“Those who transform fruit from orchards with scattered trees into high-quality fruit brandies not only preserve old varieties and traditional craftsmanship, but also make an important contribution to the preservation of our cultural landscape and its biodiversity,” District Administrator Allgaier emphasized at the awards ceremony. The fruit brandy competition is therefore not only a recognition of the quality of the submitted distillates but also a tribute to the dedication of the people who are committed to preserving the region’s orchard landscapes.
With more than 200,000 standard fruit trees, the Ludwigsburg district is one of the most significant regions for orchard meadows. The species-rich orchard meadows shape the landscape in many places and yield a wide variety of fruits. These fruits are used to produce characterful, aromatic, and distinctive fruit brandies that uniquely reflect the region’s special characteristics.
Regional origin therefore plays a central role in the fruit brandy competition: Only distillates made from fruit sourced from orchard meadows in the Ludwigsburg district and distilled within the district are eligible to participate. This ensures that both the raw materials used and the craft of distillation are firmly rooted in the region.
60 Samples Submitted for Tasting
At the end of October, the numerous samples from distillers in the district were tested by appointed judges from the State Association of Small-Scale and Fruit Distillers in Northern Württemberg e.V. Among other things, the judges assessed differences in intensity, aroma, and flavor.
As part of the fruit brandy competition, the following participants were awarded certificates for the respective distillates listed below:
Daniel Blank, Blank Distillery, Steinheim: plum brandy , Traminer pomace brandy aged in oak barrels (“Oak Aged”), and raspberry brandy
Thomas Bühler, Bühler Distillery, Murr: Obstler aged in a rum cask, walnut brandy, hazelnut brandy, and The Spirit of Friedrich Schiller Whisky (aged 5 years)
Tobias and Wolfgang Fessler, Fesslermill 1996 Distillery, Sersheim: mettermalt Single Cask Rum No. 5, mettermalt Single Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky, and alwa mettermalt Gin
Martin Geiger, Geiger Winery, Ludwigsburg-Poppenweiler, pear brandy, cherry brandy, William Gold Brandy, hazelnut spirit, and Geiger’s Gin
Gerd and Michael Kinzinger, Berghof Kinzinger, Vaihingen Enz/Enzweihingen, RESERVEpomace brandy
Alexander Lieb, Remseck am Neckar, premium quince brandy and premium cherry brandy
Jürgen Schieler, Eberdingen, plum brandy
Steffen Seitz, Obstbrennerei Seitz, Ingersheim, Rhenish Bohnapfelbrandy , grape brandy, Williams pear brandy, and raspberry brandy
Andreas Stiegler, Marbach, apple brandy aged in oak barrels, wine brandy, Williams pear brandy, and nutmeg pomace brandy
The following were named the district’s three best brandies made from pome and stone fruit:
1st Prize: Herbert Rath, Löchgau, pear brandy made from “Wahlsche Schnapsbirne” pears, and four additional certificates for “Öhringer Blutstreifling” apple brandy, apple-pear brandy, quince brandy, and “Roter Williams-Christ” brandy
2nd Prize: Uschi and Erwin Wyrich, Markgröningen, for cherry brandy and one additional certificate for apple brandy aged in an oak barrel
3rd Prize: Andreas Müller, Remseck am Neckar, premium mirabelle plumbrandy
