Wine Tasting With A German Wine Princess

*By Libby Roach*

Well known for their annual beer-soaked festivities like Oktoberfest, Germany is also home to some fantastic wine events, anchored by the thirteen historic wine regions that produce the diverse varietals of their respective regions. Famous for their fruity whites, like Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Riesling, Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris), Gewurztraminer, and saucy reds, like Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), Dornfelder, Lemberger, Trollinger and many more, German wines lend a subtle backdrop to many great food pairings, and at easy to swallow prices, they’re a great wine for entertaining.

Germany takes pride in its wineries, so much so that they appoint a wine princess for each of the regions, an official ambassador to the grapes, who educates and travels the world sharing her love of their wines. I recently had a chance to taste a few varietals and chat with German Wine Princess Charlotte Freiberger at a Wines of Germany tasting. Here are a few highlights from our chat:

Wine Tasting 101

While the mantra for wine tasting is the same in any language, the five S’s are the steps to unlocking and properly tasting any wine.

See- Look at the colour and opacity of the wine. Hold up a glass of Weissburgunder and you should be able to see through the buttery wine. Shades from a red wine like Spätburgunder reveals more about the wine like how bold or acidic it is.

Swirl- Gently swirl the glass and check the wine legs, or “church windows” as they say in Germany. The higher the window, the higher the alcohol or sugar content, or both.

Smell- Close your eyes and take a good sniff. What are your senses telling you about the bouquet? Earthy, rustic, mineral rich, fresh-cut grass or honey-scented and buttery? There are no wrong answers!

Sip- Roll the wine over your tongue and taste. Is it tannin heavy? What is the mouthfeel?

Swallow- Or spit, there’s nothing wrong with spitting, unless you don’t have a bucket.

Etiquette Tips From The Wine Princess

While wine tastings in Germany can be casual, there are basic etiquette suggestions that can be helpful when hosting:

Wine should always be served in an actual glass, so save the red solo cups for your kid’s next lemonade stand. Charlotte prefers a stemmed glass as holding the glass by the stem helps prevent the wine from heating up in your hands, especially for whites that are best served cool.

A wide-mouthed glass is an appropriate choice for a big red like a Pinot Noir (we loved the Villa Wolf from the Pfalz region) while a Riesling manages better in a smaller glass to preserve the aromas.

If you’re planning a posh supper party, consider cooking with the wine as well. Marrying the flavours for a traditional Hasenpfeffer (hare stew) with a Dornfelder with vanilla notes and sour cherry aromas can take your dish to the next level.

Always offer water when hosting a tasting and have a variety of food on hand. Cheeses are a perfect partner with wines, think creamy camembert matched with a Riesling, or a full-bodied Pinot Noir for a pâté studded with peppercorns. German whites like the Loosen Up Riesling from Rheinhessen are a perfect partner for umami-rich foods like sushi, and also pair nicely with other Asian eats, like Dim Sum.

What are your favourite German Wines? Tell us in the comments below so we can give them a try. No matter how you imbibe, please do it responsibly. As they say in Germany, Zum Wohl – to your health!

A huge thanks to Wines of Germany for hosting us at this beautiful tasting.