German Specialist Tasting - The Best Dry Wines of Germany

We are delighted to host a tasting in conjunction with Arne Bercher of Baden and Helmut Solter of the Rheingau, Germany. At West London Wine School we are championing the cause of dry wines from Germany, some of which are the finest examples in the world. To get hold of these wines is a challenge, but we have managed to secure tasting stock for an unmissable tasting. Our aim = 'to pioneer dry Germanic wine in the UK and make it accessible to everyone.'

Wines on Show (Grosses Gewachs = Grand Cru)

• Solter Rheingau Riesling Sekt (Champagne-method sparkling) RRP £12
• Solter Pinot Noir Rose Sekt (ditto) RRP £12
• Solter Pinot Cuvee Sekt (ditto) RRP £18
• Bercher Burkheimer Weisserburgunder Grosses Gewachs 2008 (Pinot Blanc) RRP £16
• Bercher Burkheimer Grauburgunder Grosses Gewachs 2008 (Pinon Gris) RRP £18
• Bercher Estate Spatburgunder 2007 (Pinot Noir) £16
• Bercher Burkheimer Spatburgunder Grosses Gewachs 2007 (Pinot Noir) £26
• Mystery Dessert Wine

Germany - Dry Country & The Rise of Red

In the memories of many Brits, Germanic wines are very sugary and difficult to enjoy with food (with the exception of dessert) and even on their own. But mass-produced wines such as Leibfraumilch, Hock, Niersteiner and Piesporter (all inexpensive and sweet) are now becoming a thing of the past with approximately 70% of German wine produced now dry or off-dry. There are a myriad of grape varieties such as Riesling, Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder in Germany) and Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder) which fit this bill of a dry style - called 'trocken' in Germany.

Another key shift in wine production is the move to red wine production as climate change moves in. Approximately a third of all German wine produced now is red with the classic grape variety Pinot Noir (Spatburgunder) ruling the roost with others such as Dornfelder showing promise.

Helmut Solter - Champagne Method Sparkling Wines of the Rheingau

Helmut's sparkling wines are consistently a triumph against those of Champagne, nominated 'Best Sparkler' by Decanter magazine and the Oxford Times stating that 'his sparkling wines beat the Champagnes tasted - in quality and price.' From vineyards in the heart of Germany's wine region, on the wonderful south-facing slopes of the Rheingau, his grapes are carefully selected and the wines undergo the tradtional fermentation as in Champagne. His own vibrant and friendly character is translated into his drinking wines where his passion and commitment to quality are translated across his range - especially in the delicious cuvee wines. The best sparkling wines of Germany.

Arne Bercher - The Best of Baden

Arne Bercher's winery is in the warmer part of Germany's wine region, Baden Baden. Bordering Alsace in France and Switzerland in the South this is the land of the 'Black Forest' where the normal Germanic grapes can not exist. Here instead we find all the Pinots; Noir, Gris and Blanc. Arne works closely with the affects of the various soils in the region to offer an extensive portfolio of high quality wines - mainly dry. His flagship wines are from Grosses Gewach sites, similar to Grand Cru in France and show the wonderful complexity befitting of the finest wines in Germany.

This tasting is NOT to be missed, especially at only £25pp

Places Available: 10

Course Date/Time: Mon 22nd Mar 2010 at 7pm

Duration: 2 hours

Venue: The Wine Cellars