German Wine Society DC Chapter

Portfolio Tasting with Domaine Select and Daniel Hubbard
2011-04-09 19:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Harbor Square Party Room, 500 N St SW, Washington, DC, 20024, United States
Please join us Saturday, April 9, at 7 p.m., for our upcoming tasting with Daniel C. Hubbard of Domaine Select Wine Estates (DSWE). He has planned a power-point presentation to share with us his extensive knowledge of German wine. As DSWE’s Central European portfolio manager and Mid-Atlantic sales manager, Daniel is well established with the German wine scene, as our board member Christian Schiller can attest. They met at the 1st International Riesling Symposium last year at Schloss Reinhartshausen in the Rheingau. The tasting will be at the Harbour Square Club Room. As you will recall, this venue provides us a stunning view of the Washington skyline. The price for this tasting is $35 for members and $42 for non-members.In 2010, DSWE was named Food & Wine magazine’s Importer of the Year. The German wine portfolio of DSWE is exquisite and diverse, containing, at one end, the Pfalz wines of Weingut Christmann, whose owner, Steffen Christmann, is the current VDP President, the organization of Germany’s elite winemakers, and at the other end, the wines of Dirk Wuertz, a young and upcoming German winemaker who sells his Rieslings as bag-in box wines at Whole Foods and New York’s trendy wine bar “The Ten Bells.” It’s one heck of a selection! The wines have been selected. They are four flights of three wines each, each flight representing a particular vintner. The wines are: 2009 Christmann, Riesling, Deidesheimer Paradiesgarten, Pfalz2009 Christmann, Riesling IDIG GG, Pfalz2009 Kuhling-Gillot, Riesling Nierstein, Rheinhessen Rheinhessen2009 Peter-Jakob Kühn, Riesling Quarzit, Rheingau2009 Peter-Jakob Kühn, Riesling Doosberg, 1. Gewächs, Rheingau2009 Melsheimer, Riesling Kabinett, Reiler Mullay-Hofberg, MSR2009 Melsheimer, Riesling Spätlese, Schäf, MSR2007 Melsheimer, Riesling Auslese #34, MSR

Luxembourg Wine Tasting at Luxembourg Embassy
2011-03-18 18:30 - 22:00 | Luxembourg Embassy, 2200 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20008, United States
Mark your calendars! We have been invited to an exciting opportunity to enjoy the wines of the “other Mosel,” the Moselle River in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, at the beautiful setting of the Embassy of Luxembourg on March 18, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. The price for the evening’s tasting is $25 per participant. This amount will form our charitable donation, as requested by the Embassy in lieu of an event charge. The deadline to submit reservations for this event is March 14, 2011. The Embassy of Luxembourg is able to accommodate a maximum of 40 guests. As this event is expected to be quite popular, please send your check promptly with your reservation. Also, please bring identification for admission to the Embassy. About Luxembourg Winemaking: Luxembourg has a 2000-year history of wine-making, but its wine production is not large and exports are mainly to Belgium and Germany, so this tasting affords a unique chance to try a variety of wines from Luxembourg in the United States. In addition to sharing a great wine-producing region with Germany (Luxembourg’s vineyards in the Moselle valley adjoin Germany’s Upper Mosel), most of the grapes grown in Luxembourg are also found in Germany, including the noble Riesling, Pinot Gris (Ruländer), Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder), Gewürztraminer, Auxerrois, Mueller-Thurgau, and Elbling. However, most of the wines of Luxembourg are drier than those produced in Germany, and the classification system varies considerably from the one familiar to German wine-lovers, so this should be a very interesting experience in learning about the different ways that one of Germany’s neighbors can produce fine wines using the same grapes and river valley as our familiar German Mosel wines. The Ambassador of Luxembourg, Jean-Paul Senninger, who is from Luxembourg’s wine-growing region, will present the wines personally, and there will also be a presentation on wine-making in Luxembourg. About the Evening: The four principal types of wines that will be available come from one of Luxembourg’s largest producers, Bernard-Massard, and its Clos des Rochers estate. These include Clos des Rochers Riesling, Clos des Rochers Pinot Gris, and Clos des Rochers Auxerrois, as well as a Bernard-Massard Cuvee de l’Ecusson Cremant, Luxembourg’s well-known sparkling wine. In addition, the Embassy plans to offer some wines for tasting from its private stock, produced by the State-owned wine institute’s own vineyards and not available for sale to the general public, likely including a Gewürztraminer. Through the evening, the Embassy will be serving light refreshments artfully prepared by its chef.

