And all that including picture, tricot handover to the head of government by the president of the WINE ELEVEN and campus manager of the Geisenheim University Robert Lönarz. Of course, a wine gift was provided for by the Geisenheim University from a student steep slope project – a magnum bottle of “ – handed over by the chairman of the university council Dr Rowald Hepp. This meeting has been arranged by the Rhine-Hessian delegate Jan Metzler together with his Bundestag colleagues Franz Josef Jung and Klaus-Peter Willsch.
“Pose for pictures please” – an oft-heard phrase for football squads. Routine before each game. On this afternoon in June, things look a little bit different however for the German viticulturist football squad. The location: Not a football pitch, but the German Bundestag. The picture: The German Wine Eleven surrounding chancellor Angela Merkel. The occassion: Promoting German wine with a gift and handing over a special “Merkel” Wine Eleven jersey to the head of government.
This creative meeting is the brainchild of Metzler, a trained viticulturist and Bundestag delegate for southern Rhenish Hesse. For years he has known the Wine Eleven, their charitable activities, as well as their enthusiasm for German wine. “The WINE ELEVEN is a showcase for us viticulturists, as a cultural squad of the German Football Association and as a social role model thanks to their efforts for the community. This deserves an official acknowledgement, ideally in person by the chancellor”, that was the plan of Metzler.
Support came from his fellow delegates Franz Josef Jung, himself honorary team captain of the Wine Eleven, and Klaus-Peter Willsch, delegate for the Rheingau district. They shared the goal of together convincing Angela Merkel of a meeting and actually make an appointment with her. Success soon followed as they were shortly met with a confirmation and great enthusiasm from the Federal Chancellery.
“Pose for pictures please” – an oft-heard phrase for football squads. Routine before each game. On this afternoon in June, things look a little bit different however for the German viticulturist football squad. The location: Not a football pitch, but the German Bundestag. The picture: The German Wine Eleven surrounding chancellor Angela Merkel. The occassion: Promoting German wine with a gift and handing over a special “Merkel” Wine Eleven jersey to the head of government.
This creative meeting is the brainchild of Metzler, a trained viticulturist and Bundestag delegate for southern Rhenish Hesse. For years he has known the Wine Eleven, their charitable activities, as well as their enthusiasm for German wine. “The WINE ELEVEN is a showcase for us viticulturists, as a cultural squad of the German Football Association and as a social role model thanks to their efforts for the community. This deserves an official acknowledgement, ideally in person by the chancellor”, that was the plan of Metzler.
Support came from his fellow delegates Franz Josef Jung, himself honorary team captain of the Wine Eleven, and Klaus-Peter Willsch, delegate for the Rheingau district. They shared the goal of together convincing Angela Merkel of a meeting and actually make an appointment with her. Success soon followed as they were shortly met with a confirmation and great enthusiasm from the Federal Chancellery.
