GWS 40th announcement

PLEASE JOIN US AS THE GERMAN WINE SOCIETY CELEBRATES OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ON JUNE 9-10, 2017!

Can you believe it’s been 40 years already?   

In 1977, the German Wine Society began when 83 graduates of the German Wine Academy were inducted in a ceremony at the German Embassy in Washington, D.C.   Ever since then, we have been carrying out our missions of improving knowledge of German wines and enjoying them with those of similar interests.

Much has changed in the world of German wines over the past 40 years.    Germany reunified, and two eastern regions were added to the eleven wine-growing regions in western Germany.   Production of red wines has expanded from only a tenth to a full third of all German wines.   There are many more good dry white wines to enjoy along with the traditional sweet, high-prädikat ones.   And Germany now has two wine classification systems, the newer terroir-based VDP one being used alongside the familiar one in the German Wine Law, with its prädikat levels.   But through all these changes, the members of the German Wine Society have continued to enjoy Germany’s wonderful wines.   

Now it is time to bring our chapters together again, for the first time since our 30th Anniversary celebration in 2007.

Our 40th Anniversary events will take place over two days, June 9 and 10, at three locations in Washington, D.C.    Many of you responded to our “save the date” version of this notice earlier in May, from our Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and San Francisco chapters and even Canada.   Below are all the details you will need about the wines, food, registration, payment and getting to the events.   

We are not booking a block of hotel rooms for the anniversary, so that you are free to choose where you would like to stay if coming from out of town (or even locally, if you prefer to stay near to the events and avoid driving afterward).   We suggest, if you need a hotel, that you select one convenient to our events in the Dupont Circle, Embassy Row or downtown Washington, D.C. area.   These websites may be useful in finding a hotel:   

https://washington.org/find-dc-listings/all-places-to-stay

https://www.expedia.com/Washington-Hotels.d178318.Travel-Guide-Hotels

Registration for all events must be received by Sunday, June 4, 2017.   

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

First, you can register on our Washington, D.C. chapter website,, www.germanwinesocietydc.org,  and make payment by Paypal.   You will need to create a GWS account for the website if you do not already have one as a member of our chapter, and you will also need to have a Paypal account.  Registration and payment will need to be entered separately for each of the two paid events on June 10, if you plan to come to both, although you can complete the payment on Paypal as a single transaction.   For couples or others being paid for together, there is a place on our online registration form to provide the names of additional guests.  You will also need to register for the June 9 members-only event even though no payment is required, as we will need a complete list of attendees in advance for Embassy security.   

Second, if you prefer to register by mail and pay by check for the events, please clip off the registration form attached to this notice, indicate which events you plan to attend and the names of all who will be attending, and mail a check made out to the German Wine Society in the proper amount for all events along with the form to:  

Joseph Aguiar

Secretary, GWS Capital Chapter

2501 Calvert Street N.W., Apt. 501

Washington, D.C. 20008    

Whether you are registering by mail or online, please be sure to provide the names of all persons for whom you are registering, and pay the appropriate price depending on whether each person is a member of one of the active chapters in the U.S. (with annual dues paid), or a non-member (including Canadian GWS).   Also, please only register for the free Embassy event if you are a member of one of the U.S. GWS chapters, or a Canadian GWS member.  There is still time to become a member – just contact the Secretary or other officers of the local chapter most convenient for you.    

Here’s what we have planned for our Anniversary:

June 9, 7 pm:   Reception at the German Embassy, Karl Schurz Hall                     4645 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC 20007.    

You can celebrate the 40th Anniversary of our society where it began!  As we have done for other anniversary events and national conventions, we will offer a tour of the wine regions of Germany, with a representative wine from all 13 regions (even the ones that don’t normally export here) along with a selection of catered hors d’oeuvres and other food.   For this anniversary, the Embassy reception will be FREE for members, and limited to members of U.S. GWS chapters (Washington, D.C, Philadelphia, San Francisco), and Canadian GWS members.  For security purposes, the Embassy requires a list of all attendees in advance; no walk-ins are allowed. 

