Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Anniversary Celebration: 125 Years Weingut Gunderloch in Nackenheim, Rheinhessen, Germany

Picture: Anniversary Celebration: 125 Years Weingut Gunderloch in Nackenheim, Rheinhessen, Germany

Weingut Gunderloch is one of the top producers of Germany. It is located in the small village of Nackenheim in Rheinhessen. This town is situated on the banks of the Rhein in the Rheinterrasse area at the foot of the Rothenberg. This is the famed hillside vineyard site which Nackenheim is known for. Weingut Gunderloch also owns vineyards in the nearby Nierstein in the Red Slope (Roter Hang).

Pictures: Arriving at Weingut Gunderloch, with Agnes, Fritz and Johannes Hasselbach

It all started in 1890, when the banker Carl Gunderloch purchased the Gunderloch manor house in Nackenheim. As the story goes, he used to trek from Gundersblum, his place of birth, to his bank in Mainz. On these journeys he carefully observed how the sun played off the hills along the Rhein terrace. Based on these observations he purchased vineyard property that appeared to collect sunlight most efficiently and founded the Gunderloch Estate. Today, Weingut Gunderloche is still in the hands of the Gunderloch family, with Agnes Hasselbach-Usinger, a descendent of Carl Gunderloch, and her winemaker husband Fritz Hasselbach recently having handed over to their son Johannes Hasselbach.

My wife Annette Schiller and I had the pleasure and honor to participate in the 125 Years Anniversary Celebration.

Picture: 125 Years Gunderloch

Weingut Gunderloch is close to our heart for several reasons. To begin with, when my wife Annette and I studied in Mainz, Germany, and had our first children, we regularly used to go to the cosy wine tavern of Weingut Gunderloch by bike on Sunday afternoon, had a couple of delicious Gunderloch wines and a Spundekäs (local cream cheese) with Bretzels. Second, for the time we have been based in Washington DC (from 1983 onwards) Weingut Gunderloch was one of the leading wine producers in the US. Fritz Hasselbach told me that during the peak, he was once a month in the US, where his wines are imported by Rudi Wiest selections. Third, Johannes Hasselbach is one of the 4 creators of the Wurzelwerk project. Annette Schiller organized their first presentation in the USA last year.

Pictures: Special Tasting with Agnes, Fritz and Johannes Hasselbach at Weingut Gunderloch

Weingut Gunderloch

Weingut Gunderloch has 24 hectares of vineyards. In Nackenheim, there are holdings in the Rothenberg (Riesling), the Engelsberg (Riesling, Silvaner, Ruländer and Gewürztraminer) and the Schmitts Kapellchen (Scheurebe and Müller-Thurgau). In Nierstein, there are holdings in the Pettenthal and Hipping both planted with Riesling and the Paterberg with Ruländer and Müller-Thurgau.

Pictures: Annette and Christian Schiller with Paul Truszkowski (WineVibes.de, drunkenmonday.de, wine-in-black) and Andreas Schnura (Laurenz in Mainz) at Weingut Gunderloch

Overall the vines on the estate have an average age of 25 years, and Riesling predominates as all but 20% of Gunderloch's vines are of this variety. The remainder is mainly Pinot Blanc (5%) and Pinot Gris (5%).

Vineyard practices include hand cultivation, hand harvesting and low yields with an average of 50 hl/ha for the estate as a whole. Once the fruit reaches the winery it is crushed gently without destemming, and then fed by gravity to the vats where it sees a slow, temperature-controlled fermentation to preserve the fruit character of the wines.

Weingut Gunderloch used to be export-oriented and well known in the US, with more than 50% of the production sold abroad. Johannes Hasselbach’s objective is to increase the domestic share in its sales, although the US will always remain a major market for Weingut Gunderloch.

Pictures: Celebrating at Weingut Gunderloch, with Paul Fürst, Weingut Fürst, Jochen Becker-Köhn, Weingut Robert Weil and Roy Metzdorf, Owner of the Legendary Winebar Weinstein in Berlin

The Gunderloch Family

The property and vineyards have remained in family ownership since the days of Carl Gunderloch, who died in 1935, the estate passing first to Gunderloch's granddaughter Elizabeth Usinger and her husband. They remained at the helm until 1965, when their son Carl Otto took on the management of the estate.

Until recently, his eldest daughter, Agnes Hasselbach-Usinger and her husband, Fritz Hasselbach were in charge. Agnes and Fritz developed a strong presence in the US, with wine importer Rudi Wiest in California. Gunderloch wines are available throughout the US.

