I’ve been intrigued by wine ever since I had my first conscious sip at age 8, when I downed a glass of my dad’s favorite sweet wine in my hometown…it was love at first sight (you can read more about that here).
I was born and raised in Rheinhessen, the biggest German wine region, in a village called Nackenheim, just south of Mainz. During legal studies and work at the University of Trier, I was able to dive into the wine culture of the Mosel region with its exceptional Rieslings. I got hooked. I fell in love with my Alaskan wife in Botswana when she commented that she loves German off-dry Rieslings. With friends, I have been tasting and talking about wine for many years, and now I want to take that conversation further with this blog.
The blog name does not want to imply that I “get” wine. I am a total amateur. It refers to my last name, and that many people, German or not, have huge problems with pronouncing or remembering it. One of the funnier versions is “Winegetter”, and I adopted it for this blog.
While this blog does have one focus on Rieslings from Germany, I plan to share my thoughts on wines from all over the place, pretty much whatever I can lay my hands on. Naturally, Michigan wine will have a place as well. But most of all, I hope to get a conversation going with my readers. So, please, let me know what you think!!
You can contact me at oliver@thewinegetter.com.
And finally, since I like to put a face to names, I attached a slideshow of a couple of topic-related photos of me…
the winegetter 
[…] https://thewinegetter.com/about-2/about/ […]
[…] horror of having to wear my glasses to work consecutive days in a row!), I took to Twitter where my genius friend Oliver from The Winegetter suggested I turn off the light and use the flash on my phone to catch a glimpse […]
Glad to see I’m not the only European expat keeping a wine blog in the US ! Looking forward to exchanging more !
Thanks for stopping by, Antoine! Yes, we are a minority, but we’re strong!! Looking forward to our exchanges.
Awesome; I like how you updated this to let us know how it all started! ;)
Thanks, Tracy! Glad you noticed! :)
I’m generally pretty quiet, but not much gets past me…
:)
Hello there winegetter! Love your blog. I am a huge wine fiend (so are most of my friends, we spend far too much money on the stuff) so it’s great to read ‘real’ reviews from bloggers such as yourself in other parts of the world. I am yet to try many American and German wines. Australia is a large wine-producing nation so we tend to drink a lot of our own stuff. I’ll look out for some of the labels you’ve mentioned! Thanks!
Thanks for stopping by!! It does make sense to drink local, until (as in my case) your palate falls SO in love with one type that wherever you move you want to seek it out…for me that’s German Riesling.
I’ve had some pretty good Aussie wines, so definitely jealous of your whereabouts! We should have you over for one of our wine tastings with friends…give me a holler if you ever are in the area…:)
Hi Winegetter, Thanks for stopping by to see my work at http://theillustratedwine.wordpress.com/ You’re obviously drinking some FABULOUS Rieslings (!). I actually have an exciting upcoming Riesling artwork soon that you might enjoy. Follow me on twitter (theillustratedwine@zeldasydney or is it the other way around? I’m a bit tech-challenged) and I can follow, too. Cheers!
Looking forward to it!! Thanks for stopping by!
great action shots )
Hahahaha, thanks! Love that kind of action…
I recently had an “aha” moment when a couple of our blogging friends pointed out that we are both in Ann Arbor! Such a small word, I just moved here to be with my fiance. I’m getting settled into the A2 lifestyle and know I’ll definitely appreciate the Ann Arbor spin on your blog even more now!
Heather, that is so awesome! And welcome to A2. Many more have come here for love…:) We have a quasi-regular meet up of food and drinks writers in the area about every 2 months. It would be lovely to meet you in person at the next one (which has not yet been scheduled). Feel free to join the group at http://www.meetup.com/Ann-Arbor-Food-and-Drinks-Writers . Let me know if you want to meet outside of that forum, too. I am always happy to meet new folks in town.
[…] When The Winegetter first approached me with the theme of Somewhere Beyond the Sea I have to admit I was a bit lost at sea. What on earth could I write about? I have always appreciated wine, but most of my travels abroad were prior to my true love of wine. Ireland; beer and whiskey. England; beer and cider. Hawaii; pineapple sparkling wine but lets not go there. Amsterdam? Let’s really not go there! […]
[…] About […]
You know I love your blog, right? Well, I’ve just nominated you for the Liebster award!
http://urbanpaleochef.com/2013/08/20/its-award-day-liebster-award/
Awesome blog you have here! Love my wine :)
Thanks so much!!
