August 13, 2013
The Mosel river near Trittenheim
In the picture above you will see the wine village of Leiwen (left). Further around the bend of the river (to the right) is the wine village of Trittenheim. This is basically the view of the Mosel you will get when you drive though the Hunsrueck mountains.
Trittenheim, Mosel
And this was also our first view of the Mosel when we arrived in Germany for our summer vacation this year. We were mesmerized. What a splendid view, what a splendid landscape, what a splendid river, how good to be home.
From the outset let me tell you we had a great time (only about 3 weeks), and despite our at best erratic planning and our lousy preparation, we were able to line up some unique, memorable and exquisite encounters with the wine and food world.
I intend to write in more detail about most of these encounters. But let me not be too optimistic as regards the time available for blogging.
So what were the highlights of our visit?
Well, we had the best pork-knuckle ever (!) after a two hour march through the forests near the Ammersee on our way to the monastery of Andechs, a famous location for catholic pilgrims. Bavaria is a fantastic place to visit especially if the weather gods are smiling on you, and smile they did. We had warm, at times even hot, weather during the whole time of our holidays.
Along the Mosel we visited three wineries – two along the Ruwer, one on the Sauer, both tributaries of the Mosel – and had one wine tasting in Trier city at Oechsle. Wonderful, exquisite, I can only rave about the many fresh and zesty wines we had the opportunity to sample.
The wineries we visited were:
– Fuerst Winery, Metzdorf, Sauer
– Karthaeuserhof Estate, Eitelsbach, Ruwer
– Maximin Gruenhaus C. von Schubert Winery-Estate, Mertesdorf, Ruwer
Another highlight was the visit of one of the best restaurants in the Alsace region of France. For a family lunch we went to the Auberge du Cheval Blanc in Lembach, Alsace near Wissembourg in the Vosges mountains.
Needless to say we spent many afternoon and evenings in wine bars and beer gardens, among them the wine bar Kesselstatt and the wine bar “Weinsinnig”, two of my favourite places to relax and enjoy a good glass of wine in Trier.
More soon. Stay tuned.
PS: I made some gorgeous pictures.
1 Comment | 
culture, food, food and wine, general, history and culture, vineyards, wine, wine regions, wineries | Tagged: Alsace, Ammersee, Andechs, Bavaria, food, France, French wine, German wine, Karthaeuserhof, Leiwen, Lembach, Maximin Gruenhaus, Mosel, restaurants, Riesling, Trittenheim, Vosges mountains, Weingut C. von Schubert, Weingut Fuerst, wine, Wissembourg | 
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Posted by themanfrommoselriver
July 8, 2013
‘2012 Colombard’ by Monsoon Valley
Many white wines go well with Asian cuisine, for instance my beloved Riesling, either in its dry or semi-dry incarnations.
Fortunately, Thailand has his own wines which do pair well with its cuisine. Chenin Blanc and Viognier wines from Gran Monte Winery, as well as Chenin Blanc from PB Valley come to mind.
One of my least favourite grapes, Colombard can also make a good wine to drink with spicy Asian food. Monsoon Valley Wine produces a Colombard wine (Classic Range) which I find ideal with spicy cuisine.
The grapes are produced near Hua Hin, a coastal town about 3 hours south of Bangkok. I personally have not visited the Hua Hin Hills Vineyard as yet but it is on my to-do list.
This Colombard wine is a blend made from Chenin Blanc, Colombard and Malaga Blanc grapes. It is light and fruity with some citrus aromas and fine acidity but has some residual sweetness which makes is well suited to accompany spicy dishes.
The 2012 vintage has won various bronze medals for instance at the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2012, and the FBAT Wine Challenge in 2012.