Agnes and Fritz have 3 children. Daughter Kathrin Hasselbach-Bordiehn is pursuing other interests outside of the estate. Daughter Stefanie Jurtschitsch studied oenologie at Geisenheim University, where she met Alwin Jurtschitsch from the famous Weingut Jurtschitsch in Austria and married into this winery. She lives with Alwin in Austria now and makes Jurtschitsch wines. Son Johannes Hasselbach, with his wife, has taken over the winery. He initially studied business economics before turning to winemaking. It will be interesting to see in what direction Johannes will steer the winery.

 Picture: Angela and Peter Jakob Kühn, Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn

Picture: Annette Schiller with Alwin Jurtschitsch, Weingut Jurtschitsch and Julia Klüber, Berlin

 Picture: Annette and Christian Schiller with Paul Fürst, Weingut Fürst in Franken

Picture: Christian Schiller with Louis Konstantin Guntrum and Stephanie Streichele-Guntrum, Weingut Guntrum

Picture: Phillip Wittmann, Weingut Wittmann

Picture: Christian Schiller and Roy Metzdorf, Owner of the Legendary Winebar Weinstein in Berlin

German Dramatist Carl Zuckmaier

The Gunderloch Estate also has an interesting tie to the German dramatist Carl Zuckmaier. Zuckmaier, who became a Hollywood screenwriter, was born in Nackenheim and a friend of Carl Gunderloch. Zuckmaier not only wrote the screenplay for the film "The Blue Angel", but also the plays "The Captain from Koepenick" and "The Devils General". He also used the Gunderloch estate for the setting, and Carl Gunderloch as the main character for his very first play "Der fröhliche Weinberg" (the jolly vineyard). In this play Zuckmaier renamed Carl Gunderloch "Jean Baptiste" which is where the brand name used on the Gunderloch "Jean Baptiste" Kabinett is borrowed from.

Pictures: The „Der Fröhliche Weinberg“Show is a about to begin (with Andreas Durst, Weingut Durst)

The Festivities

The celebration took place at Weingut Gunderloch during the last weekend of May. At the center was a special performance of the "Der fröhliche Weinberg" of Carl Zuckmaier at the estate.

Saturday May 30

• 15.00 Special Tasting
• 16.30 Welcome and Presentation of VIRGO
• 20.00 „Der Fröhliche Weinberg“
• 22.30 „After-Party“ with Guest Winemakers Knipser and Jurtschitsch

Sunday, May 31
• 12.00 Uhr Hoffest- Estate Party

Wurzelwerk

“Wurzelwerk und Winzers Beitrag” (Root Work and Winemaker’s Contribution) is a fascinating and much talked about project of 4 winemaker friends/relatives from 3 world class wineries in Germany and in Austria. Starting with the vintage 2012, Max von Kunow (Weingut von Hövel, Saar, Germany), Johannes Hasselbach (Weingut Gunderloch, Rheinhessen, Germany) and Alwin + Stefanie Jurtschitsch (Weingut, Jurtschitsch, Kamptal, Austria) shared a portion of their Riesling grapes with the other 2 wineries and vinified the own portion as well as the 2 portions from the other 2 wineries into 3 separate wines. Thus, they make a total of 9 different wines. The first presentation of the Wurzelwerk project outside of Germany took place in Washington DC and was organized by Annette Schiller.

Picture: Annette Schiller, Ombiasy PR and WineTours, Max von Kunow, Johannes Hasselbach, Alwin Jurtschitsch and Christian G.E. Schiller at BToo in Washington DC

See also:
"Wurzelwerk" Goes America: 3 Vineyards, 3 Winemakers and 9 Wines

VIRGO

VIRGO is another interesting project of Johannes Hasselbach. VIRGO is a wine fermented in the vineyard. The purpose of this is to minimize the impact of wine cellar flora and yeasts on the wine. The grapes come from the Grand Cru vineyard Rothenberg. VIRGO thus could mean: “Vergoren Im Rothenberg Ganz Ohne” (Fermented in the Rothenberg without Anything). Alternatively, it could be the Latin word for virgin.

Picture: Johannes Hasselbach Pouring VIRGO

Johannes started the project with the 2010 vintage (only 2 bottles). Here are the tasting notes of Bernd Klingenbrunn from K&M Gutsweine in Frankfurt for the following 3 vintages (in German).

