The Bailliage of Germany put together a supporting programme for the Semi-final and Final centrepiece of the 2022 Jeunes Sommeliers Competition.

The programme was appropriate to the occasion in order to show the young competitors, their supporters and other members of the Chaîne the Rheingau from its most beautiful side.

The first participants arrived at the Hotel Nassauer Hof in Wiesbaden on Thursday, September 14th. As a kick-off event, there was a relaxed welcoming dinner on the same day at the hotel so that everyone could get to know each other.

Early next morning there was an exciting excursion to the Rheingau vineyards. Among other things, we visited the Weingut Fritz Allendorf with his famous “Allendorf's world of colours” and Schloss Johannisberg.

The Rheingau is one of 13 designated German wine regions (Weinbaugebiete) producing quality wines (Qualitätswein and Prädikatswein). It was named after the traditional region of Rheingau (meaning “Rhine district”), the wine region is situated in the state of Hesse.

Whilst the Semi-final was being held all day on the Friday, the Bailliage of Germany organised a tour of the famous Eberbach Monastery.

Thursday evening, we met at Landhaus Diedert for an informal dinner. Set in a building dating from the 13th century, this family-run hotel/restaurant’s attentive and motivated team was under the aegis of the Diedert family.

On Friday evening dinner was at Benner's in the beautiful Kurhaus in Wiesbaden. The team at Benner’s has been welcoming clients under the new name "Benner's Bistronomie" since 2021. It pays homage to the former Käfer's Bistro, and Parisian bistronomy embodies the combination of bistro with honest food and fine dining.

Sunday morning came and we all headed for home, sad in a way that such a wonderful four days were over, but enormously satisfied with the successful outcome.

Report by:
Karin Deißner, Chargée de Presse of Germany
and
International Vice-President Marie Jones, Competition Committee Chair

Photography by Alexandra Kapherr