October 29, 2012
My own flash mob in Bangkok
About a week ago history was made when the first “wine flash-mob” was conducted in Koblenz, and a much smaller one in my home town Trier. I learned it from facebook, and I wished I were there.
Funny is that the word flash of the term “flash-mob” sounds like “Flasche” which translates into German as “bottle”. So it is a “bottle mob”. Indeed about 200 wine lovers followed the invitation in Koblenz and congregated at the “German corner” (Deutsches Eck), a public square, where Rhine and Mosel river merge.
It was maybe the last warm autumn’s day (according to the organizers 21 Celsius) with blues sky, coloured leaves on trees, soft air with the hint that winter was not far away. Jan Wilhelm Buhrmann and Marco Pusceddu from the wine bar “Gavino” in Koblenz had invited to this un-usual event.
The event was part of an initiative by the German Wine Institute (DWI) to promote German wine. The title of the campaign was “become a wine spotter” (or discoverer) and it was conducted in the third week of October. In more than 400 restaurants all over Germany various events were held to promote German wine.
The bottle flash mob in Koblenz, planned for only 20 minutes, muted into a two hour public tasting and wine sharing where German “Gemuetlichkeit” reigned. Great stuff. I hope I can be there when they do it next time.
1 Comment | 
culture, wine, wine regions | Tagged: climate, flashmob, German wine, german wine institute, Jan Wilhelm Buhrmann, Koblenz, Marco Pusceddu, Mosel, nature, Rhine, science, transportation, Trier, wine, wine bar Gavino | 
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Posted by themanfrommoselriver
October 25, 2012
The salad with feta
Again I present something Greek here. It also comes from “Jamie does…”, the cookery book by Jamie Oliver. Hot days in Bangkok lend themselves in a perfect way to this kind og food, light and refreshing kind of meals.
Green vegetables on toast
We used an Asian vegetable for the ‘green vegetable on toast dish’: “kangkung” is its Indonesian name. I do not know what it is called in Thai. Sprinkle fresh parmesan on the warm vegetable. The melting cheese provides just the right “glue” to produce a very tasty complement. Some roasted garlic is also added.
The light Greek lunch
The crunchy bread together with the cheese flavoured green and the fresh ingredients of the salad (tomatoes, red peppers, onions) with feta are just perfect to stimulate your attpetite even on a hot day.
A glass of sparkling
Any white wine would have complemented the two dishes, I guess. In style would have been a Retsina, a flavoured wine customaynin Greece.
Since we were in a celebratory mood (it was the first day of the school holidays), I grabbed a bottle of bubbly from the fridge.
Base sparkling from Chandon
The sparkling from Chandon is not cheap in Bangkok (about 1,000 Thai Bath), but his zesty freshness with the small bubbles made it an ideal wine to have with the Greek food.
Cheers to us all.
50 Comments | food, food and wine, wine | Tagged: Chandon, Greek salad, Jamie does, Jamie Oliver, wine | Permalink
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October 22, 2012
Greek fish stew
I love the recipes from Jamie Oliver. In his book: “Jamie does…”, the Aegean Kakavia, a Greek fish stew, is presented.
These days, as you know, there is some kind of weariness between Greek and German people because of the currency and bailout issues. So a Greek dish with a German wine seemed the right pairing; hinting at some kind of reconciliation or just because fish and Riesling harmonize so well?
I don’t know.
The recipe is dead simple. The beauty is that any fish will do. We had flounder and prawns. Chop some onions, tomatoes, garlic, celery and potatoes and cook it in some vegetable stock, with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. At the end add some fresh parsley and dill, and voilà, here we are.
2010 dry Riesling by Emrich-Schoenleber
I love Riesling and hold the wines made by Emrich-Schoenleber Estate in Monzingen, Nahe in high esteem. They remind me of my childhood and the time I spent with my maternal grandfather in Martinstein, just a couple of kilometres to the West.
This low alcohol (11.5%), bone dry Riesling is a fine specimen of what the Nahe wine region can produce. The wine is fresh and zesty, with intense lemon aromas, well balanced acidity and a long finish. I could have a bottle every day…but since I live in Bangkok, this is hardly possible. The more I treasure this fine Riesling wine.
If you happen to pass by the Nahe, visit the winery of the father and son vintner duo and enjoy a 250-year tradition of grape-growing and wine-making. The cellar door of the Emrich-Schoenleber family is a beautiful place to taste fine wines. You will not regret it.
2 Comments | Uncategorized | Tagged: dry riesling, Emrich-Schoenleber Estate, fine wines, fish stew, food, German wine, Jamie does, Jamie Oliver, Martinstein, Monzingen, Nahe, Nahe wine, Nahe wine region, restaurants, Riesling, Riesling wine, wine | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
October 12, 2012
In the last week of September three of my favourite German wineries were honoured by the Wine & Spirits Magazine, and included in the top 100 list of the best wineries of the world in 2012.
The three wineries are the following:
1. Dr. Loosen, Bernkastel, Mosel
The winery has been in the Loosen family for more than 200 years. Ernst Loosen took over in 1988, and, as they say, the rest is history. Dr. Loosen is maybe one of the best known German vintners in the international wine scene. I was so happy when Barrique, my local wine shop in Healesville, Victoria was carrying Dr. Loosen wines.