New Vintage Tasting with Phil Bernstein
2011-02-25 19:00 - 22:00 | Harbor Square Party Room, 500 N St SW, Washington, DC, 20024, United States
Please join us for our upcoming tasting with Phil Bernstein of Addy Bassins. The tasting is scheduled for Friday, February 25, at 7 p.m. at the Harbour Square Club Room. As you will recall, this venue provides us a stunning view of the Washington skyline. The price for this tasting is $35 for members and $42 for non-members. This event will provide an opportunity to taste the new German vintage, 2009. This is a vintage that has been widely hailed as excellent by the critics. It also provides a nice contrast to the 2008s we tasted with Phil last year: 2008 was a classic year, with minerality and acidity rather than lots of sugar; 2009 retains the minerality and acidity but it’s wrapped up in more substance. In the words of Terry Theise, 2008 is the little sister who likes dancing; 2009 is the older brother who likes playing sports. The wines are just arriving, and now is a great time to sample what is available so you can make choices about what to buy based on the most important information of all — what tastes good to you! The pairs to be served are: 2009 Kruger Rumpf Riesling Feinherb “Schiefer” 2009 Kruger Rumpf Scheurebe 2009 Uerziger Wuerzgarten Riesling Kabinett Merkelbach2009 Uerziger Wuerzgarten Riesling Kabinett Moenchhoff 2009 Dr. Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spaetlese 2009 Dr. Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 2001 Doennhoff Kirschheck Riesling Spaetlese 2009 Doennhoff Kirschheck Riesling Spaetlese

Annual Membership Meeting
2011-01-28 19:00 - 22:00 | Harbor Square Party Room, 500 N St SW, Washington, DC, 20024, United States
Prosit Neujahr! You are cordially invited to attend this year’s membership meeting when we will elect new officers. There will be some very good wines from the cellar to drink, along with cheeses and bread to go with the wines. There will also be short reports on how we arrive at prices for a tasting and the report on the chapter’s finances, membership, etc. Please consider giving back to the Chapter by serving on the board or by volunteering to plan a monthly tasting. The membership meeting will be held on Friday, January 28, at 7:00 p.m.It is very important that you come and vote at this meeting — it is your chapter and you can help shape its activities by voting. Ballots will be available at the meeting. We recommend you submit nominations by January 26. Please send them by e-mail to Hanne Caraher, hcaraher@verizon.net.Members pay nothing for this tasting; non-members pay $15 each. All GWS 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 where available or mostly to taste rather than consume alcohol when such drivers are not available. Results of Annual Meeting: The Capital Chapter of the German Wine Society conducted its annual meeting Friday, January 28, at which it reviewed its achievements through the past year, reflected on its membership, assessed its finances, and discussed the coming year. The attendees also elected its new officers: President – Alan Knapp Vice President – Ken Belsley Treasurer – David Roehm Secretary – Hanne Caraher At Large – Marilyn Scarbrough At Large – Christian Schiller Congratulations all! Those present also sampled and discussed the merits of selected cellar wines. These were: 2001 Dr. Thanisch Erben Muller-Burggraef Spatburgunder Qba Mosel 2006 Paul Anhueser Kreuznacher Moenchberg Schuerebe QbA Nahe 2003 Weingut Born Hohnstedter Kelterberg Riesling Spatlese Saale Unstrut 2007 Fitz-Ritter Gewurtraminer Spatlese Pfalz 2000 Mankel Westhofner Morstein Ortega BA Rheinhessen 2003 Bender Bissersheimer Held Silvaner Eiswein Pfalz2000 Darting Duerkheimer Nonnengarten Rieslaner TBA Pfalz

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas ...
2010-12-10 19:00 - 22:00 | National Press Club, 529 14th St NW, Washington, DC, 20045, United States
Our annual holiday paired dinner will be held Friday, December 10, 2010, starting at 7 p.m.This year the dinner will be at the National Press Club. The venue is stunning: a private room, the 1st Amendment, offering us views overlooking the White House, Treasury Building, Willard Hotel, and other historic downtown landmarks. What a terrific opportunity for a very special evening with friends and family! Let’s hope for a light dusting of snow to really set the festive evening mood.The evening begins at 7PM with passed hors d’oeuvre paired with one of our favorite SektsGrilled Bruschetta with Tomato Slice Relish, Mini Reubens, Crab RangoonsHenkellThe evening continues when we are seated at 7:30PMA starter of Frisee Salad with cranberry, apricot, oranges, and nuts, drizzled vinaigrette, and served with with grilled bread – a visual as well as culinary feast!2007 Leitz Eins Zwei Dry QBA Trocken, Rheingau2008 Jakoby-Mathy Kinheimer Rosenberg Kabinett, MoselA main course of Seared Cod served with Lemon Risotto, Papaya Jalapeno Salsa, and Bread and butter – an exciting change from years past!2008 Selbach Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Spatlese, Mosel2009 Fitz Ritter Dürkheimer Spielberg Chardonnay Spätlese trocken, Pfalz (If Santa can bring it in time! else, a terrific alternate will be substituted.)The evening concludes with a special dessertA Cheese Plate of Cambozola & Grafton Cheddar, served with walnut stuffed date, Roasted Fig Orange section1997 Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Pittersberg Riesling Eiswein, Nahe1998 Bender Bissersheimer Held Silvaner Eiswein, PfalzCoffee Service

