Willkommen to Germany!
Wine, Tasting Notes, and Food Pairings
Hild Elbling Sekt NV: Lemon pith, quince, quinine, and sparkling water notes. Made using 100% of the traditional Elbling grape, a variety unique to Germany and prized for its high acidity, light and fruity characteristics. From the “Upper Mosel” (limestone, not slate). Known for its fine bubbles and balanced acidity, making it a popular choice among sparkling wine enthusiasts. Dry sparkling.
Paired with: Potato chips and mixed nuts.
Hild Elbling Trocken 2022: Light-bodied and crisp. Lemon/grapefruit citrus, tart green apple, freshly cut grass. Very dry, medium-high acidity. There is a stretch of the Mosel near Luxemburg where the iconic Riesling-lined slate gorge gives way to limestone terraces, the edge of the same limestone formations that underlays Sancerre, Champagne, Burgundy, and Dover’s cliffs. This is the only place in the world where Elbling is still planted.
Paired with: Skewers of sliced green apple macerated in lemon juice, mild cheese (Fontina), drizzle lemon honey, pistachio.
Stein Blauschiefer Riesling Trocken 2024: Dry Riesling with pear, white peach and lots of minerality. Playful and light-footed, mouth-watering, zesty — essentially rocks pulverized into liquid form with brisk and beautiful acidity. For fans of complex, mineral-driven white wines like Sancerre. Dry. Blauschiefer = “blue slate”. Sourced from old vines (average age is 60, some are ungrafted and 75+ years old!) and drinks way above its price point. Practicing organic, hand-harvested, with 3-12 months on lees.
Paired with: Sliced soft pretzel, chicken sausage, sauerkraut.
A.J. Adam Riesling Kabinett Dhroner Hofberg 2021: Pear, pineapple, citrus, nutmeg, beeswax, honey, and a stony mineral presence. Zippy and electric with an intense mouth-feel. Excellent concentration and a very long finish. Off-dry. The Grand Cru Hofberg is one of the greatest Mosel vineyards. A perfect place to vinify remarkable wines. Even at a young age, the wines often show striking exotic fruit, subtle spice, wile slate, and a finesse of acidity.
Paired with: Takoyaki (squid balls) — crunchy outside, flavorful inside — with takoyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, sesame seeds, rice seasoning, and bonito flakes (Pin on Grand).
Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Spätlese 2021: Intense aromas and flavors of pineapple, lemon preserve, apricot and wet stone, ripe peach, and honey. On the palate: rich and full-bodied with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. Medium-sweet. This wine is a cuvee that is 75% from the Juffer vineyard and 25% from the Sonnenuhr, which is the steepest part of the hillside slope. In most vintages, a brief maceration is used to help soften the brisk acidity before fermentation in stainless steel.
Paired with: Fresh creamy quark (or ricotta), passion fruit jam, oven-roasted green grapes with sliced red onion & ginger, lime zest.