On December 12, 2025, at the annual Holiday Dinner of the Capital Chapter of the German Wine Society at the Cosmos Club in Washington, DC. The German Wine Society awarded Silver Medallions to five members of the Capital Chapter. These awards have not been made for many years, as the Silver Medallion examination had to be updated first to cover the many developments in German wines since it was first written decades ago. All awards of the Silver Medallion have been approved by National President Beth Sheligo, who holds the Gold Medallion, the highest level, based on study at the German Wine Institute.
Maria So, who served for several years as webmaster of the Capital Chapter, and Barbara Grofic both took the updated Silver Medallion examination, and were determined to have received satisfactory passing scores. Christian Schiller, Annette Schiller and Carl Willner were also awarded Silver Medallions without examination, based on having otherwise met the knowledge-based criteria for this award. Under the Articles of Incorporation of the GWS, the Silver Medallion is available to “persons who have considerable knowledge of German wines, based on study and/or professional exposure (but who are not graduates of the German Wine Academy).” Any Bronze Medallion holders “can progress to the class of Silver Medallion members upon proof of their advanced knowledge of German wines through tastings and/or other examination conducted by Gold Medallion members.” Christian Schiller, who is Capital Chapter Vice President and a member of the National Board, and Carl Willner, who is President and Secretary of the Capital Chapter and also National Vice President and Secretary, met these criteria through their collaboration to update the questions of the Silver Medallion examination as well as the National GWS website to reflect the new German wine law of 2021 and current conditions of wine production in Germany. Their work has made it possible for other GWS members once again to qualify for the Silver Medallion. Christian Schiller is also a prolific blogger on topics related to German wines. Annette Schiller also met these criteria through her numerous well-researched tasting presentations to the Capital Chapter on various subjects related to German wines, including the new German wine law, German monastery wines, Pinot wines in Germany, comparisons of German wines with ones from other countries such as France and Austria, and explorations of regions in the German-speaking wine world such as the Alto Adige in Italy. She regularly conducts wine tours to the various wine regions of Germany as well as some other European countries.
Presentations of the Silver Medallions were made by John Edmonds, himself a Silver Medallion holder and one of the longest-serving members of the Capital Chapter, with the authorization of the National President.
Earlier this year, the National President also approved the award of Gold Medallion status to Mike Wassenberg, a very experienced member of the Capital Chapter, who had undergone the required course of study at the German Wine Institute years ago when those courses were still offered, but had never claimed his medallion. He was encouraged to do so by seeing the posting on the National website about the return of the Silver Medallion exam, and satisfactorily demonstrated to members of the National Board that he had done the required work to qualify for an advanced medallion. He has been presented with a Silver Medallion pending a new supply of Gold Medallions being made.
The German Wine Society encourages all interested members holding the Bronze Medallion to consider taking the Silver Medallion examination and qualifying for this recognition of advanced German wine knowledge. The exam can be administered by any chapter officer, and must then be graded by members of the National Board familiar with the answers, final award of a Silver Medallion being subject to approval by the National President. It is highly recommended that members not attempt to take the test cold, but prepare for this challenging exam through reviewing relevant up-to-date materials on German wines, including the National website and the links to other sources on German wines found there.
PICTURES FROM THE SILVER MEDALLION AWARD CEREMONY ON DECEMBER 12, 2025
Captions for pictures:
1. John Edmonds introducing awards
2. Maria So and Barbara Grofic being presented with Silver Medallions
3. Maris So and Barbara Grofic with Silver Medallions
4. Christian Schiller and Annette Schiller being presented with Silver Medallions
5. Christian and Annette Schiller about to receive Silver Medallions
6. Christian and Annette Schiller with Silver Medallions
7. Carl Willner being presented with Silver Medallion
8. Carl Willner with Silver Medallion
