Picture: Vineyard Tour with Martin Johann Schmitt, Weingut Schmitt's Kinder, FrankenThe visit of Weingut Schmitt˜s Kinder in Randersacker comprised an extensive vineyard tour by car and a massive tasting at the winery. Martin Johann Schmitt was our host.The Schmitt family can trace back its viticulture roots to the year 1712. The name Schmitt's Kin...

Picture: Riesling Rediscovered: Bold, Bright and DryThere are approximately 47,000 hectares planted with Riesling worldwide. Germany”with 22,500 hectares”accounts for about half of the total. From a global perspective, Riesling is a niche grape variety, accounting for less than 1% of world wine production. From a global perspective, it is the fruit...

Picture: Wine-pairing Lunch at the 1-star Michelin Restaurant Claude Darroze, with Marie-Hélène Lévêque, Owner of ChÃ-teau de ChantegriveFollowing the visit of ChÃ-teau de Fargues, Sauternes, and ahead of the visit of ChÃ-teau de Chantegrive, Grave, we had a wine pairing lunch at Restaurant Claude Darroze in Langon. Restaurant Claude Darroze ha...

Picture: The New Classification of German Wines: The VDP Classification - Annette Schiller at the 2016 National Convention of the American Wine Society in Los Angeles, USAAnnette Schiller, President of ombiasy PR and WineTours and member of the American Wine Society, led two German wine tastings at the 2016 Annual Meetings of the American Wine...

Picture: Light Lunch at La Cabotte in Nuits-As­Saint-GeorgeLa Cabotte is the best restaurant in Nuits-Saint-George and one of the best restaurants in the Bourgogne region.We had a light lunch there following our morning visit of Domaine Faiveley ...Pictures: At Domaine Faiveley in Nuits-Saint-George. See: Tasting at Domaine Faiveley in Nuits St. Ge...

Picture: Tasting at Weingut H.J. Kreuzberg in Dernau, Ahr, with Owners/ Winemakers Ludwig Kreuzberg and Frank Josten The annual German Red Wine Competition (Deutscher Rotweinpreis), organized by the international wine magazine Vinum, exists since 1987. At that time, German red wine accounted for only about 15 percent of German wine production. Toda...

Pictures: Annette and Christian Schiller with Chef Martin Scharff, Scharffs Schlossweinstube, and Willi Simon, Weingut Kassner-SimonThis year, Collegium Vini, an association of winelovers in the Frankfurt am Main region, had the final event of 2016, the Holiday Dinner, at Scharffs Schlossweinstube in Heidelberg. Chef Thomas Scharff prepared a wonde...

Picture: Tasting at Weingut Schloss Lieser in Lieser with Owner/ Winemaker Thomas HaagLieser is a small wine village on the bank of the Mosel river and its landmark is a mighty slate castle, once belonging to the Barons of Schorlemer. In 1904, Clemens Baron of Schorlemer, Secretary of Agriculture in the Prussian government of Emperor William II, bu...

Picture: Tasting with Prince Eudes d'Orléans, Managing Director at ChÃ-teau de FarguesThe story of ChÃ-teau de Fargues in 1306 when a nephew of Pope Clement V, Cardinal Raymond Guilheim de Fargues bought the property and built a fortress with solid walls and rough stones not at all resembling what we imagine of a ChÃ-teau?. For more than 500 year...

Pictures: Christian Schiller and Dorothee Zillike at Frankfurt/Wein in Frankfurt, Germany. See: Dorothee Zilliken, Weingut Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken Presents her Noble Rieslings at Frankfurt/Wein in Frankfurt, Germany. Annette Schiller and Hanno Zilliken at Weingut Forstmeister Geltz-Zilliken. See: Germany-North Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours: Qu...

Picture: Tasting from Barrel at Domaine JeanAs­-Jacques Confuron in PrémeauxAs­-Prissey Côte de Nuits, with Owner/ Winemaker Louis Meunier The roots of this domaine go back to the year 1926 when Jean Confuron of Vosne married Anne As­Marie Bouchard of Prémeaux “ vines came from both sides of the family and the newly married couple chose to live ...

Picture: The New Germany: Red, Sparkling and Dry - Tasting at the American Wine Society 2016 National Conference in Los Angeles, USAAnnette Schiller, President of ombiasy PR and WineTours and member of the American Wine Society, led two German wine tastings at the 2016 Annual Meetings of the American Wine Society in the Los Angeles area: The Ne...