Spicy prawn noodles
4 Comments | food, wine, wine regions, wineries | Tagged: Chenin Blanc, Colombard, food, Gran Monte Winery, PB Valley Khao Yai Winery, prawn noodles, restaurants, spicy asian food, Thai wine, Thai Wine Association, Thai wine industry, Viognier, viognier wines | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
July 7, 2013
The ‘2007 Cascinotta Barbaresco’ by Angelo Negro, Piedmont, Italy is a wonderful specimen of wine from this premium wine Producing region in Northern Italy. The Nebbiolo grapes display some sweetness which can also be sensed in this wine.
The tannins are strong but have already mellowed a little so that drinking it in 2013 is already a real pleasure. With age the tannins will be even softer, but…I could not wait for that.
The colour is deep red; the cherry aromas with some vanilla and hint of rose-petals leave an impression on the palate. The medium bodied wine has a good structure and a long finish.
We paired it with an open Mexican pie, a meat-bean dish which was prepared by my daughter Lucy. I usually add some chilli and the spicyness goes well with the residual sweetness of the Nebbiolo.
This is a lovely food and wine experience which I highly recommend.
1 Comment | food, food and wine, vineyards, wine, wine regions | Tagged: Angelo Negro, Barbaresco, Cascionotta, Italian wine, Italy, Nebbiolo, Piedmont, wine | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
June 20, 2013
Captital M
Many of you know that Capital M is one of my favourite restaurants in Beijing, China. I try to dine there at least once every visit. On my last visit, I went with my friend Brian Wallace, the owner-director of Red Gate Gallery. We had ordered a table for dinner on a mild spring evening. We both needed a treat, and a treat it turned out to be.
The wine list
I love the wine selection of Capital M, and decided on a wine from Sancerre. The ‘2008 Domaine Fouassier’ by Domaine Fouassier was a lovely Sauvignan Blanc. This was my first time that I tasted wine from this producer, and I should not regret it.
The Fouassier family is one of the oldest wine producing families in Sancerre. Today the estate covers about 56 ha, 80% planted to Sauvignon Blanc, 20% to Pint Noir.
This wine is aged in oak barrels where it remained on lees for about ten months. It displays the fine acidity, the aromas and complexity one expects from a wine from Sancerre. I loved the sound structure and the long finish.
The grapes come from old vines. The winery prides itself with its organic agricultural and bio-dynamic methods. It was a good choice and I have to look out for more wines from this producer.
2008 Domaine Fouassier, Sancerre
I urgently needed some green stuff and started with a salad with some beetroots pieces. The wine was perfect for this food pairing.
Beetroot salad
I am not someone who likes the fancy recipes. I like solid-rural, more agrarian and artisan food not the highly refined output from modern kitchens. So my choice was red meat which did not exactly match my choice in wine. Since Brian did not feel like another bottle, I stayed with the Sancerre. But I am sure some of the reds from the wine list of Capital M would have been a lovely match.
My beef fillet on potato mash
The beef was just awesome, what a great dish, what a great evening. If you want to spoil yourself, get going, book a table and enjoy a meal at Capital M. It’s worth it, trust me.
When we left and had said our good-byes, I went on a stroll on Tiananmen square which was completely deserted and void of people. I was rewarded with this view of the entrance of the forbidden city. A visit to Beijing can be quite delightful.
Leave a Comment » | food, food and wine, Restaurant Review, wine | Tagged: beef fillet, Beijing, Capital M, China, Domaine Fouassier, fancy recipes, fine dining, food, France, French wine, restaurants, Sancerre, Sauvignon Blanc, wine | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
June 17, 2013
2011 Selbach Riesling Classic
Recently, the supply with German Riesling wines in Bangkok has improved considerably. A fine specimen is the ‘2011 Selbach Riesling Classic’ by the Selbach Winery in Zeltingen, Mosel.
The family enterprise has vineyards in Zeltingen, Wehlen, Graach and Bernkastel and is currently working 20 ha of vines, many of them in very steep locations along the Mosel river. 98% of the area is under Riesling, the rest is planted to Pinot Blanc. As is customary with many German wine producers, the Selbach Riesling assortment includes dry, semi-dry and sweet wines, plus late harvest and ice wine.
