Christoph Raffelt

May 29, 2024 | trinkmag.com | Christoph Raffelt

History books are surprisingly quiet when it comes to 1825. John Quincy Adams became president of the United States, though few know anything about him today. The same can be said of Nicolas I, tsar of Russia and last king of Poland. And while, yes, there were births of note, such as Johann Strauss the Younger, it was on the whole a rather quiet year.

May 4, 2024 | trinkmag.com | Christoph Raffelt

Ten years ago, a group of roughly 20 Champagne producers teamed up under the name Terres et Vins de Champagne. Their debut presentation in a small hotel in Aÿ was the first dedicated sparkling event I visited. As anyone who focuses on sparkling wine can tell you, that small initial event has since morphed into a week-long, well attended movement known as Printemps de Champagne. However, at that time — 2012 — artisanally produced German sekt remained in a fairy-tale slumber.

May 4, 2024 | trinkmag.com | Christoph Raffelt

Everyone knows that a party at Weingut Immich-Batterieberg generally means two things: Riesling and more Riesling. After all, it is one of the oldest estates on the Mosel, with an unparalleled portfolio of ungrafted, steep-slope vines. Yet, it was at one of those legendary open-air evenings back in 2018 that I found myself drinking almost exclusively Pinot Noir. Mosel Pinot Noir. Sourced from Monteneubel, a 24-hectare vineyard located directly next to the Steffensberg.

May 23, 2023 | originalverkorkt.de | Christoph Raffelt

May 18, 2023 | originalverkorkt.de | Christoph Raffelt