Those attending this event should enter the Embassy grounds through the main gate on Reservoir Road, and proceed across the courtyard to the main Embassy building pictured above.   Please remember to bring a valid picture ID.    There is no parking available on Embassy grounds, but it should not be difficult at this time of day to find parking on the street nearby if you are driving.   

Wines at the Embassy Reception:

nv Dr. Loosen Sparkling Riesling “Dr. L”, Mosel (welcoming wine)

2012 Künstler Hochheimer Kirchenstück Riesling Kabinett Trocken, Rheingau

2015 Ratzenberger-Bacharacher Riesling Kabinett Feinherb, Mittelrhein

2015 J.u.H.A. Strub Niersteiner Brücken Riesling Kabinett, Rheinhessen

2015 Schloss Lieser Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett, Mosel

2013 Kruger-Rumpf Scheurebe Spätlese, Nahe

2013 Von Winning Deidesheimer Paradiesgarten Riesling Trocken, Pfalz

2014 Wirsching Iphöfer Kronsberg Scheurebe Trocken Kabinett, Franken

2012 Shelter Winery Spätburgunder, Baden

2014 Weingut Meyer-Näkel Spätburgunder “S”, Ahr

2015 Weingut Knauss Trollinger, Württemberg

2015 Vinum Autmundis Riesling Off Dry Kabinett, Hessische Bergstrasse

2015 Vinum Autmundis Pinot Blanc, Hessische Bergstrasse

2012 Weingut Proschwitz Prinz zur Lippe Grauburgunder Spätlese Trocken, Sachsen

2015 Weingut Hey Weissburgunder Trocken, Saale-Unstrut

Embassy chef Daniel Labonne will provide a buffet menu, including platters with a cold cuts assortment, a cheese assortment, deviled eggs, smoked salmon toast, bread, and an assortment of mini desserts.   Frankfurt sausage wrapped in puff pastry, scallops wrapped in bacon, Gougère cheese puffs, and mini quiches will be passed as hors d’oeuvres.   

We anticipate being joined by members of the German Embassy staff.  Please take the opportunity to mingle with them and share your interests in German wines and Germany!

June 10, noon:   Luncheon and Members Meeting at the Cosmos Club              2121 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008.    

The Members Dining Room on the 2nd floor of the Cosmos Club, in a grand mansion at the heart of Washington’s Embassy Row near Dupont Circle, will be the site of our own membership meeting and seated buffet luncheon this day, accompanied by several delicious German wines.   For those driving, parking is available to the rear of the Cosmos Club, and charges are included in the price of the event.  During the lunch members will vote to elect officers and directors of the national German Wine Society Board, and on approval of proposed by-law amendments.   Candidates for the Board will be announced before the meeting, and members can vote on the Board and on by-laws either in person or by providing written proxies to other members attending the meeting.  Non-members are also welcome.   The charge for this event will be $75 for members of U.S. GWS chapters, and $85 for non-members.  

Wines at the Luncheon and Members Meeting:

nv Barth Riesling Sekt Sparkling Trocken, Rheingau (welcoming wine)

2014 Müller-Catoir Bürgergarten Riesling Trocken, Pfalz

2014 Wirsching Iphöfer Julius Echter Berg Grosses Gewächs Riesling, Franken

2013 Reichsgraf von Kesselstadt Josephhofer Riesling Kabinett, Mosel

2015 Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Kabinett, Mosel

2012 Will. Schaefer #5 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese, Mosel (with dessert)

2006 W. Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel (with dessert)

The lunch, served buffet style, will feature a choice of entrées, either Ginger Sesame Crusted Seared Salmon with Sweet and Sour Sauce or Preserved Lemon Chicken with Green Peppercorn Sauce, along with several side dishes – Tiny String Bean and Julienne Vegetable Sauté, Multi-grain Pilaf, Vegetable Market Salad, Farro Salad, and whole wheat rolls and hot Popovers.  For dessert, Key Lime Pie and Chocolate Chambord Cake will be offered, with coffee and tea.