Picture: Charcuterie at Chez Pascal in Saint EmilionFollowing the tasting of the wines of Jean Luc Thunevin, including the famous ChÃ-teau Valandraud and the popular Bad Boy, at the žgarage, where the amazing career of Jean Luc Thunevin began ...Picture: Christian Schiller and Jean Luc Thunevin in Saint Emilion... we went to Chai Pascal for a simpl...

Picture: Wine Bar/ Wine Store La Ligne Rouge at Porte Cailhau in Bordeaux CiyThis is an update of Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in Bordeaux City (2015), which I prepared following the Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015).See here for earlier lists: Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in Bordeaux City, France (2015)Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in...

Picture: Domaine Faiveley in Nuits St. GeorgesWe visit Domaine Joseph Faiveley in Nuits St. Georges. The visit included a tour and a tasting of 7 wines with Brand Ambassador Mathilde Nicolas.We toured the old cellars of the main building of Domaine Faiveley. This year, unfortunately, we were not able to visit the barrel and tank cellars. I have add...

Picture: Nik Weis and Annette Schiller. See: Tasting at Weingut St. Urbans-Hof in Leiwen, Mosel, with Nik Weis “ Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015) The Eichelmann WeinGuide Deutschland 2017 “ one of the 4 main wine guides in Germany (along with GaultMillau, Feinschmecker and the relatively new Falstaff) - was released in November 2016.I...

Picture: Christian Schiller and Jean Luc Thunevin in Saint EmilionJean Luc Thunevin became a well known figure in the wine world in less than a decade, thanks to its successful garage wine, ChÃ-teau Valandraud. As part of the Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France we went to the place in Saint Emilion, where it all started and had a tasti...

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller at Le Dôme in ParisLed by Annette Schiller, the Bordeaux Tour 2016 by ombiasy WineTours took place from September 6 to 15, 2016. The group comprised 14 wine lovers from the United States and Switzerland, including Annette and Christian Schiller.See: Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, FranceLike other ...

Picture: Tasting at the Legendary Weingut J.J. Prüm with Frau Prüm “ Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016We had an extaordinary tasting at Weingut Joh. Jos. Prüm. Weingut Joh. Jos. Prüm is without doubt one of the most exceptional producers of wine in Germany. Although the Prüm family was well established as viticulturists and winemake...

Picture: Tasting at Weingut Dreissigacker in Bechtheim, Rheinhessen, with Ute Dreissigacker When President Obama and the First Lady where in Berlin in 2013 and sat down with Chancellor Merkel and her husband, Professor Dr. Sauer, for a State Dinner, what wines did they drink? A Mosel? A Rheingau? No, they were served wines of Weingut Dreissigacker ...

Picture: Owner Johannes Hasselbach, Weingut Gunderloch, with Annette and Christian Schiller at 9. K&M Gutsweine Hausmesse, Frankfurt, GermanyBernd Klingenbrunn’s and Armin Busch's K&M Gutsweine is a leading wine retailer (with 2 shops and an online business) in Frankfurt, Germany, my base, when I am in Europe. Once a year, Bernd and Armin p...

Picture: Annette Schiller with Owner Basile Tesseron, Directeur Technique Lucas Leclerq and Vineyard Manager Anaïs Maillet at ChAsteau Lafon-RochetThis ChAsteau features some of the finest vineyards in the world. It is situated in the small appellation Saint-Estèphe and is sandwiched between two prominent neighbors: Cos-d’Estournel on the other si...

Pictures: Ernst Loosen and his Ultra-premium Dry GG and GG Reserve Wines Ernst Loosen, one of Germany’s most iconic winemakers, was in town (Washington DC, USA) for a series of events, including a seminar with sommeliers, bloggers and journalists at Cork Market on 14th Street and a winemaker dinner at Chef Bryan Voltaggio’s Range Restaurant. Before...

Picture: Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, and Valerie Masten, National Sales Director for Terry Theise, in New YorkTerry Theise is one of the leading experts of German Wine in the US. Among the vast number of his followers, he has gained something like a cult status. He publishes a thick catalogue once a year with extensive comments. In addi...

Picture: A RegularThis unassuming, very traditional French restaurant is always packed for lunch. Last time we bumped into the head winemaker of Sociando-Mallet. This year we were joined by the grape pickers of Sociando-Mallet.Pictures: Restaurant Le Peyrat in Saint-EstèpheGimenez Jean Bernard (Le Gérant): Déjà réputé pour ses Anguilles que les gen...

