GERMAN WINE SOCIETY
25th Anniversary Celebration
May 17–19, 2002, Washington, DC
If you have Adobe Acrobat, click here instead for the PDF flyer we produced
Programs and wines for Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Bio of German Wine Princess, who opened the three day celebration
The German Wine Society celebrated its 25th Anniversary May 17-19, 2002 in Washington, D.C., the founding city.
We celebrated as well the renaissance of Riesling with classical wines and the new generation of German wine makers. Those who attended this international event, and met German wine lovers from our chapters in Washington, DC, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Dallas, Little Rock, Atlanta, and New England, as well as from wine-related associations and German heritage organizations.
The Friday reception was held in the charming German Embassy House, 1900 Foxhall Road, NW, Washington, DC.
All events on Saturday and Sunday were in the beautiful Park-Hyatt Washington Hotel, 24th and M Streets, NW, in Washington, DC, conveniently located within walking distance of many hotels. All cuisine at the wine events was prepared under the direction of Executive Chef Brian McBride, of the famed Melrose Restaurant, who has become widely renowned for marrying German wines with foods to achieve sumptuous results.
View the flyers and the publicity, linked at the top of the page, that we produced at the time to see how it all went.
Peter Sichel, a founding member, sent this gracious note:
I had intended to be with you for this week end, but circumstances and airline schedules have made this impossible. I can not tell you how much I regret this. Though I have been out of the German wine business for six years, they continue to be my favorite white wines. I have never stopped promoting them and am working currently on organizing an Institute of Masters of Wine event to introduce people to the new classifications. German wines had their ups and downs in this market in the last 50 years, caused by changes in taste, by foreign exchange rates and also by an inability of the German Wine Industry to be able to speak with a clear voice. Throughout these years, however, such luminaries as Jancis Robinson and Hugh Johnson have continued to carry the flag for German Riesling, declaring them the finest wine whites in the world. During the last couple of years, not only caused by the fatigue with Chardonnay, but also by a clearer message from German producers and simpler labeling, we have seen a slow comeback, particularly of finer wines. I expect this to continue so they will eventually occupy their rightful place in all major markets. I was one of the founders of the German Wine Society and it is my hope that the present membership will become as important as the Confrerie du Tastevin and the Commanderie de Bordeaux, willing to spend the money necessary to serve the finest wines at the most elegant functions. With such leadership German Wines should prosper in this land. My best wishes to all of you. Warm Greetings Peter Sichel
Photos from the Event
First Row: 1. German Wine Princess Christina Specht with winemaker Florian Weingart of Boppart; 2. Christina with the Counselor for Agriculture Friedrich Wacker, of the German Embassy. Partly obscured in the back is Betty King of the Washington, D.C. GWS chapter.
Second Row: 1. Importer Terry Theise with Florian at a tasting of Florian’s wines; 2. Chairman George Marling, GWS D.C. Chapter President Carl Brandhorst and German Ambassador to the United States, Wolfgang Ischinger
Third Row: 1. Christina opening the ceremonies, with Carl Brandhorst in the background, GWS National President Beth Sheligo to the right, with Herr Wacker from the German Embassy. 2. Terry Theise with Chef Brian McBride, who prepared the much praised banquet Saturday night.
Fourth Row: 1. James White of San Francisco, Carole Sullivan of the German Wine Information Bureau (right) and in red, Linda Bourgault. 2. Board Member Ken Kelly arranging bottles while Terry Theise and Florian Weingart look on
Bio of German Wine Princess, who opened the three day celebration
OPENING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
German Wine Princess
Christina Specht
A world traveler from a wine-growing family in the Middle Rhine region will open the German Wine Society 25th Anniversary Celebration.
The currently reigning German Wine Princess, Christina Specht, will bring the greetings of the German Wine Industry to the opening reception of the German Wine Society’s Gala 25th Anniversary Celebration. The reception will be held on May 17, from 6:30-9:00 PM at the German Embassy House, 1900 Foxhall Road, NW , Washington , DC .
Christina Specht was born in October 1977 in Koblenz and grew up in the Hunsrück region between the two wine growing regions Mosel and Middle Rhine. Her mother’s family inherited a wine estate in Poltersdorf ( Mosel region). Her mother was German Wine Princess herself when she was Christina’s age and works today as manager for the wine promotion board of the Middle Rhine region.
The Princess grew up with everything dealing with wine from an early age on. After finishing high school in Boppard, a famous wine-producing town in the Middle Rhine region, she proceeded to study English, biology, and sports at the University of Heidelberg in 1996. In 1998/1999 she spent a year studying English and marine biology at the University of Wales , Aberystwyth in Great Britain . She then returned to Heidelberg to finish her studies to prepare for a career in education.
In 2000 she applied for the position as the Middle RhineWine Queen and then spent most of the year 2001 travelling around the Middle Rhine region and all over Germany to promote wines from that region and to represent the growers at different events. At the end of 2001 she was selected from thirteen candidates from all wine-growing regions to become the German Wine Princess. Whenever time permits, she travels the world as German Wine Princess.
Presently the Princess is finishing her final thesis on the genetic differences between Burgundy-style grape varieties. In her leisure time she enjoys relaxing with a self-prepared meal and a good glass of wine in the company of friends, reading, and participating in sports, especially jazz and modern dance.