Walking into the Hermann J. Wiemer tasting room is like coming home. It’s comforting, friendly and familiar. Even if you only venture out to their lovely winery once a year, the close-knit staff always remembers you by name. We are talking wine, not the popular bar Cheers, so in the spirit of German food and award winning Rieslings I say “PROST!”
At their Harvest Celebration, my family and I tried a selection of wines. I especially enjoyed their recently bottled 2009 Riesling and 2008 Reserve Cabernet Franc.
The German fare was plenty. An appropriate celebration for their harvest. The family-style buffet was a reflection of the evening. It was a cozy setting complete with the things I cherish most: good company, good food and good wine.
I enjoyed a taste of everything. Rotkraut, sauerkraut, bratwurst, spaetzel and spicy mustard with their 2009 Riesling to pair. I also had a taste of apple and butternut squash soup that had a velvety texture. 
Simple and elegant table settings.
And then there were the desserts. It was difficult to choose just one. My family sampled a few like this black forest cake. I enjoyed the dense, dry cake with a splash of their Cabernet Franc Ice Wine. The strawberry essence in this wine was supurb with the chocolate.
And this butterkuchen. I think this was actually butterkuchen on a Bavarian cream? It was my favorite. The crunchy almond-praline topping with the moist cake and luscious cream–okay it just doesn’t get much more heavenly than that.
Of course, this was a German harvest celebration, therefore; apple strudel was necessary. This tasted homemade. A nice doughy pie crust with apples and raisins in the filling. 
And last but not least, a bonfire for the chilly evening.
With a cup of mulled wine. The perfect way to end a spectacular night. The mulled wine was so delicious, I felt obligated to ask one of the staff members, Mel, how it was made. She told me that it was a mixture of their Field Cuvee and Pinot Noir with spices and orange. I will be making this VERY soon 
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Thank you to the staff and family at the Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard for an extraordinary evening!
Cheers,
Nora
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[...] can’t stop thinking about the food and wine I had over the weekend at the Hermann J. Wiemer Winery. I decided to continue the German Harvest Celebration at [...]