GWS New Vintage Tasting with Phil Bernstein
**Below is the announcement for the tasting I do every year for the German Wine Society. It’s very casual and we are tasting a pretty “epic” lineup this year. Hope you can join!
-Phil
GWS New Vintage Tasting with Phil Bernstein
Dear German Wine Society Members and Friends,
Every year we host a tasting to try German wines from the new vintage, with a focus on Riesling. Our host is Phil Bernstein, General Manager of MacArthur Beverages, one of the leading retailers of German Riesling in the country. Every year, Phil brings some of the best wines of the vintage.
The new vintage is 2024, another in an increasing string of very good vintages, though regrettably the first to be carrying the increase in wine tariffs. Mosel Fine Wines says that “2024 is a must-go-to vintage for lovers of classic and ethereal Mosel lightness and elegance!” Vinous Media found that the German wines of 2024 are “sprightly, sleek, concentrated Rieslings with exquisite verve and full aromatic development.” Here is your chance to try the 2024s from some of the very best producers!
DATE: Friday, March 27th, 2026. Doors open at 6:30 pm; tasting begins at 7:00 pm. Registrations are due by Monday, March 23, 2026.
VENUE: King Farm Community Center, 300 Saddle Ridge Circle, Rockville, MD 20850, Please park in the lot behind the swimming pool adjacent to the community center, and then come around to the front of the circle (not through the pool area) to enter the building. The Shady Grove Metro station on the Red Line is right across 355. The Red Line King Farm shuttle bus runs from there on a route passing the Community Center until about 7:30 pm, every 20 minutes, though if returning by Metro you would need to arrange a ride to the station with another guest, get a cab or walk (about 20 minutes to the station).
THE WINES: (vintages are not listed for all wines from 2024)
Welcome Wine - NV Loosen “Dr. L” Sparkling Riesling, Mosel, or similar
Two Peter Lauer Trockens
Peter Lauer Unterstenberg Riesling Fass 12, Mosel (classified as Grosse Lage)
Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Riesling Fass 9 Kern, Mosel (classified as Ortswein)
A Pair of GGs (the Grand Cru dry whites of Germany)
Emrich-Schönleber Halenberg Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Nahe
Dönnhoff Hermannshöhle Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Nahe
Falkenstein Kabinetts Duo (same producer, vintage, grape, region and level, different vineyards)
Hofgut Falkenstein Krettnacher Euchariusberg Riesling Kabinett Alte Reben #8 Gisela, Mosel
Hofgut Falkenstein Öckfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett Alte Reben #22 Mia, Mosel
Willi Schaefer Kabinett Vineyards Comparison (same producer, vintage, grape, region and level)
Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett, Mosel
Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett, Mosel
Delicious J.J. Prüm Spätlese (same producer, region, grape, vintage and level, different vineyards)
J.J. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese, Mosel
J.J. Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese, Mosel
An Auslese Finale
Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten Auslese “Urgluck” Riesling, Mosel
A tasty buffet of cheeses, bread, crackers, cold cuts, grapes, veggies and sweets will be provided to accompany the wines.
COST: $83 for members, $90 for non-members.
If you have any questions about the event, please email the organizer, Dave Wendler: davewendler@yahoo.com . If you have questions about registration or membership status, please contact the President and Secretary of the GWS Capital Chapter, Carl Willner, at carl.willner1@verizon.net .
To register and pay by PayPal, go to our chapter website: germanwinesocietydc.org. If you do not already have an account on our website, you will need to set one up. We can only accept electronic payment by PayPal, not credit cards or other electronic transfers. If you are including others in your electronic registration, please email the Secretary to let us know the names of your other guests for our registration list.. You can become a member or renew, if your membership is not current, together with your registration for this event by including an annual $35 dues payment (for an individual or a couple). Please go to the Shop page of the website to find the payment buttons for this event and for dues.
To register and pay by check, detach and complete the form below, indicating all names of persons who will be coming, and mail it, with your check made out to the ‘German Wine Society’, to the Chapter President and Secretary, Carl Willner: 1014 Reserve Champion Drive, Rockville, MD 20850.
All GWS members and guests are reminded that alcohol consumption can lead to intoxication. Members and guests should use public transportation to events, rely on a designated driver, or taste the wines rather than finish them.
GERMAN WINE SOCIETY NEW VINTAGE TASTING – March 27, 2026
Member(s) Name___________________________________________________
Non-Member(s) Name_______________________________________________
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