Saturday, April 5, 2025

Final Night: At Hôtellerie du Château des Fines Roches in Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours led by Annette Schiller took place from October 13 - October 23. The tour started in Lyon and ended in Châteauneuf-du-Pap/ Avignon. There were 8 of us including Annette and me.

The Rhône Valley is one of the oldest wine regions in France, and the second largest after Bordeaux. The Greeks introduced viticulture in the 4th century BC. Later the Romans came and brought viticulture to a different level. Since then the world has discovered Rhône wines and some of the most famous wines come from the Rhône Valley. The vineyards are located on both sides of the river. The Rhône Valley is divided into two distinctively different regions: the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône.

For an overview see: Overview: Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours led by Annette Schiller - Facebook Day-by-day Postings

Following;

Bottling and Tasting at Château de Ségriès in Lirac, with Owner/ Winemaker Henri de Lanzac - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting Château de Beaucastel Wines at Boutique Famille Perrin in the Village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at La Mule du Pape in the Center of Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Château Gigognan in Sorgues, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Head Winemaker Jenna Le Lay - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

we spent our final night and had our final dinner at at Hostellerie du Chateau des Fines Roches, a castle sitting in the middle of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyards.

Hostellerie du Château des Fines Roches in Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a 5 star exquisite castle hotel. Approaching the hotel takes your breath away. The medieval and Provencal fantasy style castle was built in the 19th century. It sits high on a hill overlooking the Châteauneuf du Pape vineyards, with gorgeous views to the town of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and as far as to Avignon and the Luberon in the distance.

Annette's advice: Feel like a princess or prince out of a fairy tale story. Take advantage of the pool. Enjoy the view towards Avignon and the Summer Palace of the Popes. Feel free to go just around the corner where you find the wine estate Château des Fines Roches.

This is one of the eight wineries of the Mousset family and owned by Catherine Mousset-Barrot. Its vineyard holdings of 130 acres lie entirely in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. The tasting room is open during the afternoon.

Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours - Postings on schiller-wine (Published and Forthcoming):

Overview: Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours led by Annette Schiller - Facebook Day-by-day Postings

Arriving in Lyon: Saucisson Sec, Saint-Marcellin Cheese and a Bottle of Rhône Rouge at Le Broc'Bar for Dinner - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Sunday Morning Stroll on the St. Antoine Market on the Banks of the Soane River Market in Lyon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Meet&Greet (+ Introduction to the Rhône Valley Region) at Grand Hôtel des Terreaux in Lyon and Guided Sightseeing Tour of Lyon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

"Menu Tradition" at Grand Café des Négociants - Created in 1864 - in Lyon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

At the Foot of the Hermitage Hill and Tasting at Maison M. Chapoutier in Tain l’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch with a View of the Hermitage Hill at Brasserie Route N7 in Tain l’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Quick Stop at Valrhona, the Famous Chocolate Producer, in Tain l’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Philippe & Vincent Jaboulet, Croze-Hermitage, with Philippe & Vincent Jaboulet - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

3-course Dinner at Restaurant Le Quai in Tain L’Hermitage - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Caveau Ferraton Père & Fils in Tain L’Heremitage, with Jerome Nuss - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Domaine Yves Cuilleron in Chavanay, Northern Rhône, with Thibaut Jager - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Next to Maison Guigal: Lunch at Le Bistro de Serine in Ampuis - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour at Maison Guigal and Guigal Tasting at Château d’Ampuis, with Kim Conley - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Focus on "Natural Wine": Meeting Alice Feiring at Le Moderne Wine Bar of Romane Vallon in Toulon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting in the Cellar at Cave Sébastien Blachon in Saint-Jean de Muzols, Northern Rhône, with Sébastien Blachon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting from Barrel and from Bottle at Domaine Alain Graillot in Pont-de-l’Isère, Northern Rhône, with Maxime Graillot - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

High-end Wine Pairing Lunch at La Grand Table Maison Chabran, with Chef Louis Chabran and Legend Michel Chabran - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

