Melanie Wagner is Falstaff Sommelière of the Year

VIENNA - Actor Jan Hartmann and Falstaff publisher and editor-in-chief Prof Wolfgang Rosam welcomed 250 guests to the Althoff Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg on Saturday evening. At this festive soirée, the two hosts of the evening presented the Falstaff Wine Guide Germany 2025, hot off the press, and also presented the prestigious Falstaff Trophies in categories such as "Sommelier of the Year", "Collection of the Year" and "Winemaker of the Year".

The titles went to:

• Sparkling Wine Producer of the Year: Griesel Sekt, Bensheim (Hessische Bergstrasse)
• Collection of the Year: Graf Neipperg, Schwaigern (Württemberg)
• Sommelier of the Year: Melanie Wagner, Schwarzer Adler, Oberbergen (Baden)
• Newcomer of the Year: Jonas Kurek, Nonnenhorn (Bavarian Lake Constance)
• Winemaker of the Year: Günther Jauch and Swen Klinger, Weingut von Othegraven, Kanzem (Saar)
• Lifetime achievement: Robert Haller, Bürgerspital Winery, Würzburg (Franconia)

After the humorous award ceremony - the last of which saw Iphöfer winemaker Hans Ruck receive a storm of applause for his laudatory speech for the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Robert Haller from Würzburg's Bürgerspital - the guests swarmed out for a walking dinner, where chefs such as host Joachim Wissler (Vendôme, Schloss Bensberg), Jimmy Coutel (Althoff Villa Belrose, Gassin), Nils Henkel (Bootshaus, Bingen) and William Drabble (St. James's Hotel & Club, London) were on hand at nine stations. James's Hotel & Club, London) had prepared dishes to match the wines of the attending winemakers.

Falstaff editor Prof Wolfgang Rosam commented: "The rise of German wine is an incredible success story. And Falstaff is its chronicler! We bring the message of the excellence of the best Rieslings and Pinot Noirs D-A-CH-wide to over two million readers and users."