schiller-wine: Comparative Tasting of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay Wines from Burgundy and Germany at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), led by Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours (May 2026)

Fascinating Germany versus Vins de Bourgogne Tasting (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) at the German Wine Society - Washington DC, led by Annette Schiller Ombiasy Public Relations and Wine Tours. The presentation consisted of six flights of two wines each, one from Burgundy and one from various regions of Germany, with three flights each of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines, progressing from the regional to village to premier cru level. Overall, the German wines showed very well against the benchmark wines from the Bourgogne.

Invitation: Comparative Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays Tasting: Germany and Burgundy

Please plan to join the German Wine Society on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 7:00 pm for a comparative presentation on Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays in Germany and the Burgundy region of France, and tasting of twelve wines to illustrate the varieties of wine made from these grapes in these countries, by our own Annette Schiller.

Registrations for this event are due by Tuesday, April 28, 2026, and the price is $55 for GWS members, $62 for non-members.

Please be aware that, due to limited supply of the wines and size of the venue, we have a maximum cap of 40 for attendance at this event. Reserve early to avoid disappointment!

What comes to your mind when you hear: “Chardonnay” or “Pinot Noir”? Burgundy, of course! That is rightly so. Burgundy is one of the world’s most revered wine regions and unique in focusing on two grape varieties: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. For more than 1000 years Burgundy vintners have understood that different soils and climates give different wines. They have honed their skills to produce wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that reflect the place they are coming from.

When you hear: “Germany” – you think Riesling. Riesling also is a terroir expressive grape variety and the Germans know about producing a wine that reflects its place. But Germany is not a mono-varietal wine region like Burgundy. There are many more grape varieties growing successfully here. For more than 1000 years Pinot Noir has been grown in Germany, where it is called “Spätburgunder,” directly translating as “late Burgundy.” Pinot Noir is now the most widely planted red grape in Germany, accounting for 11.8% of all plantings. Chardonnay, in contrast, has only officially been allowed since 1991, though there were earlier trial plantings, and is still only about 2.2% of total cultivation, while Riesling has remained the flagship grape. Climate change presents new opportunities for German vintners. There is an evolution beyond traditional wine styles and grape varieties. At the same time, Burgundy’s prices have soared and wine lovers often get priced out of their favorite wine. Germany offers a genuine alternative.

At this tasting we will show you Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from both wine regions side by side. We start with a comparison of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Germany and Burgundy on the regional level.

The next flight will be a step-up quality-wise: a comparison on the village level. As a highlight we have a comparison of 1er Cru Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Burgundy and Erste Lage (Germany’s designation of 1er Cru) Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Germany.

We will taste 12 wines with many in the upper price bracket. Join us for this one-of-a-kind opportunity to have wines from top Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers from two different but also in some aspects similar regions. It will be fun to discuss the wines during the tasting and it will be very interesting to hear the verdict of the audience on the favorites.

The planned wine list is depicted below:

Part 1: PINOT NOIR / SPÄTBURGUNDER Germany Burgundy

FLIGHT A:

REGIONAL LEVEL 2023 Weingut von Winning, Pinot Noir Royal, 2022 Albert Bichot, Bourgogne Pfalz

FLIGHT B:

VILLAGE LEVEL 2018 Weingut Bercher, Burkheimer, Baden 2022 Domaine Raquillet, Mercurey

FLIGHT C: 1er CRU / ERSTE LAGE LEVEL 2022 Kallstädter Steinacker, 2022 Volnay Santenots, Weingut Rings, Pfalz Domaine Thierry Matrot

Part 2: CHARDONNAY Germany Burgundy

FLIGHT A:

REGIONAL LEVEL 2021 Weingut Kühling-Gillot, Réserve, 2022 Maison Vincent Girardin, Rheinhessen Cuvée St.-Vincent, Bourgogne

FLIGHT B: VILLAGE LEVEL 2024 Weingut Jülg, Schweigen, Pfalz 2023 Domaine Ferret, Pouilly-Fuissé

FLIGHT C: 1er CRU / ERSTE LAGE LEVEL 2023 Bönningheimer Sonnenberg, 2023 Beaune – Grèves, Le Clos Blanc Weingut Dautel, Württemberg Louis Jadot

A tasty buffet of cheeses, bread, crackers, charcuterie, grapes and veggies will be provided to accompany the wines. Our tasting will begin at 7 p.m on Saturday, May 2, 2026, with the doors opening at 6:30 p.m. to admit guests.