[…] About […]
Thanks for the visit to my blog. happy to have discovered another mid-western blogger!
Where are you based? I love your blog, your photos are so beautiful and the recipes so exciting!
Thank you so much!. I’ve just been learning a bit of photography but am still very much an amateur. In Chicago but my sister went to UMich so have been in Ann Arbor many times.
And I just got back from a trip to Chicago. Awesome city! And even more impressive that these photos are taken by an amateur!
You know how much I love your blog, right? Well I’ve nominated you for a Liebster Award!
http://urbanpaleochef.com/2013/05/06/liebster-award/
Thank you so much!! The feeling is mutual!
Thought you should know I nominated you for ye olde Versatile Blogger Award. There is a link to the award “rules” on my blog. Check it out and see if you want to accept/participate. Either way, you have a great blog.
Thank you so much!! I really appreciate it. My awards “policy” is ambivalent…but I’ll definitely check out your post. Again, thanks!
Hi there! You are a German in Ann Arbor! Well…. We lived in Brighton for some years, our children were born there and we often came to Ann Arbor. I still miss it today! We all do.
I’ll be checking out your blog to hear more about you and life back there. Is Zingerman’s still there? I loved that place so much!
Cheers for now!
Heike, writing about the Pfalz for pfalzforweinlovers.com ;)
Thanks for stopping by and what an amazing coincidence! I am glad I found your blog.
Ann Arbor is a good place. And Zingermans is still there, although I personally cannot stand it. Charging almost 100 dollars for a kilo of cheese is just outrageous…
Oh…. It must have been cheaper back then… ;) I know, it was expensive, but it was a special atmosphere around that place.
I’ve been once, and for me it just didn’t work, but that’s why we’re all different…:)
I’m happy you came across my blog so that I could come across yours!!! Looking forward to future posts as I love reading the ramblings a fellow amateur wine-lover/blogger:)
Great blog! I look forward to see a lot more of your fine work in the future – I’m your new follower! :-)
Greetings
Dina
Thank you so much, you just made my day, Dina!!
Thanks for visiting my site! I know nothing about wine, but I’m fascinated by people who do. I loooove wine, but a connoisseur, I am NOT. I look forward to learning more from you. :-)
Thanks for stopping by! And I hope you’ll enjoy the journey!
Great blog, sir! Thanks so much for stopping by the wine serf and your kind words. I’m looking forward to reading more of your reviews and thoughts, and also tapping into your knowledge of German wine. I absolutely love riesling. All the best,
Darryl
Thank you, Darryl! I am so glad I stumbled across your blog and am also looking forward to learning from and with you.
thanks for stopping by and liking my recent posts. I enjoyed reading several of your posts even though I don’t drink wine very often. Best Wishes!
Thanks! Maybe that wine drinking thing can change…:)
[…] About […]
ciao! luvFAB blog.
thebestdressup
Ciao, minestrone is comfort food in cold winter days. Tomorrow I will post, pasta e fagioli, very tasty too. You should try it!!! Buona settimana, Paola
Congratulations on your blog!!!! Thanks for stopping by my cooking blog. I am Italian and live in Italy (Como). I drink mainly Italian wine both red and white. I would like to have your opinion about it! Thank you in advance. Ciao Paola
Ciao Paola, e grazie tanti! I’ve spent many summers in central Italy as a child. I love Italian wines, too…and I have written about some of them here. I look forward to more recipes from you!
Ciao, prego! Grazie a te! I am glad you like my recipes!! A flavor of Italian lifestyle through cooking. Italian wine has a distinctive and intense flavor. The variety is very wide, can please any palate. Look forward to having your comments about my future recipes too. A presto e buon weekend, Paola
Thanks, Paola. Just like its wines, Italy’s cuisine is just so versatile. I just made minestrone the other night and it was so warming and good.