High-end Tasting at Paul Jaboulet Aîné in Tain-l’Hermitage, Northern Rhône - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Domaine Alary in Cairanne, Southern Rhône, with Jean Etienne Alary and Senior Boss Denis Alary - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting at Domaine Chaume-Arnaud in Vinsobres, Southern Rhône, with Valérie Chaume-Arnaud and Virginia Fréguin - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Restaurant Le Mesclun in Séguret, with Artist Chef Christophe Bonzi - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting and Cellar Tour at Domaine Saint Gayan in Gigondas, Southern Rhône, with Owner/ Winemaker Christian-Yves Carré de Lusançay - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Dinner at Restaurant Domaine de Cabasse, Séguret - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine des Pasquiers in Sablet, Southern Rhône, with Jean Claude, Philippe and Perrin Lambert - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting in the Front-yard at Domaine La Ligière in Beaumes-de-Venise - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

3-course Lunch at Restaurant Auberge Saint Roch in Beaumes-de-Venise, with the Husband and Wife Team Johann and Isabelle from Corsica - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Tasting in the Cellar at Domaine La Martinelle in Lafare, Ventoux, with Owner/ Winemaker Corinne Faravel - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Charcuterie and Cheese Dinner with Rosé Wines at Hôtel Le Mas de l’Oulivié, Les Baux de Provence - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Olive Trees Tour, Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Mas de Gourgonnier in Mouriès, Alpilles, with Owner/ Winemaker Eve Cartier - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

3-course Lunch at Le Mas Teulière in Maussane-les-Alpilles - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Van Gogh and the Romans: Sightseeing in Arles - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch with a View at Restaurant Les Terrasses at the Pont du Gard - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Avignon - Town of the Popes: Guided Tour of the Palace of the Popes and of Pont Saint-Bénézet - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineToursLight

Light Dinner at Restaurant Le Carré du Palais near the Palais des Papes in Avignon - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine du Pègau in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Owner/ Winemaker Laurence Féraud and Winemaker Andreas Lenzenwöger (from Austria) - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Wine Pairing Lunch at Vignobles Alain Jaume, Domaine Grand Veneur in Courthézon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Hélène Jaume and Chef Axel Thomas - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Berthet-Rayne in Courthézon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Owner/ Winemaker Laure Berthet-Rayne (Laure Capeau) - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Light Dinner in the old part of Avignon near "Les Halles", the Central Food Market - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Final Night: At Hôtellerie du Château des Fines Roches in Châteauneuf-du-Pape - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Michelin-star level Wine-pairing Dinner at Hôtellerie du Château des Fines Roches in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Chef Hugo Loridan-Fombonnet - Rhône Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours

Friday, April 4, 2025

Comparative Riesling Tasting - Germany, Austria, Alsace - at the German Wine Society (Washington DC Chapter), led by Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, March 2025

Comparing the Rieslings of Austria, Germany and Alsace: Tasting at the German Wine Society - Washington DC led by Annette Schiller Ombiasy Public Relations and Wine Tours

We had four flights with 3 wines each flight and 2 bottles per wine. 42 people attended.

Inviation

Comparative Riesling Tasting: Germany, Austria, Alsace

Please plan to join the German Wine Society on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 7:00 pm for a presentation on the Riesling grape in Germany, Austria and Alsace, and tasting of nine wines to illustrate the varieties of Riesling in these countries, by our own Annette Schiller. Registrations for this event are due by Tuesday, March 25, 2025, and the price is $45 for GWS members, $52 for non-members. Please be aware that, due to limited supply of the wines and size of the venue, we have a maximum cap of 40 for attendance at this event. Reserve early to avoid disappointment!

One of the world’s most celebrated grape varieties is Riesling. The Riesling is a perfect translator of the soils where it grows. This transparency of terroir means that Rieslings grown in different regions will produce wines with a markedly individual characteristic and distinct taste profile. The three countries whose Rieslings we will compare are all at the heart of Riesling cultivation in Europe. Germany is the homeland of Riesling, while Austria and Alsace are the two other major European Riesling producing regions. Indeed, Germany has been known in the U.S. mostly for its delicious Rieslings. Riesling is the #1 grape produced in Germany and Germany is also the #1 producer of Riesling world-wide (40% of the global Riesling production is in Germany). But Austria and Alsace, while known for other varietals too, both produce outstanding Rieslings as well, with unique reflections of their own terroir.

All wines have been acquired from top-notch wine makers and each flight will be a comparison within the same quality level to be fair to each wine. There will be four flights of three wines each, one from each country, progressing from sparkling wines to the estate level to village level to single vineyard wines.

