oktoberfest – Fizz on Foot

A Celebration of German Wine

This post is a recap of our German wine tasting event at The Lansdowne Hotel. It is not an event announcement or a ticket page – it is simply a look back at a brilliant evening that brought people together to enjoy German wine, good food, and a shared cause.

Oktoberfest is often linked with beer, but this event focuses on something that deserves far more attention: Germany’s wine. Guests joined us for a festive, relaxed night with Bavarian-inspired food and a carefully chosen line-up of bottles that highlighted the quality and variety found across Germany’s wine regions.

A Festive Welcome and a Sparkling Opener

Guests arrived to a warm welcome and a sparkling start. The first pour of the evening was Louis Guntrum Riesling Brut, Rheinhessen 2018, a crisp, elegant sparkling Riesling with bright green apple and citrus character. It set the tone immediately and made a strong case for German sparkling wine as a confident, celebratory choice.

The Wines We Tasted

This German wine tasting event recap would not be complete without a closer look at the bottles we explored together. Each wine brought something different to the table, and the order of the tasting helped guests experience the breadth of German winemaking in a way that felt accessible and enjoyable.

Junge Winzer Grauburgunder, Baden 2018 followed next. Produced by a new generation of young winemakers, this Pinot Gris offered subtle pear notes, a hint of almond, and a clean mineral edge. It was dry, smooth, and easy to pair with food, making it a firm favourite in the room.

We then moved into reds, which surprised more than a few guests. Johann Wolf Pinot Noir, Pfalz 2022, showed off Germany’s cool-climate red potential beautifully. It was silky and fruit-forward, with ripe cherry flavours and gentle spice, offering a softer style that still had real personality.

Next came Mineralstein Cabernet Franc, Pfalz 2023, a vibrant modern red with juicy redcurrant and herbal aromatics. The tannins were gentle, and there was a clear mineral character running through it, giving it structure without heaviness. It sparked plenty of conversation, especially among guests who enjoy trying less expected varieties.

The finale of the tasting was a golden highlight: Dr. Loosen Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 2018. This dessert wine delivered richness and precision in equal measure, with flavours of honey, apricot and marmalade balanced by the Mosel’s signature acidity. It was the perfect way to close the tasting, and it left a lasting impression.

A Snapshot of Germany’s Wine Regions

While this is a recap rather than a deep regional guide, the evening still offered a clear snapshot of Germany’s diversity. Rheinhessen brought freshness and brightness, Baden delivered a smoother white style, Pfalz showed versatility in red wines, and Mosel demonstrated why its sweet wines are regarded so highly. Guests left with a better understanding of what Germany can offer beyond the usual assumptions.

Fundraising and Local Treats

This event recap also needs to recognise the cause at the heart of the evening. We were proud to support The Children’s Respite Trust, whose work continues to make a meaningful difference for local families.

Guests helped raise £205 through the raffle, and Deliciously Sweet matched this, bringing the total raised to £410. That generosity made a real impact, and it was fantastic to see how quickly people got involved.

Guests also enjoyed a dark chocolate truffle provided by Deliciously Sweet Chocolates, a small detail that added something extra to the evening and paired beautifully with the final wine.

A Big Thank You

This German wine tasting event recap captures an evening that proved a simple point brilliantly: Germany’s wines deserve the spotlight. The tasting offered variety, quality and plenty of talking points, with a relaxed atmosphere that made it easy to enjoy and learn along the way.