For those joining the Board, a board meeting will immediately follow lunch, held in the Board Room on the 3rd floor of the Cosmos Club.

June 10, 7 pm:  Banquet at Elizabeth’s on L Street                                                     1341 L Street NW, Washington, DC. 20005. 

For our final Anniversary event, we will have exclusive access for the evening at an elegant Federalist townhouse in downtown Washington.   We will enjoy an extensive menu specially selected for us, paired with fine German wines, including high-prädikat ones, with several from the famed Mosel producer J.J. Prüm reserved for just such a special occasion.   

Enter the townhouse from L Street.   Guests will receive sparkling wine and hors d’oeuvres, then proceed to the second floor where the banquet will take place.   If you have difficulty walking up the steps at the L Street entrance, you may enter at the rear of the townhouse and use its elevator.   Please let us know if you expect you will use this option and we will make arrangements (if arriving from the rear, go to the alley between L and M Streets on 13th Street, turn left and make a second left, and the rear entrance is by the white vans; call 202-640-0360 for assistance in entering the building).  Parking is available at a discounted rate by arrangement with Elizabeth’s in a nearby garage, at 1018 13th Street N.W. (around the corner from Elizabeth’s, an easy walk) for those driving; please remember to obtain a payment voucher before leaving the event.  Both members and non-members are welcome.  The charge for this event will be $115 for members of U.S. GWS chapters, and $125 for non-members.

The Banquet menu paired with our selection of wines:

Passed Hors d’oeuvres:  Smoked Salmon Rillettes (with dill, fried capers and roasted garlic crostini), Lamb Carpaccio (with candy endive and lemon Israeli couscous)

nv Peter Lauer Riesling Sekt, Mosel 

Appetizers:  Potato Gnocchi (with tempura scallions St. Andre, forest mushrooms, truffle foam), Rustic Breads with citrus butter

2010 J.J. Prüm Riesling Kabinett, Mosel  

2012 Fürst Bürgstadter Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder), Franken 

Entrée:  Poached Branzini Filet Brushed with Fermented Black Bean Oil (with roasted baby turnips, clam sabayon, butter poached oysters)  OR  Roasted Pork Belly (with sweet rainbow pepper relish, parsnip purée, grilled broccolini)  (choice of guest – please make selection in advance on form or in online comments)

2010 J.J. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese, Mosel 

2012 Spreitzer Oestricher Lenchen 303 Riesling Spätlese, Rheingau 

Dessert:  Coconut-Pineapple Flan Dulce de Leche, organic Santa Lucia coffee and assorted teas

2010 J.J. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 

2002 J.J. Christoffel Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Eiswein, Mosel 

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

The event coordinator for the Anniversary events is Carl Willner, Capital Chapter President.  Please send any questions to Carl at carl.willner1@verizon.net, or to Capital Chapter Secretary Joe Aguiar at josephlaguair@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you in June for the GWS 40th Anniversary!   

Please check our Capital Chapter website and register soon.

Beth C. Sheligo Carl Willner

National President Capital Chapter President

German Wine Society German Wine Society

If registering by mail, please fill out and cut the reservation form below with your check – do not mail the entire notice.

REGISTRATION FORM FOR GERMAN WINE SOCIETY 40th ANNIVERSARY EVENTS

Events Planning to Attend:

June 9 Reception at the German Embassy (free – members only)

Member(s) Names: _________________________________________________________________

Chapter of Membership ____________________________________________________________

June 10 Luncheon and Members Meeting at the Cosmos Club  

$75 members / $85 non-member guests

Member(s) Names: _________________________________________________________________

Guest(s) Names: _____________________________________________________________________

June 10 Evening Banquet at Elizabeth’s on L Street

$115 members / $125 non-member guests

Member(s) Names: _________________________________________________________________

Guest(s) Names: _____________________________________________________________________

Choice of Entrée:   Poached Branzini Filet ________   Roasted Pork Belly _________

(default will be Poached Branzini if no choice made; indicate number of each)

Total Enclosed: ___________________ Daytime Phone Number: ______________________

E-Mail: ________________________________________________________________________________