Lynn O’Keefe
Bernadette Fideli
The Sommelier Wine Awards is a wine competition with a difference; it focuses entirely on wines aimed at the on-trade. It is a key competition for wines trying to increase their presence in hotels, bars and restaurants. All wines are tasted blind by a panel of top critics, and this year German wines scooped an impressive 27 medals made up of seven gold, seven silver, eight bronze and five commended. This accomplishment came from a field of 2,500 entries. Go Germany!
In recognition of Germany’s impressive wines, John and Lynn O’Keefe invited the Wine Stewards to Experience an Evening of All German Wine Tasting. Having lived in Germany for a number of years, John and Lynn fell in love with their wines and food, and they shared this love with the Wine Stewards in one memorable evening. Germany is the producer of some of the most admired wines in the world. It has been known for its great Rieslings for hundreds of years; and yet what is unknown is its the world’s third largest producer of Pinot Noir, after France and the U.S., and the world’s third largest producer of Pinot Gris, after Italy and the U.S. Upon arrival each guest was handed a glass of Henkell Trocken and shown an enlarged standing floor map pinpointing the various places the O’Keefes have lived and outlining the location of the wine regions. Henkell is among the leading producers of sparkling wine in Europe and is based in Wiesbaden. Trocken means dry, and it is a classic dry elegant wine. The next four wines were sampled during a typical German dinner of bratwurst, sausage and German potato salad. Geil Gewurztraminer Kabinett is a dry wine with a fruity, spicy flavor from the Rheinhessen region of Germany. Deppisch Rivaner Trocken ‘Golf’ comes from the Franken-Baden region. It is a crisp, dry wine with a great fruity quality and tender acidity. Gerd Anselmann Pfalz Dornfelder is the most successful of the new German red varieties. It is known for its depth of color, floral aromatics and velvety texture. It is an easy drinking wine. The final dinner wine was Dr Heidemanns Pinot Noir. It comes from the top German producer and displays delicious flavors of cherries and red berries. It is fragrant and balanced with a soft, fruity finish. The evening ended with a healthy serving of scrumptious apple strudel and a glass of Mueller Piesporter Michelsburg Auslese. This wine comes from the prestigious Mosel-Saar-Ruwer region and features the Riesling grape, the most important grape of Germany. Truly a perfect closing to a wonderful evening of friendship and good cheer.