Picture: Tasting with Markus Schneider at Weingut Markus Schneider in Ellerstadt, PfalzWhen President Obama and the First Lady where in Berlin in 2013 and sat down with Chancellor Merkel and her husband, Professor Dr. Sauer, for a State Dinner, what wines did they drink? A Mosel? A Rheingau? No, they were served wines of Weingut Dreissigacker in Rh...

Picture: At Cooperage Berger & Fils in VertheuilOne very special visit during Bordeaux by ombiasy WineTours (2015), was the one at Cooperage Berger et Fils. Until very recently and for a long time, the company was a family-company, run and owned by Rene Berger and his wife Valérie Berger. On the last tour, Valérie was our charming guide. Cooper...

Picture: Ambassador Jean-Louis Wolzfeld and German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) President Carl WillnerThe German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) returned to the Embassy of Luxembourg for a tasting with Ambassador Jean-Louis Wolzfeld. See here: The Wines of Luxembourg – A Small Country Which Produces Great Wines Pictures: The Embassy o...

Picture: Wine Pairing Dinner at Restaurant fumi at Weingut Josef Biffar in Deidesheim with Owner/ Winemaker Fumiko Tokuoka: Japan Meets PfalzWe had a lovely wine pairing dinner at fumi, the Japanese restaurant of Weingut Josef Biffar in Deidesheim, Pfalz. Owner/ Winemaker Fumiko Tokuoka joint us for the dinner.The wine pairing dinner was the second...

Pictures: Phil Bernstein and Ernst LoosenErnst Loosen, one of Germany’s most iconic winemakers, was in town (Washington DC, USA) for a series of events, including a seminar with sommeliers, bloggers and journalists at Cork Market on 14th Street (where Ernie poured his dry wines only, including 4 Grosses Gewächs wines. See: A New Dr. Loosen Project ...

Picture: Simply Burgundy – “A Practical Guide to Understanding the Wines of Burgundy” by Mark E. RicardoBurgundy is the most terroir-oriented region in France if not in the whole world. The focus is on the area of origin, as opposed to Bordeaux, where classifications are producer-driven and awarded to individual chateaux. A specific vineyard (clima...

Picture: Lunch at Weingut Vollmer: Eva Vollmer, Christian Schiller and Annette Schiller Eva Vollmer was our host and joined us for the lunch.Picture: Arriving at Weingut Eva VollmerWeingut Eva VollmerEva Vollmer was the 2010 Gault Millau Germany Wine Guide Discovery of the Year. She owns and operates - jointly with her husband Robert Wagner - a new...

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller at Arrowine in Arlington, Virginia, with the Wines of Achim von Oetinger, Weingut von OetingerAchim von Oetinger is an old buddy of Annette and me. Based in Erbach in the Rheingau, which is 45 minutes away from Frankfurt by car, we see him regularly at events when we are in Germany. I have asked him several t...

Picture: The Art of Whites, Grand Tasting - Panelists Andy Myers, Master Sommelier, DC: Wine Director; José Andrés ThinkFoodGroup; Helen Johannesen, CA: Director of Operations & Wine Director of Animal/ Son of a Gun; Anthony Giglio, NY: Author, Speaker, Wine Director, The Centurion Lounges by American Express; Jon Bonné, NY: Author and Senio...

Picture: Austin Capitol at Night Lonely Planet: You'll see it on bumper stickers throughout the city: 'Keep Austin Weird.' And while old-timers grumble that Austin has lost its funky charm, the city has mostly managed to hang on to its laid-back vibe. Though this former college town with a hippie soul has seen an influx of tech types and movie star...

Picture: Tour and Tasting at Weingut Josef Biffar, in Deidesheim, with Owner/ Winemaker Fumiko Tokuoka Weingut Josef Biffar in Deidesheim, Pfalz, run by the single mother Fumiko Tokuoka from Japan, has a number of roots. First and foremost the owners, the Tokuoka family, entrepreneurs from Japan. Second, Weingut Reichsrat von Buhl, also in Deideshe...

Picture: Nicolas Rossignol, Owner and Winemaker at Domaine Rossignol in the Bourgogne and Christian SchillerNicolas Rossignol, Owner and Winemaker at Domaine Rossignol in the Bourgogne, was in town (Washington DC) and I had the pleasure to wine and dine with him at la Bergerie in Alexandria, a leading French restaurant in the Washington DC area. Th...