A Vertical Blind Tasting
2010-10-15 19:00 - 22:00 | DC
Friday, October 15, at 7 p.m. Our educational tasting at the Harbor Square Party Room. Based on reviews by David Schildknecht, and discussions with Phil Bernstein at one of our favorite retailers, McArthur Liquors, we have picked some fabulous wines for this tasting. To make the tasting fun and educational, each table will try to identify which wine matches which description. This tasting should be entertaining and challenging and will help you (re)discover why German wines are some of the greatest in the world. THE WINES 2008 Hexamer Meddersheimer Rheingrafenberg Kabinett 2008 Diel Pittermaennchen Kabinett 2007 AJ Adam Hofberg Spaetlese 2008 AJ Adam Hofberg Spaetlese 2003 Doennhoff Norheimer Bruecke Spaetlese 2007 Doennhoff Norheimer Bruecke Spaetlese 2007 Schaefer Froehlich Bockenauer Felseneck Spaetlese Gold Cap 2008 Schaefer Froehlich Bockenauer Felseneck Spaetlese Gold Cap 2002 JJ Christoffel Erdener Treppchen Auslese 2005 JJ Christoffel Erdener Treppchen Auslese

Exciting pairing of wines at the National Press Club
2010-08-13 19:00 - 22:00 | National Press Club, 529 14th St NW, Washington, DC, 20045, United States
Our special event at the National Press Club is almost upon us — less than two weeks away. We’ve prepared a very special evening for you on Friday, August 13. We’re heading to the Orient, via the National Press Club downtown, to sample wines specially selected for us by James Kellaris. The evening’s theme is the pairing of our favorite wines with Southeast Asian cuisine. The NPC chef is very excited about this challenge and is whipping up a menu sure to please all palates. This event will feature light fair, with each of the three courses served Mezze-style to the table. James Kellaris comes to us from Roanoke Valley Wine Company, whose German wine portfolio is terrific, and brings with him a wealth of knowledge on German wine. He will be discussing each of the wines as it is served and comment on how the character of each wine goes with the food being served. Perhaps you have made James’ acquaintance at Arrowine, where he occasionally presents his wines on Fridays and Saturdays. Here are the wines we will be tasting, paired with light dishes specially selected to match the wines. A TRIO OF DRY WINES – Hans Wirsching, Silvaner 2007 (Franken) Pfeffingen, Dry Riesling 2007 (Pfalz) Becker, Pinot Noir 2007 (Pfalz) A TRIO OF KABINETTS JJ Pruem, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Riesling Kabinett 2007 (Mosel) Gunderloch, “Jean Baptiste,” Riesling Kabinett 2008 (Rheinhessen) Von Buhl, Armand, Riesling Kabinett 2008 (Pfalz) III. RESERVE WINES – Schlossgut Diel, Dorsheimer Goldloch, Riesling Grosses Gewaechs 2006 (Nahe) Schaefer Froehlich, Bockenauer Felseneck, Riesling Spaetlese 2008 (Nahe) This promises to be a wonderful event so send off your reservations right away and don’t miss out. The price for this paired tasting is just $60 for members and $67 for non-members. The address for our tasting is 529 14th St NW Washington, DC 20045. We recommend taking Metro, but it is very easy to get to the NPC and park there. The deadline for reservations is Tuesday, August 10.