Address:
Winery Dr. Loosen,
St. Johannishof
54470 Bernkastel, Mosel
Tel.: +49-6531-3426
info@drloosen.com
www.drloosen.com
2. C. von Schubert, Mertesdorf, Ruwer, Mosel
This winery has also a long tradition. The “Grünhaus”, as the estate is also known, was already mentioned in ancient documents in 966 when it belonged to the Benedictine monastery of Saint Maximin in Trier.
Carl von Schubert, the current owner-operator, belongs to the fifth generation of the von Schubert family. The estate produces outstanding wines and was awarded many national and international prices. I tasted some of the Maximin Grünhäuser 2011 vintage dry Riesling wines during our summer vacation
Address:
Dr. Carl von Schubert
Hauptstr. 1
54318 Mertesdorf
Tel.:+49-651-5111
Fax: +49-651-52122
info@vonschubert.de
www.vonschubert.com
3. Robert Weil, Kiedrich, Rheingau
The winery was set-up in 1875. The founder was the university professor Robert Weil who taught German at the Sorbonne in Paris. The Franco-Prussian war of 1870/71 forced him to return to his native Germany. He settled down in Kiedrich, Rheingau and extended his vineyards and laid the foundation for today’s estate. In 2010 I found some bottles of the Robert Weil 2008 vintage in a Bangkok wine shop. Delicious.
Address:
Winery Robert Weil
Mühlberg 5
65399 Kiedrich, Rheingau
Tel.: +49-6123 2308
Fax: +49-6123 1546
info(at)weingut-robert-weil.com
www.weingut-robert-weil.com
3 Comments | wine, wine regions, wineries | Tagged: Bernkastel, best winery, Best winery 2012, C. von Schubert Winery, Dr. Loosen Estate, food, German wine, kiedrich rheingau, Kiedrich., Maximin Grünhäuser, Mertesdorf, Mosel, restaurants, Rheingau, Rhine, Riesling, Robert Weil Winery, Ruwer, Top Winery 2012, wine, Wine & Spirits Magazine | Permalink
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October 10, 2012
The Mosel river near Schweich
I am rapping things up here in Bangkok. Only two more days to go. Friday night I will be on the midnight flight to Germany. After about 11 hours on the plane, I will land in Frankfurt early in the morning. I might have a coffee and breakfast at the train station.
Then I will catch a train to Tier, my home town to see my parents. The train ride will be wonderful regardless of the weather. Autumn might extend its magic with colourful leaves in red, brown and yellow.
First, my trip will lead me along the Rhine river, then I’ll change trains in Koblenz. The next leg of the journey will be along the Mosel river. Some of the views will be spectacular.
I will admire the vineyards of both valleys, the Rhine and the Mosel. On the hilltops will be castles here and there. The slopes are steep, and I will think of all the hard work the vintners put into their vineyards. How can one work these terrible steep slopes? Backbreaking work, done for generations.
Vineyards and wine production have been a feature of the place for more than 2.000 years, incredible. I will have only about 24 hours there before I will move on for a business trip to Berlin.
Saturday night I will patronize my favourite wine bar, Weinsinnig. It will be my cellar door so to speak since I plan to pick up a few bottles of my favourite Mosel wines. There will be certainly a crisp Riesling among them.
I very much look forward to going home.
1 Comment | culture, food and wine, wine, wine regions | Tagged: German wine, Koblenz, Mosel, Mosel river, mosel wines, nature, outdoors, Rhine river, Riesling, Schweich, steep slopes, travel, Trier, trip to berlin, Weinsinnig, wine | Permalink
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October 9, 2012
Delicious seafood soup
When a little boy, my Australian nephew Nick, had written in a guest book “great place, crap food”. I was reminded of this great line the other day when we tried to enjoy a wonderful Jamie Oliver seafood dish with a mass produced, cheap industrial wine. We adapted this seafood soup from Los Angeles to accommodate Thai conditions.
Yellow tail SB from Australia and New Zealand
We knew what we were in for. I was not surprised that this wine by yellow tail was of low quality. The Shiraz from the same series, I would call “very drinkable”. The Sauvignon Blanc is also “drinkable”, however, I would omit the word “very”. Anyway.
But a good thing happened nonetheless, and that was the big surprise for me. Because of the high quality of the food, the wine was, shall I say “augmented” beyond belief. It became quite drinkable.
Yellow tail Sauvignon Blanc
The bottle does not carry a production or vintage year. The blend is an Australian & New Zealand one, with grapes coming from both places. I do not know if the producer is doing himself a favour with this kind of wine. The fact that it is on the market is proof that there is demand, and therefore there should be supply.
After all, it was my choice to have this wine with the seafood soup.
Cheers
Leave a Comment » | wine, wine regions, wineries | Tagged: Australian wine, food, restaurants, Sauvignon Blanc, seafood dish, seafood soup, travel, vintage year, wine, yellow tail | Permalink
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October 4, 2012
I am in the North of Thailand right now. To be pricise, Chiang Mai, the former capital city of the Lanna Thai kingdom. I will use my spare time after work to explore the local cuisine.