2011 VIRGO
Klare, saubere Aromatik, nicht zu fruchtüppig, Orangenzeste; wirkt fein und eher filigran, feine Mineralik. Im Vergleich zum GG Rothenberg mit Kellerflora wirkt der VIRGO auf mich etwas feiner, die Säure zeigt sich meiner Meinung auch etwas zurückhaltender. 91/100 Pkt

2012 VIRGO
Steinige, salzige Aromatik. Jahrgangstypisch genauso kraftvoll wie sein “Bruder GG” aus dem Keller. Wirkt in sich geschlossen, viel Energie ausstrahlend, kraftvoll, aber nicht fett, ein in sich ruhender Wein, perfekte Balance, wirkt wie selbstverständlich. Für mich auf gleichem Niveau wie das “normale” Rothenberg GG. 96/100 Pkt.

2013 VIRGO
Kaum vorgeklärt, recht schlank auf mich wirkend, würzig, etwas weniger kraftvoll als der 2012er V.I.R.G.O. Gute Balance. Auf mich wirkt dieser Wein etwas weniger offen wie sein “Keller-Pendant” 92/100 Pkt.

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Weingut Gunderloch – The New Generation: Owner Johannes Hasselbach in Washington DC, US

"Wurzelwerk" Goes America: 3 Vineyards, 3 Winemakers and 9 Wines

Special Wine Event on March 18, 2014, in Washington DC with "Wurzelwerk": 3 Terroirs, 3 Winemakers and 9 Wines 

Visiting Agnes and Fritz Hasselbach at their Weingut Gunderloch in Nackenheim, Rheinhessen, German

Riesling Lounge Goes Lomo, Germany
 

Monday, June 29, 2015

Germany’s Top Winemakers: The Runners-up (with 4.5 out of 5 Points) - Der Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2015

Picture: Christian Schiller with Armin and Caroline Diel at Schlossgut Diel

Recently, I posted about Germany’s 20 top winemakers, according to Der Feinschmecker, the leading Gourmet Journal in Germany. These were the 20 winemakers, who had received 5 out of 5 points in the 2005 ranking of Der Feinschmecker. See: Germany’s Top 20 Winemakers - Der Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2015

Right behind them are another 20 winemakers, who got 4.5 out of 5 points: The runners-up. Here is a listing, with a short introduction of each of them.

Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan

The Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann Jordan Estate was established in the 1700s by Andreas Jordan, who had immigrated to the Pfalz from the Savoy region. When he died in 1848, his bequest was split three ways – an event known as the Jordansche Teilung (Teilung means “division” or “sharing” in German) – giving rise to Deidesheim’s three biggest wineries, which thenceforth developed independently of each other and still exist today. Today, they bear the names Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan, Reichsrat von Buhl and von Winningen (Dr. Deinhard). They are now all owned by wife of the late Achim Niederberger. 49 hectares.

Picture: Tasting Weingut Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan in Deidesheim with General Manager Gunther Hauck

See also:
Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan in Deidesheim with General Manager Gunther Hauck – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Battenfeld-Spanier

Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier is in Hohen-Sülzen (Wonnegau area) close to the city of Worms in Southern Rheinhessen. The Spanier family has been making wine for generations. The vineyard area totals 18 hectares, with holdings in: Kirchenstück, Rosengarten und Sonnenberg (Hohen-Sülzen), as well as Frauenberg (Flörsheim). More than 50% of the area is planted with Riesling, as well as with Pinot Noir (20%), Pinot Blanc (8%), Silvaner, Chardonnay and other varieties. Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier is fully biodynamic.

Picture: Annette Schiller with H.O. Spanier, Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier and Weingut Kühling Gillot,

See also:
Wine Tasting at Weingut Kühling-Gillot in Bodenheim: Kühling-Gillot and Battenfeld-Spanier Wines – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Friedrich Becker

Weingut Becker is in Schweigen in the Pfalz, right at the French/German border. The vineyards totals 18 hectares. Unusually, about 2/3 of the vineyards are located in what is now France. Weingut Friedrich Becker is one of the best producers in the Pfalz and one of the best Pinot Noir producers in Germany. The best Becker Pinot Noirs compare favorably with the best Burgundy has to offer.

Picture: Annette Schiller and Friedrich Becker sen.

See also:
Wine Tasting at Weingut Friedrich Becker – Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Christmann

Dry-only producer from the Pfalz, headed by VDP President Steffen Christmann. The vineyard area totals 20 hectares, with Riesling accounting for 2/3 of the production.