In Bangkok only the classic dry Riesling variety from the Selbach winery is available (88 Parker Points). In order to get your hands on terroir specific and single vineyard wines you might have to identify a specific importer. Although ever since the new It’s Riesling initiative has started operating, one has a much better chance as a consumer to find more exotic Riesling wines of the highest quality.
The Selbach Riesling Classic shows all the qualities of a good German Riesling. It is not bone dry, has a good acidity and citrus notes. Riesling is a perfect compliment with Asian cuisine, especially Thai and Chinese food. I paired it with the shrimps (in the picture above) and some spicy chicken (as in the picture below) and it worked very well.
Chicken on my Weber grill
1 Comment | food, food and wine, vineyards, wine, wine regions, wineries | Tagged: asian cuisine, Bernkastel, German Riesling, German wine, Graach, It's Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Riesling wines, Selbach-Oster Winery, sweet wines, Wehlen, wine, wine producers, Zeltingen | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
June 14, 2013
Utrans Wines Culture Center in Beijing
I wanted to visit the 798 artists village since a very very long time but in the past had never found the time to do so. Last spring when I visited Beijing again I especially took time out for a visit tot he many art galleries in 798 Art Zone.
I was particularly interested in the On/Off exhibition at the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art 尤伦斯当代艺术中心（UCCA. The Center had commissioned 50 artists and artists groups born after 1975 to express their ideas about freedom. All of them were born after the so called Cultural Revolution. All of them have grown up in a China of radical change characterized by market reforms and increased individual freedom. On/Off comes from the graphical interface of a common VPN which allows access to the internet and the outside world or not, depending on the speed of the censors and the energy of the user to find the loop.
I just loved the exhibition and the Ullens Center and was glad that I had come. Visiting galleries makes tired and hungry but luckily I found refuge in the above Utrans Wines Culture Center just across the street from the Ullens Gallery.
Utrans: Bar and tables
Some of the Christmas decoration was still hanging but the cherry tree outside was in full bloom. Spring was in the air and every body was in a boisterous mood.
At the back of the place were shelves full with various bottles of wine from various wine regions including Germany. The colours of the decoration suggested that a recent event might have showcased Italian wines. Utrans is a Xiamen based wine importer.
The dilemma of entering such a Mecca of fermented grape juice alone is that a bottle is quasi out of the question, and one has the choice among the house wines only. I settled on a French red.
The bottles revealed the following:
2010 AMBAR from Bordeaux
2010 AMBAR Grand Vin de Bordeaux, 13% which was bottled by an winery in Gironde. It was a decent house wine, more pedestrian in character but drinkable with red fruit aromas and a decent finish.When I later googled the wine I could not find any useful information.
After a while I decided that wine without food would be like sex without orgasm and I had a look at the food menu. I settled for a salad and a salmon pasta. And here as an old China hand I should have been less trusting and/or more knowledgeable. The salad was a positive surprise: the mushrooms were warm which gave the whole affair a special character. The portion was huge.
Warm mushrooms on a bed of green salad.
The pasta turned out to be Chinese noodles. The stuff was edible though, but not what the title suggested. What is al dente (?) in the case of Chinese noodles anyway; that’s a no go. The dish doesn’t look to bad in the picture I should have definitely ordered some Chinese food but not pasta. I have only myself to blame. After more than 30 years coming to China I should have known better.
My Chinese noodle dish with salmon
Would I go there again, you might ask? The answer is: absolutely.
The waitress was very friendly, the service good and the atmosphere just right.
I will come again and explore some more of the 798 Art Zone and its culinary delights.
Beijing is awesome. Have fun and explore the 798 Art Zone. It’s worth it.