Picture: Annette Schiller and Johannes Bürkle Looking for the Hessische Bergstrasse Region on the Map The visit of Weingut Simon-Bürkle in Zwingenberg was the last event of the Germany-East Wine and Art Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015). Johannes Bürkle was our host.Pictures: Arriving at Weingut Simon-BürkleWeingut Simon-BürkleThis is a very young w...

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller in Texas Texas, which has the size of France, is the No. 7 grape producing and the No. 5 wine producing state in the US. By law, a wine can carry the Texas name if at least 75% of the juice is harvested from the state.Texas is the site of the first vineyard established in North America by Spanish missionaries...

Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller with Sophie Schÿler Thierry from ChAsteau KirwanHeart’s Delight is an annual four-day celebration in Washington DC, USA, bringing together winemakers, celebrity chefs, gourmands, and wine enthusiasts to raise money for the American Heart Association. It is very much Bordeaux-centered, although American winem...

Picture: Chris Comfort and Justin Bryan, both Traubenhaus, with Dinner GuestsAnnette Schiller and I had the pleasure to join Justin Bryan and his Traubenhaus team, a leading German wine importer/ distributor/ online retailer in Texas, for a German Wine and Food Dinner at the Omni Barton Creek Report and Spa in Austin on Monday, March 21, 2016. It w...

Picture: Christian Schiller, Phil Bernstein and Annette SchillerThe annual “New German Vintage” tasting of the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter) around February/March/April, led by Phil Bernstein, is always a highlight for the German wine aficionados in the Washington DC area. Phil Bernstein is very entertaining and knowledgeable about Ge...

Picture: The Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy 2014 Group at the Roter Hang in NiersteinPicture: The Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy 2014 Group at Weingut A. Christmann in the Pfalz, with Owner (and VDP President) Steffen ChristmannThis posting provides a listings of all postings that I issued concerning the 2 ombiasy WineTours that took place...

Picture: Ernst Loosen and Annette Schiller at Weingut Dr. Loosen (Mosel)Dear friends of good wine, good food, culture, the arts, history in the Washington DC area: Fantastic days for German wines ahead. Today I have 2 announcements:1) Three amazing wine tours to Germany coming up in 2016:SPRING TOURS 2016The first GERMAN Wine Tour goes to Germany’...

Picture: Annette Schiller at ChAsteau Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac, Tasting the 2014 Grand Vin from BarrelTo get into ChAsteau Mouton-Rothschild is not easy. Annette succeeded this time and the Bordeaux-Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015) included a tour and tasting ChAsteau Mouton-Rothschild, Bordeaux, Appellation Pauillac, 1ière Grand Cru Classé.Gero...

Picture: ChAsteau du Clos de Vougeot Our last event in the Bourgogne of the Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015) was a visit of ChAsteau du Clos de Vougeot.While the ChAsteau du Clos de Vougeot no longer produces wine these days, it remains the symbol of almost a thousand years of Burgundy history.In the 12th century, the monks of the Cisterc...

Picture: The Table of Hannsjörg Rebholz, Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz, Pfalz, with Annette Schiller, David Schildknecht and Hannsjörg Rebholz Rieslingfeier is an annual event in New York City that celebrates German Riesling. The cornerstone event is the Rieslingfeier Gala Dinner. Inspired by Daniel Johnnes’ famous Burgundy fête “La Paulée,” it is ...

Pictures: Sophie Schÿler of ChAsteau Kirwan, Annette Schiller of ombiasy PR and WineTours and Chef/ Owner Driss Zahidi of Evo Bistro in McLean, Virginia, at Evo BistroSophie Schÿler Thierry of ChAsteau Kirwan (owned by the Schÿler family) was in Washington DC to present ChAsteau Kirwan at the 2016 Heart’s Delight events. Heart’s Delight is an annu...

Picture: At Weingut von Winning in Deidesheim, Pfalz The tour and tasting at Weingut von Winning in Deidesheim was “walking” tasting, i.e. we did a tour of the winery and tasted during the tour. In the US, Weingut von Winning is represented by Terry Theise/Michael Skurnik.Jessica Schönberg was our host.Before the tour and tasting, we had a light lu...

Picture: At Sektkellerei Bardong in the Rheingau, Germany, with Norbert BardongWith this visit on the last day of the tour we honored the German’s affinity with the bubbly stuff. Did you know that the Germans are world champions in sparkling wine consumption? And that “Rotkäppchen” in Freyburg, in the Saale-Unstrut region is the world’s second larg...