After the exciting season and the World Cup parties, Max Verstappen treats himself to quiet holidays. Willi Opitz surprises him with a very special Christmas present. For the Formula 1 world champion with Dutch roots, the winemaker creates a wine that is orange in color thanks to the flavonoids in the grape skin.
Willi Opitz has been inspiring Formula 1 for a long time with his “noble fuel”. The starting flag began to wave for him when he was named “Winemaker Of The Year” in 1996. In the course of this, Gerard Basset, who was considered the best sommelier in the world, came to appreciate the fine wines from Illmitz. In Winchester, England, the luminary has dedicated a hotel to wine. The rooms were not numbered, but bore the names of famous wineries. Basset named the smallest room after Willi Opitz. High society delights “The British high society was invited to the opening of the ‘Hotel du Vin’. In the middle of the night Basset came to me and said, there is someone who is carried away by your wines, ”recalls Opitz. The “one” was none other than Ron Dennis, once boss and co-owner of the McLaren racing team. Shortly afterwards, Opitz was allowed to serve his tastings at his first Grand Prix in Monaco – with football legend Diego Maradona, singer Chris Rea and, of course, Prince Albert, now the ruling prince. “Ron Dennis and racing driver Mika Häkkinen then came to Illmitz,” says Opitz. He was also the wine supplier for Kimi Räikkönen’s wedding in Finland. Keeping the promise The winemaker met Max Verstappen two years ago before the Silverstone Grand Prix as a “level-headed, determined, personable man”. “Once you are world champion, you will get a special orange wine,” Opitz announced. He’s now keeping his promise. “According to ancient Georgian tradition, white grapes of the main flavor carriers Grüner Veltliner, Muscat and Riesling are fermented in a vat and pressed after months as a finished wine,” explains Opitz. The orange tones provide flavonoids, the natural substances in grape skins. Before the start of the new Formula 1 season, the noble fuel is bottled and can be “refueled” by Verstappen.
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