Address: 798 Art Zone
Ceramic 3 St. 798 Road, 798 Art District,
4. Jiuxianqiao Road/Chaoyang District
Beijing P.O. Box 8503
朝阳区酒仙桥路4号
P.R. China
Leave a Comment » | culture, food, history and culture, wine | Tagged: 798 Art Zone, Beijing, Bordeaux, China, 艺术区, food, French wine, Gironde, grand vin de bordeaux, house wines, restaurants, Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Utrans, Utrans Wines Culture Center, vin de bordeaux, wine, 尤伦斯当代艺术中心 | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
June 12, 2013
Source: Google maps when searching for Two Hills Vineyard
My children provided me with the above picture. Unfortunately I do not know where they got it from. Sorry for that.
The road on the right, is Two Hills road and the gum trees lining it. On the left side from the road one can see our two dams, the two vineyards (between the dams and right from the dam on the right). Also the shed can be identified. The white “lines” around the different blocks are from my slashing with the tractor. Also my windbreak can be seen (left line leading to the creek).
Looking at this shot, makes me terribly homesick.
Our next visit will be the highlight of the year for us.
2 Comments | Vineyard profile, vineyards, wine, wineries | Tagged: Australia, Australian wine, Glenburn, Two Hills Merlot, Two Hills Vineyard, Victoria | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
May 4, 2013
It’s been a while since I blogged last. From April 19 until now I have not produced anything new. As far as I can remember this is one of the longest times ever. That’s not a small thing for someone who keeps his blog going since more than six years.
So what happened? Well not much. I was just very busy with work related travel which brought me to places where there was neither an internet connection nor the conditions necessary for blogging.
To my great distress I found that something at wordpress must have changed during that long absence from the blogger world. I am unable to load up pictures. I am unable to write tags. Needless to say I am completely distressed.
Can anybody help me?
4 Comments | wine | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
April 19, 2013
It’s Riesling – cover website
As a lover of Riesling wines, I am always on the lookout for new initiatves promoting my favourite white wine grape. The other day I came across the facebook page of It’s Riesling.
I assume they are working from Thailand but I am not entirely sure about this. However, many of the pictures they posted on facebook show scenes and people from Bangkok. Also the telephone number seems to be a local one.
The motto of It’s Riesling is: “Wine is our passion; Riesling is our life”. I sincerely hope that this is true. Then I will have access to top German Riesling wines which would be fantastic.
They have some interesting wines on offer. I will keep you informed about my progress.
Leave a Comment » | general, wine, wine bars, wine regions, wineries | Tagged: Bangkok, German Riesling, German wines, It's Riesling, Mosel, Riesling, Riesling wines, Thailand, white wine, wine | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
April 17, 2013
Cheers at Renmin University
The other day, when I took a stroll from the Friendship Hotel in Beijing where I stayed during my recent visit, I came also across the Cheers wine shop at Renmin University (People’s University). I knew this shop from earlier visits, and was curious to know what it had on offer.
I was surprised to find even a few wines from Germany: Two off-dry Riesling wines from my native Mosel and a Pinot Noir from the Pfalz.
2011 Peter & Peter Pinot Noir by Zimmermann-Graeff & Müller
I had never before heard about the “Peter & Peter” brand but could not resist to buy and later try this wine. I did not regret it. After my return from a business dinner with lovely Chinese food but without table wine, I opened the Pinot Noir and enjoyed it as a night cap.
Zimmermann-Graeff & Müller is a wine company in Zell, Mosel with about 300 employees and vineyards and wineries in the Mosel and Pfalz wine regions.
Jancis Robinson awarded this wine a 15 out of 20 points. The sales price varies. I found websites where you could order it for 8 to 10 EURO/bottle; in Canada it is available for about 19-20 C$.
Before taxes one can have it in Thailand for 356 Bath. But remember that the luxury tax in Thailand is considerable (400%).
For me it was great to enjoy this fine specimen of German wine so far away from my native land.
2 Comments | vineyards, wine, wine regions, wineries | Tagged: Beijing, Cheers, China, Friendship Hotel Beijing, Mosel, People's University, Peter & Peter, Pfalz, Pinot Noir, Renmin University, Riesling, wine, Zimmermann-Graeff & Müller | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
The Man from Mosel River 