Picture: Harvest at Weingut A. Christmann, with Steffen Christmann

See also:
Winery Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut A. Christmann, with Steffen Christmann – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Schlossgut Diel

In the Nahe Valley with 22 hectares. Grape Varieties: 65% Riesling, 20% Grauburgunder, 10% Spätburgunder, 5% Weissburgunder. Bottle-fermented (and hand-riddled) sparkling wines are also produced.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Caroline Diel at Schlossgut Diel

See also:

Tasting with Sylvain Taurisson Diel at Schlossgut Diel, Nahe – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Glaser-Himmelstoss

A typical producer in the Franken area, with Silvaner and Müller-Thurgau accounting for more than half of the production. 15 hectares.

Gunderloch

A respected producer from the Rheinhessen area, which is well established in the American market. It all started in 1890, when the banker Carl Gunderloch purchased the Gunderloch manor house in Nackenheim. Today, the Estate is still in the hands of the Gunderloch family, with Johannes Hasselbach in charge. 18 hectares.

Picture: Johannes Hasselbach and Christian G.E. Schiller in Washington DC

See also:
Weingut Gunderloch – The New Generation: Owner Johannes Hasselbach in Washington DC, US

Reinhold Haart

The Haart estate includes four vineyard sites on the left bank of the Mosel and one on the right. Most prominent are its 4 hectares in the heart of the Piesporter Goldtröpfchen vineyard. 7 hectares.

Dr. Heger

Weingut Dr. Heger in Baden was established in 1935 by the rural doctor, Dr. Max Heger. Today, the 21 hectares of vineyards are predominantly planted with the Pinots Gris, Blanc and Noir. In addition, there is also the Weinhaus Heger, a negiciant, which the current owner Joachim Heger founded.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Joachim Heger

See also:
Visit: Weingut Dr. Heger in Baden – Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Heymann-Löwenstein

With his only dry and terroir-driven wines, Reinhard Löwenstein is sometimes called the rebel from the Mosel. 14 hectares.

Picture: Cornelia Heymann-Loewenstein, Weingut Heymann-Loewenstein. Eva Raps, Weingut Hans Lang,  Reinhard Loewenstein and Christian G.E. Schiller at Kloster Eberbach

Bernhard Huber

Weingut Bernhard Huber in Baden is one of the winemakers leading the German red wine revolution. 26.5 hectares. Bernhard Huber, only 53 years old, died in June 2014. His son Julian Huber has taken over, with the help of his mother Barbara.

Picture: Julian and Barbara Huber at the 2014 Gault Millau Awards Ceremony in Mainz

See also:
Wine Tasting at Weingut Bernhard Huber – Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Toni Jost – Hahnenhof

This family estate is run by Peter Jost, who took over from his father Toni in 1975. Peter was joined by his daughter Cecilia in 2009. It is based in Bacharach, in the south of the MittelRhein region. 15 hectares. All dry wines.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller and Cecilia Jost, Weingut Toni Jost - Hahnenhof

August Kesseler

Situated in Assmannshausen in the Rheingau region, the wine estate of August Kesseler consists of vineyard sites in Lorch (for Riesling and Silvaner wines), on the slopes of the hills around Rüdesheim and Assmanshausen (Pinot Noir). August Kesseler took over the estate from his parents in 1977 as a young man, and has qualitatively expanded the best area under vines to 18 hectares.

Picture: Christian G.E. Schiller with August Kesseler and his Wife in Berlin

See also:
A Pinot Noir Star: Visiting August Kesseler and his Weingut August Kesseler in Assmannshausen, Germany

Philipp Kuhn

A dry wines only producer from the Pfalz. Half of the vineyard area totaling 40 hectares is accounted for by red wines, with the focus on Pinot Noir and half accounted for by white wines, with the focus on Riesling and Pinot Blanc.

Andreas Laible

Weingut Andreas Laible is in Durbach in the Baden region. The vineyard area totals 7 hectares, with Riesling accounting for more than half of it. All wines are dry.

Ökonomierat Rebholz

Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in the Pfalz was founded by Hansjörg Rebholz’s grandfather. In the tradition of his grandfather, who was aiming at producing "natural wines" and these "with the precision of a Swiss watchmaker", Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz is now fully biodynamic.

Picture: Hansjörg and Birgit Rebholz, the third Generation of the Rebholz Family Estate, with Annette and Christian Schiller at Prowein 2015 in Germany

See also:
Wine Tasting at Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in Siebeldingen, Pfalz – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Salwey

Weingut Salwey in Oberrotweil in Baden specializes in Spätburgunder, Grauburgunder and Weissburgunder. Konrad Salwey is at the helm of the winery since 2011, when his father Wolf-Diedrich Salwey died in a car accident. 40 hectares.

