Germany vs. France: Pfalz, Baden, Alsace, Bourgogne

German wine lovers! We are excited to present another tasting in Washington, DC. This time, we will be comparing wines from Germany with wines from France. More specifically, we will compare Germany’s Baden and Pfalz regions with French wines from Burgundy and Alsace. We will begin tasting at 7:00pm, Friday October 27, 2017.

The tasting will be led by Annette Schiller, long-time member of the German Wine Society.

We will start off with two Crémants from Burgundy and Alsace. Crémants are sparklers made in the Champagne Méthode, but typically at much lower prices.

We will then move on to Burgundy and Baden and focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Burgundy, including Chablis, is well known for its world class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. Not so well known, Germany is the #3 Pinot Noir producer world-wide. Baden alone grows about as much Pinot Noir as the world’s fourth most important Pinot Noir grower, New Zealand. Such is German enthusiasm for their Spätburgunder, as Pinot Noir is known there, that we don’t see huge quantities on export markets. And, while Spätburgunders from renowned producers are rarely cheap, Burgundy prices are now almost ludicrously high, so alternatives to red Burgundy have become increasingly attractive.

Moving to the north from Burgundy and to the west from Baden, Alsace is highly appreciated for its unoaked, dry and crisp white wines, such as Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer and Riesling. North of Alsace, across the border in the Pfalz, winemakers produce similar wines. Overall, the whites from Alsace tend to be more full-bodied and higher in alcohol, while the siblings from the Pfalz tend to be leaner and more elegant. We will compare wines from Alsace and the Pfalz.

In total, we plan to have 12 wines – 3 from each region. The tasting list is being finalized and will be communicated as soon as it is ready.

Light refreshments of charcutterie, cheese and baguette will be served with the wines.

Event cost is $33 for members and $40 non-members. All payment must be received by Monday October 23.

You can register and pay for this event in one of two ways. Members and guests can still send in a check to the German Wine Society. But you can alternatively register for events on our website by clicking the button below and make payment by Paypal. You will need to set up a GWS account on our website to register, if you have not already done so for past events, and also have a Paypal account ready to use for payment.

All GWS members and guests are reminded that alcohol consumption can lead to intoxication. Members and guests should use public transportation, rely on a designated driver, or taste the wines rather than finish them.

The event coordinators are Annette and Christian Schiller. Please send any questions to them at cschiller-schiller-wine.com or aschiller@ombiasypr.com or to German Wine Society Capital Chapter Secretary, Joe Aguiar, josephlaguiar@gmail.com

The address for our tasting is The Colonnade, 2801 New Mexico Av, NW, at the intersection with 42nd St, Tunlaw Rd and Fulton St in Glover Park. The closest bus stop is the D2 (from Dupont Circle) at Edmunds and 41st Sts. The N2 and N6 buses stop at New Mexico and Cathedral Aves. The 30 – 37 buses on Wisconsin Ave are a ten-minute walk away at the Garfield St stop. There is valet parking; a $2 gratuity is suggested.

All Society members and guests are reminded that alcohol consumption can lead to intoxication, and therefore Society members and their guests are expected to drink in moderation at Society events. It is advisable to provide designated drivers or other modes of transit where available, or mostly to taste rather than consume alcohol where such drivers or alternative means of transportation are not available.