Oktoberfest in the Pfalz
2010-07-17 19:00 - 2010-09-17 22:00 | Harbor Square Party Room, 500 N St SW, Washington, DC, 20024, United States
Friday, September 17, at 7 p.m. at the Harbour Square Club Room, which provides us a stunning view of the Washington skyline. The price for this tasting is $20 for members, $27 for guests. In years past, we (virtually) visited the Rheingau and the Rheinhessen to celebrate and learn more about these regions’ fine wines. This year we visit the Pfalz, a region near and dear to our hearts, and home of one of our national board’s members – Alice Fitz of Fitz-Ritter. It is an opportunity to experience wines from our cellar and snacks representing the region. As with last year, your pourers have undertaken considerable research to ensure your experience is both delicious and delectable. We’re excited to be joined this year by fellow oenophiles from the Goethe Institute. As we promote the understanding, appreciation and knowledge of German wines, so the members of the Goethe Institute promote knowledge of the German language abroad and foster international cultural cooperation. At this tasting, we can do both … together. From Rudi Wiest: “The Mediterranean like climate and geographic advantages of this sun drenched region makes the Pfalz a favored climate for ripening grapes, fruits and vegetables. This “Tuscany of Germany” is a paradise for noble sweet wines. The powerful, distinctive character of Pfalz Riesling is derived from the stony sediment of the Rhine, with the colored sandstone of the forested Haardt Mountains and remnants of ancient volcanic eruptions.” (https://www.rudiwiest.com) And from our superstar, Terry Theise: “The wines have a great affinity for food—certainly the most versatile of all German wines—and yet they have an indefinable elegance.” (https://www.skurnikwines.com/msw/documents/2010GermanCatalog.pdf) The specific wines we’ll be sampling are: 2007 Fitz Riesling Sekt T Pfalz 2005 Becker Spatburgunder QBA Trocken Pfalz 2002 von Buhl Forster Jesuitengarten Riesling Spatlese Pfalz 2007 Fitz-Ritter Scheurebe Spatlese Pfalz 1994 Kohler-Ruprecht Kallstadter Saumagen Riesling Spatlese Pfalz 1995 Lingenfelder Freinsheimer Musikantenbuckel Scheurebe Auslese Pfalz 1996 Bender Bissersheimer Held Scheurebe Eiswein Pfalz 1999 Minges Flemlinger Zechpeter Muskateller Eiswein Pfalz

Summer Solstice Cruise
2010-06-20 19:00 - 22:00 | Georgetown Waterfront, 3050 K St., NW, Washington, DC, 20007, United States
On Sunday evening, June 20, we will cruise the Potomac. We will cast off all lines and get underway from Georgetown Harbor, just at the bottom of 31st Street NW at 7:15 pm., aboard the Nightingale. This will be a relaxing, post-dinner cruise so we can concentrate on the wines and the atmosphere. There are many dining establishments in the Georgetown area, several right in the Georgetown Harbor area, and we encourage all who want to take the cruise to dine there beforehand. We must depart EXACTLY at 7:15 pm for the two-hour cruise down the Potomac and back again to Georgetown Harbor. We will have a few cheeses and fruits to complement our excellent cellar wines. We encourage all who came to the German Embassy House for the Spargelfest and our other recent tastings to continue to show their enthusiasm by participating in this ever popular event. The cost for the Potomac cruise will be $34 for members and $41 for non-members. The deadline for making a reservation is 16 June, to give us sufficient time to get supplies. We are glad that we found a reasonably priced boat company for an event that our members have always enjoyed. The boat, the Nightingale, is the same boat we used the last three years and it is larger than the one we used in previous years. It is all on one level, and we have tables and chairs and a bar from which to serve the wine. It also has protection against inclement weather, which of course will not occur. So, please join us for this comfortable evening on the river.

GWS Spargelfest at the German Embassy House
2010-05-14 19:00 - 22:00 | German Embassy House, 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC, 20037, United States
We are at that time of year again for our traditional Spargelfest dinner at the German Embassy House. This year it will be on Friday, May 14, starting with a Sekt Reception at 7:00 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7:30. The price for the event will be $55 for members and $62 for non-members. The Board encourages all members and friends of the Society to reserve as early as possible. The deadline for making a reservation is May 10. The Embassy requires a statement of participants at that time for security reasons. Last minute walk-ins will not be permitted. Everyone must have a picture ID to be admitted. We’ll celebrate this annual event with a menu of white and green asparagus with a homemade hollandaise sauce Frau Thuleweit will create for us (yum!), Chicken Saute with lyonaise potatoes, Nuremburger Sausages, and a meat platter of Black Forest ham, prosciutto and Westphalia ham. This delicious and traditional dinner ends with apple strudel with whipped cream, Rote Gruetze, and coffee. It will be a bountiful table under the careful direction of Frau Thuleweit, who has always served us well. We have paired this meal with wines from the Chapter’s cellar and others purchased to pair beautifully with the food. The wine list is being finalized and will be released in the coming days. You can anticipate a Sekt reception, followed by three flights of wine: two Gruener Veltliner followed by two Kabinett, with two Auslese to accompany the dessert.