Joseph Spreitzer

The vineyards in Oestrich, Winkel and Hattenheim in the Rheingau are planted with 97% Riesling and just 3% Spätburgunder grapes. Brothers Bernd and Andreas Spreitzer are the fourth generation of the Spreitzer family to run this historic estate where wine has been produced since 1641. 15 hectares.

Picture: Christian Schiller with Andreas Spreitzer, Weingut Spreitzer

Jean Stodden

The Stodden family has been dedicated to producing wine since 1578 in the Ahr Valley. The 6.5 hectares of vineyards are almost exclusively planted with red grape varieties: Pinot Noir (88%), Frühburgunder (6%)) and Dornfelder (1%). The most spectacular wines Alexander Stodden, the current owner and winemaker, produces are terroir-driven Pinot-Noirs from top vineyard sites such as the Recher Herrenberg.

Florian Weingart

Florian Weingarts 6.5 hectares are divided between 3 sites on the Bopparder Hamm in the Mittelrhein Region, a south facing stretch with an incline of 50-70% along the Rhein where a kink forces the river to flow west to east. Here slate is layered with various sedimentations and volcanic ash spattered during eruptions of Eifel Mountain over 10,000 years ago.

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

4 Wine Tours by ombiasy coming up in 2015: Germany-East, Germany-South. Germany-Nord and Bordeaux 

Germany’s Top 20 Winemakers - Der Feinschmecker WeinGuide 2015

Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut Geheimer Rat Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan in Deidesheim with General Manager Gunther Hauck – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014) 

Wine Tasting at Weingut Kühling-Gillot in Bodenheim: Kühling-Gillot and Battenfeld-Spanier Wines – Germany-North Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Wine Tasting at Weingut Friedrich Becker – Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014) 

Winery Tour and Wine Tasting at Weingut A. Christmann, with Steffen Christmann – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014)

Tasting with Sylvain Taurisson Diel at Schlossgut Diel, Nahe – Germany-North Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014) 

Weingut Gunderloch – The New Generation: Owner Johannes Hasselbach in Washington DC, US

Visit: Weingut Dr. Heger in Baden – Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

Wine Tasting at Weingut Bernhard Huber – Germany-South Wine Tour by ombiasy (2014)

A Pinot Noir Star: Visiting August Kesseler and his Weingut August Kesseler in Assmannshausen, Germany

Wine Tasting at Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz in Siebeldingen, Pfalz – Germany-South Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2014) 

Friday, June 26, 2015

Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Picture: At the Hospices de Beaune in Beaune, Bourgogne

The Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours in 2015 was organized for a special group, the Wine Brotherhood of Hochheim, Germany (Weinfreundeskreis Hochheim). The tour took place from March 31 to June 6, 2015.

The 2015 Bourgogne Tour, for the Wine Brotherhood of Hochheim, began and ended in Hochheim, which is close to Frankfurt: From Frankfurt – via the Champagne, Tonnerre and Chablis – we headed to the southern tip of the Mâconnais and from there worked our way up to the north through the famous vineyards of the Bourgogne - Côte Chalonnaise, Beaune, Côte de Beaune, Côte de Nuits – back to Frankfurt.

(As an aside, next year, in 2016, the Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours will begin in Lyon and end in Paris. Presumably, we will all fly into Paris and take the TGV to Lyon, the culinary capital of the world. We will move northwards from there (by coach), back to Paris: Lyon, Beaujolais, Mâconnais, Côte Chalonnaise, Beaune, Côte de Beaune, Côte de Nuits, Chablis, Champagne, Paris.

Pictures: Annette and Christian Schiller at the Restaurant of Paul Bocuse, Auberge du Pont de Collonges, in Lyon

While in 2015, we just passed through the Champagne Region, with lunch and one tasting there, in 2016, we will spend considerably more time in the Champagne Region.)

The following provides you with photo impressions from the 2015 Bourgogne Tour, with a few photos from previous trips.

The Bourgogne

The Bourgogne is one of the most famous wine regions in the world. Most of the wine produced here is Pinot Noir or Chardonnay. Chablis and Beaujolais are formally part of Burgundy wine region, but wines from those subregions are usually referred to by their own names.

