"If you appreciate my Best, you admire me"
In the heart of Baden-Württemberg, an apple wine tasting event was held at the evangelical community house in Kuppingen, Herrenberg-Kuppingen. The event, aimed at distinguishing 32 self-pressed apple wines, attracted a diverse group of participants, including Artur Keller (74) from Herrenberg.
The event, which was the subject of an article penned by Michael Schwarz, saw participants tasting a variety of apple wines, with some described as tasting more like apple juice, a term used by Artur Keller to denote what he refers to as a "women's wine."
Manfred Nuber, the expert advisor for fruit and garden cultivation in the Böblingen district, organized the competition with the intention of improving the quality of apple wine. Nuber, whose name was not publicly available, gave alternating scores of "mend" (Swabian for bad) or "maximum one point" to the apple wines he tasted.
Among the attendees were Jutta (42) and Martin Skokan (46) from Schönaich, who have only owned their tree for a few years. They grow a red apple variety called "Weirouge", which is of Russian origin. Frank Röhm (49) from Oberjettingen also attended the event. Initially confident about his own apple wine, Röhm found himself rethinking his skills after tasting others.
The Schwäbisches Streuobstparadies e.V. and the Interest Group Schwäbischer Cider aim to promote and increase the availability of cider and apple wine in Baden-Württemberg. In 2024, despite late frosts and poor harvests in other regions, the area around Herrenberg had a bountiful apple harvest with high prices. Prices for apple wine in the area ranged from 18 to 22 euros per double centner in 2024.
It's worth noting that in the past, wine was grown as far as Nagold. The apple wine tasting, however, is not suitable for the faint-hearted or weak nerves, as it requires a discerning palate to distinguish the subtleties of flavour. Stricter rules also apply for the recent apple juice tasting, with only those who care for their trees and plant new ones allowed to participate.
Artur Keller, who previously had 150 wine stocks, was also present at the event. He prefers to describe a wine that tastes more like apple juice as a "women's wine." It was mentioned that he knew only two ciders before the event, his neighbour's and his own.
In conclusion, the apple wine tasting event held in Herrenberg-Kuppingen was a significant step towards improving the quality of apple wine in the region. With the support of organisations like the Schwäbisches Streuobstparadies e.V. and the Interest Group Schwäbischer Cider, the future of apple wine and cider in Baden-Württemberg looks promising.