The location is the Van Ness Room that we have often used before for membership meetings and other events, including many of Annette’s presentations to the GWS, at 3001 Veazey Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008. Enter through the main lobby of the apartment building on the 5th floor, and then go down to the 2nd floor by elevator and proceed down the hall to the clubroom. While there is not off-street parking at this location, on-street parking is available (bear in mind DC parking restrictions and meters), and there is easy access to Metro, at the Van Ness Red Line station.

You can register and pay for this event in either of two ways....

Report by Chapter President Carl Willner

Fellow GWS Capital Chapter Board Members,

On Saturday, May 2, 2026, the German Wine Society Capital Chapter hosted a presentation by Annette Schiller on the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines of Germany and Burgundy. The presentation consisted of six flights of two wines each, one from Burgundy and one from various regions of Germany, with three flights each of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines, progressing from the regional to village to premier cru level. The event took place at our clubroom venue in Van Ness, Washington, DC at Veazey Street, Klau Teuter’s apartment building. Board members Klaus Teuter, Carl Willner, Christian and Annette Schiller, and Karen Stokes all arrived early to help with the setup, along with Nina Willner, and Board member Ken Belsley also attended, so that nearly all of the Board was present. The Schillers brought the wines and glasses, Karen the food, plates and cutlery, and Carl the speaker and mic, tongs, decanters and spit cups.

The doors opened at 6:30 pm, and the event commenced at about 7:10 pm once nearly everyone had arrived, continuing until shortly after 9 pm. We had 30 persons signed up for the event, 25 members and 5 non-members, and of those, all but one non-member... Many guests lingered for a while after the presentation, some helping with cleanup, while Klaus offered an after-dinner wine from the Dolomites. We finished cleanup and exited the clubroom somewhat after 10 pm. ...

Even though the financial returns for this Schller event were not has high as usual (though at least we avoided a loss thanks to a few last-minute signups), the quality of the event was as high as ever, with an excellent selection of dry Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from Burgundy and from several German regions (Pfalz, Rheinhessen, Baden, and Wuerttemberg) for comparison. Annette’s presentation demonstrated considerable knowledge about all of the regions and wines, enhanced by her having met many of the producers and visited their estates. Even for those who are already familiar with German wines, there were new things to learn, and especially about the wines of Burgundy.

Audience opinions were divided between the German and Burgundian wines. In some cases, the French wine had the edge, but it other cases it was matched or surpassed by the German one. Interestingly, even at the same nominal quality level (regional, village or premier cru), and with the same grape, the two wines could taste quite different, perhaps reflecting differences in terroir or in the way that the wines were made. All told, a most enjoyable and interesting presentation, and one that appeared to engage the audience!

Comparative Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays Tasting: Germany and Burgundy

The Food

12 Wines

Welcome

Annette Schiller Presenting

Part 1: PINOT NOIR / SPÄTBURGUNDER Germany Burgundy

FLIGHT A:

REGIONAL LEVEL 2023 Weingut von Winning, Pinot Noir Royal, 2022 Albert Bichot, Bourgogne Pfalz

FLIGHT B:

VILLAGE LEVEL 2018 Weingut Bercher, Burkheimer, Baden 2022 Domaine Raquillet, Mercurey

FLIGHT C: 1er CRU / ERSTE LAGE LEVEL 2022 Kallstädter Steinacker, 2022 Volnay Santenots, Weingut Rings, Pfalz Domaine Thierry Matrot

Part 2: CHARDONNAY Germany Burgundy

FLIGHT A:

REGIONAL LEVEL 2021 Weingut Kühling-Gillot, Réserve, 2022 Maison Vincent Girardin, Rheinhessen Cuvée St.-Vincent, Bourgogne

FLIGHT B: VILLAGE LEVEL 2024 Weingut Jülg, Schweigen, Pfalz 2023 Domaine Ferret, Pouilly-Fuissé

FLIGHT C: 1er CRU / ERSTE LAGE LEVEL 2023 Bönningheimer Sonnenberg, 2023 Beaune – Grèves, Le Clos Blanc Weingut Dautel, Württemberg Louis Jadot

Thank You

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Pictures: Overview: Germany Rhein-Mosel-Nahe 2024 by Ombiasy Public Relations and Wine Tours led by Annette Schiller - Facebook Day-by-day Postings

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