Some way south of Chablis is the Côte d'Or, where Burgundy's most famous wines originate. All Grand Cru vineyards of Burgundy (except for Chablis Grand Cru) are here. The Côte d'Or is split into two parts: the Côte de Nuits in the north and the Côte de Beaune in the south. The wine-growing area is just 40 kilometres long, and in most places less than 2 kilometres wide; the area is made up of tiny villages. Further south is the Côte Chalonnaise, where a mix of mostly red and white wines are produced. Below the Côte Chalonnaise is the Mâconnais region, known for producing easy-drinking and more affordable white wine. Further south again is the Beaujolais region. The Bourgogne (including Chablis but excluding Beaujolais) covers a total of 28,000 hectares. Côte d'Or covers 8,000 hectares.

Picture: Tour Leader Annette Schiller in Gevry-Chambertin, Bourgogne

Monks and monasteries of the Roman Catholic Church had an important influence on the history of Burgundy wine. As the power of the church decreased, many vineyards which had been in the church's hands, were sold to the bourgeoisie from the 17th century. The Napoleonic inheritance laws resulted in the continued subdivision of the most precious vineyard holdings, so that some growers hold only a row or two of vines. Clos Vougeot, for example, which was a single 125 acre run by the monks, today is parceled into plots owned by nearly 80 different owners. This led to the emergence of négociants who aggregate the produce of many growers to produce a single wine. Négociants play a vital role in the Bourgogne, ranging from simple labelling and distribution, to carrying out the entire wine-making process. Négociants may supply wines at all quality levels, including Grand Cru.

Bourgogne Classification

Burgundy is the most terroir-oriented region in France. Immense attention is paid to the area of origin, as opposed to Bordeaux, where classifications are producer-driven and awarded to individual chateaux. A specific vineyard or region will bear a given classification, regardless of the wine's producer. The main levels in the Burgundy classifications, in descending order of quality, are:

Grand Cru wines are produced from a small number of vineyards in the Côte d'Or and make up 2% of the production at 35 hectoliters per hectare. The origins of Burgundy's Grand crus can be found in the work of the Cistercians who, among their vast land holdings, were able to delineate and isolate plots of land that produced wine of distinct character. There are 33 Grand Cru vineyards in the Bourgogne.

Premier Cru wines are produced from specific vineyards that are considered to be of high, but slightly lower quality; they make up 12% of production at 45 hectoliters/hectare.

Village appellation wines are produced from vineyard sites within the boundaries of one of 42 villages. Village wines make up 36% of production at 50 hectoliters/hectare.

Regional appellation wines are wines which are allowed to be produced over the entire region, or over an area significantly larger than that of an individual village. These appellations can be divided into three groups:

AOC Bourgogne, the standard appellation for wines made anywhere throughout the region; these wines may be produced at 55 hectoliters/hectare.

Subregional appellations cover a part of Burgundy larger than a village. Examples are Hautes-Côtes de Beaune and Mâcon-Villages.

Wines of specific styles or other grape varieties include white Bourgogne Aligoté (which is primarily made with the Aligoté grape), red Bourgogne Passe-Tout-Grains (which can contain up to two thirds Gamay) and sparkling Crémant de Bourgogne.

The Bourgogne Tour 2015

Day 1 - Sunday, March 31: From Hochheim (Germany) to Tonnerre (Chablis) via the Champagne Region

12:00 Restaurant Les Berges de l’Ource in Essoyes, Champagne

Pictures: Lunch in Essoyes - the City of Renoir in the Southern Part of the Champagne

14:15 Champagne Josselin in Gyé-sur-Seine, Champagne

Pictures: At Champagne Josselin in Gyé-sur-Seine with Veronique and Jean Pierre Josselin as well as Sharona Tsubota

18:00 Hotel Auberge de Bourgogne in Tonnerre

19:00 Dinner: Auberge de Bourgogne

Picture: Tonnerre Wines

Day 2 - Monday June 2, Chablis

Pictures: Chablis

10:00 Domaine Séguinot-Bordet in Maligny, Chablis

Pictures: With Owner and Winemaker Jean-François Bordet at Domaine Séguinot-Bordet

See also:
Pure Chablis – A tête-à-tête Dinner in Washington DC at Marcel’s with Chablis Wine Board President and Winemaker Jean-François Bordet, Domaine Séguinot-Bordet, USA/France

12:30 Lunch at Domaine Brocard in Chablis, followed by  a Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting

Pictures: At Domaine Brocard in Chablis with Odile Van Der Moere, Responsable de Cave

See also:
Chef Bart M. Vandaele Celebrated the 2 Year Anniversary of his B Too Restaurant with the Wines of Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard from Chablis, USA/France 

