Enjoy 40 German Wine’s at first Plattduetsche Weinfest

While most remain familiar with the lagers and beers found during the festivities of Oktoberfest, Plattduetsche Park Restaurant, Catering and Biergarten looks to open people’s palettes to German wines this year.

After seeing interest from customers about offering wines at the venue, Plattduetsche Biergarten decided to partner with Wunderwein LLC to host a German wine tour and tasting. The original German wine festival, Das Weinfest, will come to Franklin Square Sept. 10, and run from 1-6 p.m.

Folks can look forward to tasting 40 different wines from various German vineyards.

German Wine Queen Katrin Lang, a winemaker and oenologist for Weingut Zahringer, will be in attendance to host various tastings including a complimentary dessert wine tasting.

Plattduetsche Biergarten General Manage Matt Buck said that the organization is excited to have Lang at the event to teach people more about wine.

“She is a production person, so she’s familiar with the whole process when it comes to producing wine,” Buck said. “So, I think people will get a really unique opportunity to learn from one of the best.”

Buck hopes that his event can just add to the versatility that Plattduetsche is able to offer to the public in its variety of events. The ability to offer high-quality wines from Germany and not be pigeonholed as a “beer place” is an exciting opportunity for the venue.

In addition to Lang, many wine makers will be at the event to speak with people about the winemaking process and guide tastings. The event will also feature live music by The Austrian Boys and Eric Justvig.

Admission for Das Weinfest will cost $35 per person and includes three tastings plus two complimentary tastings of a dessert wine and a vermouth tasting. People can also purchase additional tickets for sampling for $3 a tasting or $25 for 10 tastings.

Food available for purchase at the event will include authentic German food prepared by Plattduetsche Park Executive Chef Herbert Aigner and his team. Attendees can dig into wursts, pretzels, potato pancakes and apple struedel.

Tickets can be purchased online at ParkRestaurant.com or in person at the Plattduetsche Park Restaurant with cash located at 1132 Hempstead Turnpike in Franklin Square.

For anyone looking forward to Oktoberfest activities, Plattduetsche will kick off the season with its annual Ompahfest event on Sept. 17 at 11 a.m. The annual festivity that follows the Steuben Parade in Manhattan to celebrate German-American culture will feature cultural demonstrations.

Admission for Ompahfest will cost $12 for adults and children are admitted free of charge. The event will wrap up around 8:30 p.m. that night.

“A lot of the groups that come from Germany and march down 5th Avenue, and come back to us the next day to perform,” Buck said.

There are always three stages going at one time during Ompahfest, and this year the largest group from Germany participating in the festivity is over 55 pieces.

“It’s a great way for us to celebrate the big kick off to Oktoberfest,” Buck said.

Music for the event will include Johnny Koenig, die Spitzbaum, Bavarksi, and the Foehrer Musik Freunde. German special guests at the event will be Tambourkorps Buderich, Draufganger-Guggies Meerane and Trommlercorps Kirchborchen.

As usual, various dancing troupes will perform authentic regional German dances and include willing audience members.

For Oktoberfest at Plattduetsche, the public can look forward to traditional German music bands and dancing on weekends from Oct. 5 through Oct 14. To see the bands in the Biergarten, a $5 cover fee will be charged.