German Wine Society DC

Get ready to cast off on the Potomac for a German wine cruise! Yes, the Capital Chapter of the German Wine Society is once again holding our Potomac wine cruise this summer, back by popular demand after a series of successful voyages. As we did in July 2021-2025, and also regularly for several years in 2010-2013 and earlier, we will enjoy the traditional GWS summer wine cruise past the beautiful river banks and monuments of our nation’s Capital. Please join us to taste many wines from Germany as we cruise along the Potomac for two hours, from 3 pm to 5 pm on Saturday, July 25, 2026. We will board Capitol River Cruises’ Nightingale from the Georgetown waterfront, at 3050 K Street N.W., Washington, D.C. - the end of 31st Street, by the Fiola Mare restaurant. Be sure to be on the wharf before departure time - the cruise boat cannot wait for late arrivals! We can accommodate only 60 guests on the Nightingale for this event, so reserve early to avoid disappointment. Reservations for this event are due by Monday, July 20, 2026, to give us sufficient time to have enough wine and supplies for all aboard. We will be providing all the wines for this event, as well as disposable plastic glasses and cutlery, paper plates and napkins, and will also bring deli sandwiches or other snacks and desserts. Guests are also welcome to bring their own favorite cheeses, breads or other food on board, but there will be enough food even if you do not choose to do so. This will be a relaxing cruise, with no presentation, allowing everyone to concentrate on the wines, good company and atmosphere. There are many outdoor and indoor dining establishments along the Georgetown waterfront for dinner after the cruise, which we encourage you to try.

The Nightingale is a boat we have used for several previous cruises. It is all on one level, with tables and chairs, two bathrooms (heads), and a bar area from which we can serve wines (and where you can buy other drinks too if you choose). It also has protection against inclement weather, though we have been fortunate with most of our past wine cruises (sometimes we have weathered rain or a brief storm) and reasonably hope for a sunny afternoon once again. The cruise will take place rain or shine, unless weather conditions do not allow the cruise to set out safely, in which case we will reschedule or provide refunds.
THE WINES: The wines for our cruise will be mostly whites but with a few reds. This year, they will all be German! Both dry and sweet wines will be offered, including several Kabinett and Spätlese prädikat wines. Seven of Germany’s thirteen wine regions will be represented. Because this is not a formal presentation, and we will only have one or two bottles on hand of each of the wines listed, everyone will not get the same wines, but all on the voyage should have the chance to savor around 10-12 different wines, out of the 21 types and 29 bottles available. We look forward to sharing the lovely qualities of these German wines with our members and guests again. Here’s the wine list we have planned (wines are single bottles unless two bottles are noted):

German Whites (including sparkling)

NV Dr. Loosen “Dr. L” Riesling Sekt Mosel - 2 bottles
NV Hild Elbling Brut Mosel - 2 bottles
2022 AJ Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Kabinett Mosel
2023 AJ Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Kabinett Mosel
2017 Bollig-Lehnert Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Mosel
2023 Dönnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett Nahe
2017 Dr. Heyden Silvaner Old Vines Trocken Rheinhessen
2022 Dr. Burklin-Wolf Weissburgunder Trocken Pfalz - 2 bottles
2016 G.A. Schneider Niersteiner Hipping Riesling Spätlese Rheinhessen
2023 Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese Mosel
2022 Hermann Ludes Riesling Mosel
2023 Hexamer Meddesheimer Rheingrafenberg Riesling Nahe - 2 bottles
2012 J.J. Prüm Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Mosel - 2 bottles
2016 St. Christopher Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese Mosel
2023 Vollenweider Felsenfest Riesling Trocken Mosel
2021 Vols-Ayler Kupp Riesling Spätlese Mosel
2017 Weingut Carl Ehrhard Rüdesheim Feinherb Riesling Kabinett Rheingau - 2 bottles, 3 if needed
2017 Weingut Carl Ehrhard Burg Roseneck Riesling Kabinett Rheingau - 2 bottles
2023 Weiser Kunstler Estate Riesling Feinherb Kabinett Mosel

German Reds

2021 Shelter Winery “Lovely Lilly” Spätburgunder Baden
2014 Meyer-Näkel “S” Spätburgunder Ahr