What you see above is my Thai cooking certificate which was given to me after the successful completion of a Thai cooking class in Hua Hin last year. I guess I forgot what I have learned; my inate nature is not the one of the cook. I am more of a gourmet; the one who enjoys the eating rather than the preparation of food.
1 Comment | food, food and wine, history and culture, Restaurant Review | Tagged: Chiang Mai, food, Hua Hin, Northern Thailand, Thai cooking, Thai food, Thai wine, wine, wine industry | Permalink
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September 21, 2012
Spicy prawns sizzling in the pan
I love spicy food, especially seafood. I find it also easy to identify an appropriate wine for such occasion. During a casual stroll through one of the local super markets here in Bangkok, I found a small selection of wines from my beloved Mosel river.
I could not believe muy luck.
‘2010 Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Kabinett’ by Weingut Max Ferdinand Richter
I selected a bottle of ‘2010 Brauneberger Juffer, Riesling Kabinett’ by Weingut Max Ferdinand Richter, in Muehlheim, Mosel.
The name of this vineyard (31 ha, opposite the villages of Brauneberg and Muehlheim) is intriguing, Braunenberger Juffer. “Brauneberg” stands for ‘the browninsh colour of oxidized devon slate’ and “Juffer” means ‘un-married young woman’/vestal-virgin. There is a story about a young woman who rather tended the vines in this prime vineyard location instead of getting married.
Well!
‘Braunberger Juffer’ is is one of the top terroirs along the lower Mosel. I was so mesmerized when I read ‘Brauneberger Juffer’ on the label, that I did not pay attention to the “attribute”, ‘Kabinett’ which suggests an off-dry type of wine. Not my favourite usually. 50 or so odd grams of residual sugar at 7 to 8 g./l. acidity, is just too much for me.
Fortunately, such information is not mentioned on the label. I would not have bought it. But after all, the sweetness of the wine balanced the spiciness of the prawns exceptionally well, and I was reconciled with my choice of wine.
I guess a dry Riesling would also have been a good choice, but maybe next time.
I love the label: Braunberger JUffer Riesling Kabinett
This wine is full and round, mellow, almost oily. The dominant aroma is peach with some hint of honeysuckle. On the palate the sweetness of bee honey is dominant. However, the wine is light and fresh. The acids are well balanced. The fine texture is tangible and the long finish is rewarding.
Address:
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter
Owner: Dr. Dirk M. F. Richter
Hauptstrasse 85
54486 Mülheim/Mosel
Germany
Tel.: +49-6534-933003
e-mail: drichter@maxferdrichter.com
2 Comments | food, Vineyard profile, vineyards, wine, wine regions, wineries | Tagged: Brauneberger Juffer, food, Max Ferdinand Richter, Mülheim, Mosel, Muehlheim, prime vineyard, restaurants, Riesling, Riesling Kabinett, spicy prawns, travel, vacation, wine | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
September 8, 2012
A selection of sushi and sashimi
We had a kind of quick lunch today. We bought a selection of sushi and sashimi. The question was what wine to have with it? Well, we had not much choice because my wine fridge is almost empty.
So I picked out of distress (I did not want to take one of my great Riesling wines) the last bottle of Vinho Verde we had, a bottle by Casal Mendes, which can be obtained in Bangkok super markets at relatively low cost.
Casal Mendes Vinho Verde
Woh, what a surprise: it worked wonders, I thought. The Portuguese Vinho Verde with its low alcohol and freshness was just the right wine with the raw fish and the rice. What an excellent choice this was. I highly recommend to try this pairing of Eastern food with Western wine.
11 Comments | food, food and wine, wine | Tagged: Casal Mendes, food, Portugal, raw fish, restaurants, Riesling wines, sashimi, Sushi, travel, vacation, Vinho Verde, wine, wine fridge, wines of Portugal | Permalink
Posted by themanfrommoselriver
September 7, 2012
As you know, I usually do not write about negative things. Wines which I did not like, I do not report about. Similarly I deal with restaurants I visited and dishes which I found wanting.
In more than 5 1/2 years as food and wine blogger, the Man from Mosel River has only twice issued a critique. In both cases it was about wineries I visited where I felt ill treated. One was about Punt Road Winery in the Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia. The second about Weingut Von Othegraven in Kanzem, Saar, Germany.
In both cases senior management of the wineries in question has apologized to me. Punt Road got back to me within days, Von Othegraven respondedn within two weeks. In both cases I have accepted the apology. And in both cases I was invited to visit again. The wine-maker of Von Othegraven offered a wine tasting to make good for the sloppy service I encountered when visiting the place last July.
I find this very remarkable. It shows that in the time of the fast internet and social media, businesses cannot afford not to respond to queries. This is a very positive thing. Consumers have not only purchasing power but also the power to influence the public perception, the image of a company.
This experience confirms that my cautious use of negative critique is justified, and effective.
Cheers everybody
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Posted by themanfrommoselriver
The Man from Mosel River 