Flight 1: Sparkling wines

1) 2022 Sekt, Riesling Reserve, Brut, Weingut Steininger, Kamptal, Austria

2) 2022 Sekt, Riesling, Brut, Weingut Braunewell, Rheinhessen, Germany

3) NV, Crémant d’Alsace, Riesling, Brut, Domaine Fey-Sohler, Alsace

Flight 2: Estate wines

4) 2021 Riesling, Weingut Steininger, Kamptal, Austria

5) 2021 Riesling, Pur Mineral, Weingut Rudolf Fürst, Franken, Germany

6) 2021 Riesling, Maison Trimbach, Alsace

Flight 3: Village level wines

7) 2022 Riesling, Furth, Weingut Müller-Grossmann, Kremstal, Austria

8) 2023 Riesling, Birkweiler, Weingut Rebholz, Pfalz, Germany

9) 2022 Riesling, Berg, Domaine Melanie Pfister, Alsace

Flight 4: Single vineyard Grand Cru wines

10) 2022 Riesling Ried Steinertal, Weingut Tegernseerhof, Wachau, Austria

11) 2018 Riesling Hattenheimer Nussbrunnen, Grand Cru, Weingut Balthasar Ress,

Rheingau, Germany

12) 2021 Riesling, Grand Cru Schlossberg, Domaine Weinbach, Alsace

It will be fun to discuss the wines during the tasting and it will be very interesting to hear the verdict of the audience on the favorites

A tasty buffet of cheeses, bread, crackers, charcuterie, grapes and veggies will be provided to accompany the wines. ...

Report by President Carl Willner

On Saturday, March 29, 2025, just as the cherry blossoms of Washington, DC were reaching peak bloom, the German Wine Society’s Capital Chapter gathered for a presentation by our own Annette Schiller comparing the Rieslings of Austria, Germany and Alsace. We enjoyed 12 selected wines in four flights of three each, one representing each country, from sparkling wines to basic estate level, through village level and then Grand Cru single estate. Participants had the chance to vote on their favorites in each flight. The event commenced shortly after the scheduled start time of 7 pm, allowing as many guests as possible to arrive through the difficult cherry blossom traffic, and we were finished and out of the venue by about 10 pm. Though a few guests arrived after the start of the event, no one who was signed up missed it. We had 40 people registered, the maximum planned for the event, and 41 actually participated, with a walk-in guest who knew the Schillers from other events (since we had kept one extra place, we allowed him in with payment by check). Almost all of the board members of the Chapter were present, and all those who were had a hand in the event. Christian brought the wine glasses and wines with Annette and supervised the pouring, I brought the spit cups, carafes and speaker and was first to arrive with Nina and begin the set up with Klaus, who of course furnished the club room in his Van Ness apartment building, and Karen brought the food, while Ken had his checkbook on hand and ensured that everyone was reimbursed at the end. Of our 41 guests, 27 were members, and 14 non-members....

Although Germany is the home of Riesling, its French Alsatian competitors prevailed twice while Austria did once, with Germany only coming out on top in participants’ votes in one of the four categories, the sparkling wine. Germany, watch out! Price was sometimes but not consistently a measure of quality ratings by participants. In the final Grand Cru category, the prices did align with ratings, the Alsatian wine leading followed by the German, and then the Austrian. But at the village wine level, the middle-priced Alsatian wine prevailed over the more expensive German one even though the German choice was by one of the top German winemakers, Rebholz. And in the estate wine group, the least expensive wine of the three, the Austrian, came in first!

This was a very successful event for us from all perspectives - enjoyment of the wines, education about them, and financial return for the chapter. Once again, the Schillers have provided the Capital Chapter with a first-rate event, and Annette’s very impressive knowledge of the wines and producers was once again shared with all. Thanks are also due to our volunteer pourers, Anthony Ramdass, Klaus Teuter, and Brian Pinci, who had to ensure that all 41 participants got their wines in a timely way working from just two bottles of each of the wines.

We now look forward to our next events, New Vintage at King Farm on May 16, and Spargelfest at the German Embassy on June 13!

Carl Willner

President and Secretary

German Wine Society Capital Chapter

March 30, 2025

Tasting