Summer Field Trip to Otium Cellars (August 17th, 2019)

Get ready for a summer field trip! The Capital Chapter of the German Wine Society is making another visit to Otium Cellars in beautiful Loudoun County.  Members may recall our summer visits there in 2016 and 2017, and our own Christian Schiller wrote about this estate in his wine blog in 2012.   The German owner of Otium Cellars, Gerhard Bauer, specializes in German/Austrian varietals that grow well in Virginia including Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris), Grüner Veltliner, Dornfelder and Blaufränkisch (Lemberger).  Dr. Bauer came to the United States in 1993 and began planting vines in 2007, following old Franconian traditions, with the winery open since 2012 and 55 acres now under cultivation.  His son Max Bauer has aided in managing the estate.  We will enjoy wines produced from Otium’s four German and Austrian grapes, as well as five other varietals produced by Otium.   This is a very picturesque vineyard, with an on-site equestrian facility that breeds world class Hanoverian horses, and a working farm with pigs, chickens and ducks.   Perfect for aromatic lighter weight summer wine tasting!  Our tasting will take place in the atmospheric Bavarian Room, as with our previous events at Otium.

As part of this very special event, visitors will have the opportunity to tour the vineyard followed by a narrated educational tasting of 9 Otium wines (4 white, 5 red) in three flights with a delicious BBQ lunch, ideal for late summer.  The wines offered will be as follows:

2016 Pinot Gris

2016 Grüner Veltliner

2016 Chardonnay

2015 Chardonnay Reserve

2014 Merlot

2015 Malbec Reserve

2015 Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Dornfelder Gerinne Rouge

2014 Blaufränkisch Reserve

The BBQ buffet style lunch prepared by Monk’s BBQ will include:

Three different types of Monk’s BBQ meats:  Smoked Beef Brisket, Smoked Dry Rub Chicken Leg Quarters, Grilled Maple Glazed Pork Loin, with Monk’s BBQ sauce choices

Seasonal Salad: mixed field greens with seasonal additions of vegetables and cheese, balsamic vinaigrette

Custard Filled Cornbread

Three side dishes:  Grilled Seasonal Vegetables, Herb Roasted Potato Wedges, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Bacon and Lemon Aioli

Dessert:  Fruit Crisp (seasonal fruit), with Rum Caramel and Vanilla Whipped Cream

Otium Cellars, in Loudoun County, is located at 18050 Tranquility Rd, Purcellville, VA 20132. Directions are available from the website at:  https://www.otiumcellars.com/   Otium is about a 70 min drive from downtown DC assuming no heavy traffic, but allow 1.5 hours for the drive there to be safe.  Guests will need to provide their own transportation.  We hope to see you at this truly unique wine tasting & touring event!

Event cost is $76 for members and $83 for non-member guests. The signup deadline is August 10.   You can easily register and pay for this event via Paypal.  You will need to set up a GWS account if you have not done so already for past events, and have a Paypal account.

Register for this Event click here





If you have any questions, please contact organizer Ken Belsley, our chapter Treasurer, at kbelsley@alum.mit.edu  You may also pay by check by following the instructions below. Please make all checks payable to “German Wine Society” and send by mail to Carl Willner, President and Acting Secretary, together with the completed registration form below.   Cut the reservation form below and send with your check – do not mail the entire page. 

All GWS members and guests are reminded that alcohol consumption can lead to intoxication. Members and guests should rely on a designated driver, and drink in moderation, tasting the wines rather than finishing them.

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RESERVATION FORM for Saturday, August 17, 2019 Otium Cellars Tasting and BBQ Lunch Event

Member(s) Name(s)  ___________________________________________________

Guest(s) Names(s) _____________________________________________________

Total Enclosed  ________________________  Daytime/ Cell Phone Number _________________________

E-Mail _______________________________________________________________

Mail to:  

Carl Willner

1014 Reserve Champion Drive

Rockville, MD 20850