written ballot had been received form a member not attending.  Given the absence of contested seats, members agreed to conduct a voice vote on the entire slate, and the proposed candidate list was elected unanimously.  As a result, the Capital Chapter Board for 2026 consists of:
  • President and Secretary Carl Willner
  • Vice President Christian Schiller
  • Treasurer Ken Belsley
  • Director and Cellarmaster Karen Stokes
  • Director and Webmaster Klaus Teuter
  • Director Maria So
  • Director Annette Schiller
In the last part of the business meeting, President and Secretary Willner discussed upcoming scheduled events for 2026, including the New Vintage Tasting on March 27, the Annette Schiller presentation on comparative Chardonnay and Pinots on April 24, the Spargelfest/Spring Festival at the German Embassy on May 29, and the Holiday Dinner at the Cosmos Club on December 11.  Memers discussed other possible events as well.  Director Maria So and her husband John Edmonds proposed a wine event with an Asian theme, to be held either at China Jade or at a Nepalese restaurant, Royal Durbar Kitchen. This could occur in the fall of 2026.  President Willner and the Schillers also discussed a proposal by member Marc Lippman to organize a high-end German wine tasting with food pairings at an area restaurant, which could occur in the spring of 2027, the GWS 50th anniversary year.  Both sets of proposals were well received.  

Finally, Karen Stokes conducted the multiple-choice wine quiz, with Nina Willner serving as scorekeeper, participants sending in their choices by phone text before the correct answers to each of the 14 questions were announced.  Topics included past GWS events, German wine knowledge and wine geography....  

The meeting concluded about 6:15 pm, following the award of prizes, to be claimed when winners attend future in-person events.
 
Following the Membership Meeting: Dinner at Pikoteo in McLean (VA)

Most enjoyable dinner at Pikoteo in McLean. Fantastic Latin American ambiance, food and wine. Manuel Iguina is a great host and Roberto Hernandez a great chef. Annette Schiller Ombiasy Public Relations and Wine Tours and I love to have dinner there, this time with Anne Broker and John Parisi, following the membership meeting of the @German Wine Society (where Annette was elected to the Board as Director of Education and I was re-elected as Vice-president. 

Dinner 




Wine


Food







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