18:30 Hotel Hostellerie - Château de la Barge in Crêches-sur- Saône, Mâconnais

Picture: Hotel Hostellerie - Château de la Barge in Crêches-sur- Saône, Mâconnais

20:00 Dinner: Restaurant Hostellerie - Château de la Barge in Crêches-sur- Saône, Mâconnais

Pictures: Dinner: Restaurant Hostellerie - Château de la Barge in Crêches-sur- Saône, Mâconnais

See also:
Dinner at Restaurant Chateau de la Barge in Creches sur Saone in Burgundy, France

Day 3 - Tuesday, June 2: Mâconnais and Côte Chalonnaise

Picture: Fuissé

09:30 Domaine Ferret in Fuissé, Poully-Fuissé, Mâconnais

Pictures: At Domaine Ferret in Fuissé, Poully-Fuissé, Mâconnais with Cyril Laumain, Chef de Cave

See also:
In the Most Prestigious AOC in the Mâconnais: Pouilly-Fuissé, France

12:15 Restaurant Hostellerie d’Héloïse in Cluny

Pictures: At Restaurant Hostellerie d’Héloïse in Cluny with Owners Nathalie and Chef Patrick Dutarte

14:15 Cluny Abbey

Pictures: Cluny Abbey

17:00 Domaine Theulot Juillot in Mercurey, Côte Chalonnaise

Pictures: At Domaine Theulot Juillot in Mercurey with Nathalie and Jean-Claude Theulot

19:45 Hotel Belle Époque in Beaune

20:15 Restaurant L’Air du Temps in Beaune

Pictures: Dinner at L’Air du Temps in Beaune

Day 4 - Wednesday, June 3: Côte de Beaune (South)

09:45 Maison Olivier Leflaive in Puligny-Montrachet, Vineyard Walk and Winery Visit followed by Lunch with Wine Tasting at Restaurant La Table d’Olivier Leflaive

Pictures: At Maison Olivier Leflaive in Puligny-Montrachet with Patrick Lefliave

14:00 Domaine Mestre Père & Fils in Santenay

Pictures: At Domaine Mestre Père & Fils in Santenay with Jonathan Mestre

16:45 Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils in Beaune

Pictures: At Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils in Beaune

See also:
Tasting Vintage 2010 Bouchard Père et Fils Wines with Panos Kakaviatos in Washington DC, USA
Vintage 2012 Bouchard Père et Fils Tasting at Ripple in Washington DC, USA – With Tasting Notes by Annette Schiller  

20:00 Dinner in Beaune

Pictures: At Bistro du Coin Place Ziem with Star Winemaker Andrew Nielson, Owner of Maison Le Grappin

Day 5 - Thursday, June 4: Beaune and Côte de Beaune (North)

10:15 Hospices de Beaune

Pictures: At the Hospices de Beaune with Karoline Knoth, M.A.

12:00 Brasserie le Carnot in Beaune

Pictures: At Brasserie le Carnot in Beaune with Owner Denise Marabito

14:00 Group 1: Domaine A-F Gros in Beaune



Pictures: At Domaine A-F Gros in Beaune with Owner and Winemaker Mathias Parent, the son of A-F Gros and Francois Parent

See also:
Caroline Parent-Gros Presented the Wines of Domaine A-F Gros in the Bourgogne at Chef Bryan Voltaggio’s Range in Washington DC

14:00 Group 2: Maison Joseph Drouhin in Beaune

Pictures: At Maison Joseph Drouhin in Beaune

16:00 Group 1: Maison Joseph Drouhin in Beaune

16:00 Group 2: Domaine A-F Gros in Beaune

20:00 Dinner in Beaune

Pictures: Dinner in Beaune

Pictures: Pre-dinner and After-dinner drinks at 2 of the Best Wine Bars in Beaune: Les Vins de Maurice (with Owner Maurice) and La Dilettante (with Owner Lolo)

Day 6 - Friday, June 5: Côte de Nuits

09:00 Domaine Faiveley in Nuits-Saint-George

Pictures: At Domaine Faiveley in Nuits-Saint-George with Mathilde Nicolas (Brand Ambassador)

11:15 Domaine du Château de Prémeaux in Nuits Saint Georges

Pictures: At Domaine du Château de Prémeaux in Nuits Saint Georges with Owner and Winemaker Arnaud Pelletier as well as Nicolas Drouhin (Wine Importer based in Berlin, Germany)