Thanks for stopping by my website today and liking my weekend wine! While I have a penchant for red wines, Riesling is one of my favourite whites. Especially in the summer. Have you been to British Columbia for any wine tours? If you ever get the chance, you would enjoy it! There are some great wineries on Vancouver Island and around the Kelowna (interior BC) area. Cheers!
Thank you so much! I have not been to British Columbia, but as you can tell, I am eager to try all sorts of wines! :)
That sounds like a deal!
Nice blog! I was an army brat and spent a year in Germany as a child. I remember only the snow, kinder eier, the black forest, and the beer/wine truck that delivered daily – like the milk man used to in America! Your post on Crush makes me hope that I can also create a place that says you are welcome and you belong – in my new tasting room in Spokane, WA. Riesling *usually* tends too far to the sweet side for me, but I do enjoy a nice dry or off-dry from time to time, especially with fresh strawberries. See you around :)
Thanks for stopping by! I’ve always loved the connections that the military bases in Germany created. It has brought our countries closer. From that perspective it is sad that so many are being or have been closed down…Sounds like you have some good memories. :)
If you like the drier or off-dry rieslings, you should give the 2011 German dry rieslings a shot. They have been exceptionally good from what I tasted and heard (at least for the Mosel ones that it true).
Good luck with your tasting room! I’ll make sure to stop by when I get to Spokane and will carry a couple of bottles to share.
Fabulous! Thanks for the recommendation. Can’t wait to share our Riesling with you too :)
[…] it’s as good as it sounds but my wine connoisseur friends (like The Winegetter) may […]
[…] Food: The Winegetter – It’s all about the grape from this transplanted German wine lover’s […]
Hang a “star” in your “virtual” wine cellar as I’ve nominated you for a “Blog of the Year 2012” award. Just follow this link for the acceptance info: http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/.
Cheers!
Oh my, thank you so much! Very much appreciated.
Hi, I had been following your blog for a while and really enjoy it. I nominated you for the Sunshine award, please check http://rabbitcancook.wordpress.com/2012/11/07/the-sunshine-award/
Thanks.
Thank you so much!
[…] thewinegetter Interested in wine? please check this blog, it is everything about wine all over the world Cheers… […]
Already enjoying your blog and I only just started reading! Really enjoyed the slideshow. The vineyard shot is spectacular! I am looking forward to reading more from you. Following now! Take care, rob
Thanks so much, Rob! I am very excited about your blog as well…
Oh, and the vineyard shot was taken in the Douro valley. We have many more from the Mosel…:)
Thanks for liking my posts and following my blog (and sorry that this is a rather belated thank you)! I look forward to reading more of your blog – I always mean to learn more about wine!
Oh, thank you for your great blog! I love your photos and recipes…and who knows, maybe you will find some pairing ideas here. :)
Thanks so much for visiting my site. I think your blog is very intriguing.. it’s the first blog I’ve run into about wine.
Thanks! There are way more wine bloggers out there, trust me. :)
[…] The Winegetter […]
[…] on wine from a German in Ann Arbor HomeAboutAt a glanceGerman Wine ClassificationsSunday ReadWinery visits Sep 09 2012 […]
Great Blog and I enjoy your posts. Keep it up!
Thanks, Nick! Really appreciate it.
Hello :) I nominated you for the One Lovely Blog award ;) See here for details. Cheers! http://grapesgripesandgratitude.com/2012/07/29/one-lovely-blog-award/
It’s great to find another Ann Arbor wine blogger! (Although, I’ve done a terrible job of blogging about wine lately.) I like Rieslings a lot, so I’m looking forward to reading your updates.
Oh, you’re in Ann Arbor??? Awesome!!! Thanks for following!!
Thanks so much! My wife and I are also on a rather limited budget, so I’ll surely be writing about affordable wines here, too. Because German wines are quite inexpensive in Germany, we were able to get awesome quality within our budget.
I am so glad I found your blog. We enjoy trying new wines, but being on a smaller budget, we often settle for the tried and true instead of splurging on something we might not like. Personally, I prefer the opinions of amateurs (devotees or fans are better descriptors) over those of people who are paid to write their views. Cheers!