13:30 Restaurant La Gentilhommière in Nuits-Saint-George

Pictures:Lunch at Restaurant La Gentilhommière in Nuits-Saint-George

15:45 Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion in Vosne-Romanée

Pictures: At Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion in Vosne-Romanée with Bernard Rion and Alice Rion

18:15 Hotel Les Grands Crus in Gevrey Chambertin

Picture: Gevrey Chambertin

20:00 Restaurant Chez Guy in Gevry Chambertin

Pictures: At Chez Guy in Gevrey-Chambertin with Owner Sandrine Rebsamen 

See also:
Lunch in Gevrey-Chambertin, Bourgogne, France

Day 7 - Saturday, June 6: Côte de Nuits and Return to Hochheim via the Lorraine Region

09:00 Domaine Guillon & Fils in Gevrey Chambertin

Pictures: At Domaine Guillon & Fils in Gevrey Chambertin with Jean-Michel Guillon

11:30 Château du Clos de Vougeot

Pictures: At Château du Clos de Vougeot

12:45 Restaurant Clos de la Vouge in Vougeot

Pictures: Lunch at Restaurant Clos de la Vouge in Vougeot

19:00 Hôtel-Restaurant La Bergerie in Rugy, Metz

24:00 Arrival in Hochheim

Specific Postings on the  Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France (Posted and Forthcoming)

Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2015), France

Visit: Champagne Jean Josselin in Gyé-sur-Seine: Cellar Tour and Champagne Tasting in the Garden with Veronique and Jean Pierre Josselin as well as Sharona Tsubota

The Wines of Tonnerre (Bourgogne)

Visit: Domaine Séguinot-Bordet in Maligny, Chablis: Cellar Tour and Chablis Tasting with  Owner and Winemaker Jean-François Bordet

Domaine Brocard in Chablis: Lunch, Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Odile Van Der Moere, Responsable de Cave

Domaine Ferret in Fuissé, Poully-Fuissé, Mâconnais: Vineyard Walk, Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Cyril Laumain, Chef de Cave

Domaine Theulot Juillot in Mercurey, Côte Chalonnaise: Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Nathalie and Jean-Claude Theulot

Maison Olivier Leflaive in Puligny-Montrachet: Vineyard Walk Cellar Tour and Lunch with Wine Tasting at Restaurant La Table d’Olivier Leflaive with Patrick Leflaive

Wine Tasting at Domaine Mestre Père & Fils in Santenay with Jonathan Maestre

Visit: Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils in Beaune

Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in Beaune, Bourgogne

Visit: Musée de l’Hospice de Beaune with Karoline Knoth, M.A.

Domaine A-F Gros in Beaune: Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Owner and Winemaker Mathias Parent

Visit: Maison Joseph Drouhin in Beaune

Domaine Faiveley in Nuits-Saint-George: Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Mathilde Nicolas (Brand Ambassador)

Wine Tasting at Domaine du Château de Prémeaux in Nuits Saint Georges with Owner and Winemaker Arnaud Pelletier 

Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion in Vosne-Romanée: Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Bernard Rion and  Alice Rion

Domaine Guillon & Fils in Gevrey Chambertin: Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with Jean-Michel Guillon

Visit: Château du Clos de Vougeot

schiller-wine: Related Postings

Preview: Bourgogne Tour by ombiasy WineTours (2016)

4 Wine Tours by ombiasy coming up in 2015: Germany-East, Germany-South. Germany-Nord and Bordeaux

Tasting Vintage 2010 Bouchard Père et Fils Wines with Panos Kakaviatos in Washington DC, USA

Vintage 2012 Bouchard Père et Fils Tasting at Ripple in Washington DC, USA – With Tasting Notes by Annette Schiller  

Pure Chablis – A tête-à-tête Dinner in Washington DC at Marcel’s with Chablis Wine Board President and Winemaker Jean-François Bordet, Domaine Séguinot-Bordet, USA/France

Caroline Parent-Gros Presented the Wines of Domaine A-F Gros in the Bourgogne at Chef Bryan Voltaggio’s Range in Washington DC

Dinner at Restaurant Chateau de la Barge in Creches sur Saone in Burgundy, France

In the Most Prestigious AOC in the Mâconnais: Pouilly-Fuissé, France

Dinner at the Hostellerie des Clos in Chablis (Chef: Michel Vignaud), France

Lunch in Gevrey-Chambertin, Bourgogne, France

Chef Bart M. Vandaele Celebrated the 2 Year Anniversary of his B Too Restaurant with the Wines of Domaine Jean-Marc Brocard from Chablis, USA/France