see Blaufraenkisch

former east Germany Wines: soft and dry white wines, few Spätlese and Auslese wines, mediumbodied.

In the warm valley of the rivers Saale and Unstrut Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner and Weissburgunder (Pinot blanc) grapes are grown and made into a soft, dry white wine

The small wine-growing region Saale-Unstrut is the northernmost of Germany's wine-growing regions, with a long tradition of grape-growing and wine making.

The first American rootstocks in Germany were planted in the region in 1887 after the Phylloxera disease affected vineyards there. Vines are planted at the beginning of the romantic Saale River valley and on the hills near the town of Freyburg.

wine chaudeau,

mix wine with butter and aromates, while whipping over boiling water (bain marie)

til vreamy, add gelatine and whipped cream, sauce for desserts , as well as dessert

former East Germany

Sachsen is the easternmost of Germany's wine-growing regions, with most of its

vineyards located on the hilly slopes of the Elbe River. The region stretches for about 30 miles from Pillnitz in the south to Dresden, Radebeul and Meissen.
The cultural and historical centers of Dresden and Meissen attract many visitors each year.
Most of the wines from the region are consumed locally. Wines made from Müller-
Thurgau (,Rivaner), Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Traminer grapes are dry, full of
character with a fruity acidity. Some soft red wines and some "Elbtal-Sekt" (sparkling wine) are specialities of the region.
Wines: dry, refreshing fruity acidity, special regional character.

French, cooked diced pieces of meat or fish, used as stuffings , bsasis for croquettes or

ragouts fins.

Salzburg can be regarded as the oldest and most important cultural and spiritual centre in present-day Austria. Although it had already been elevated to the rank of archdiocese in 798 and from the late Middle Ages onwards had formed a spiritual principality in the Holy Roman Empire, Salzburg is one of Austria’s youngest Länder. The development of the region and its ultimate separation from Bavaria, its mother country, was agreed in the fourteenth century but it was not until 1816 that Salzburg was incorporated into Austria. Of Austria’s present-day Länder or provinces, Salzburg is the only one to have been ruled as an independent state by a prince-archbishop and it is the only one of the many spiritual principalities of the Holy Roman Empire still to exist as an independent

Salzburg  is the fourth-largest city in Austria and the capital of the federal state of Salzburg. Salzburg's "Old Town" with its world famous baroque architecture is one of the best-preserved city centres in the German-speaking world, and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The city is noted for its Alpine setting. It is the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the setting for parts of the musical and film The Sound of Music.

Salzburg is also a student city, with three universities.

one of Rudi's Favorites:

see recipe

The famous nockerl were created app. in the 17th century under archbishop von Raitenau,

who loved power, luxury and sweet desserts.

Sangiovese is a red wine variety originating in Italy whose name derives from sanguis Jovis, "the blood of Jove ". It is most famous as the main component of the Chianti, blend in Tuscany, but winemakers outside Italy are starting to experiment with it. Young sangiovese has fresh fruity flavours of strawberry and a little spiciness, but it readily takes on oaky, even tarry, flavours when aged in barrels

one of Rudi's Favorites:

see recipe

The original "Rheinischer Sauerbraten" (Rhenium marinated beef) is horse beef,

although nowadays beef is mostly used.

Several sources believe sauerbraten was invented by Charlemagne who died in 814 A.D. The recipe was used as a means of using up leftover roasted meat.

In Cologne, after the 13th century, fresh meat was substituted,

one of Rudi's Favorites:

choice of 2 sausages from: Bratwurst, Knackwurst or Polish with sauerkraut or red cabbage

Sauvignon blanc is a green-skinned grape variety which originates from the Bordeaux region of France. The grape gets it name from the French word sauvage ("wild") and blanc ("white") due to its early origins as an indigenous grape in southwestern France. It is now planted in many of the world's wine regions, producing a crisp, dry, and refreshing white varietal wine. Conversely, the grape is also a component of the famous dessert wines from Sauternes and Barsac. Sauvignon blanc is widely cultivated in France, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, California, and South America.

Depending on climate, the flavor can range from aggressively grassy to sweetly tropical. Wine experts have used the phrase "crisp, elegant, and fresh" as a favorable description of Sauvignon blanc from the Loire Valley and New Zealand.

In the Loire valley you find the famous Sancerre and Pouilly Fume, both Sauvignon blanc.

(Wikipedia)

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End piece of bread

Austrian denomination of part of beef

Viennese

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Austiran

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Prime collar of pork

echine de porc

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Angelhair pasta & diced vegetables in a cream sauce, topped with shrimps,

red snapper and salmon

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Semillon  ripens earlier in the season than most grapes and is less likely to be damaged by rains or frost.  It produces wines that are full flavored rich and aromatic.  Semillon is most often blended with other varieties (especially Sauvignon Blanc) to take advantage of the strengths of each variety. 

Semillon is one of the three approved varieties (Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle) for making white wines in the Bordeaux region

The Roman origin accounts for the town's emblem – a she-wolf suckling the infants Romulus and Remus. According to legend, Siena was founded by Senius, son of Remus, who was in turn the brother of Romulus, after whom Rome was named. Statues and other artwork depicting a she-wolf suckling the young twins Romulus and Remus can be seen all over the city of Siena.

In the early 12th century a self-governing commune replaced the earlier aristocratic government. The consuls who governed the republic slowly became more inclusive of the poblani, or common people, and the Commune increased its territory as the surrounding feudal nobles in their fortified castles submitted to the urban power. Siena's republic, struggling internally between nobles and the popular party, usually worked in political opposition to its great rival, Florence, and was in the 13th century predominantly Ghibelline in opposition to Florence's Guelph position

King Philip, owing huge sums to the Medici, ceded it (apart a series of coastal fortress annexed to the State of Presidi) to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, to which it belonged until the unification of Italy in the 19th century

July 2 and August 16 are the dates when the Palio di Siena is held. The Palio is a traditional medieval horse race is run around the Piazza del Campo each year. This event is attended by large crowds, and is widely televised. Seventeen Contrade (which are city neighbourhoods originally formed as battalions for the city's defense) vie for the trophy: a painted flag, or Palio bearing an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Ten of the seventeen run in each Palio: seven run by right (having not run in the previous year's corresponding Palio) together with three drawn by lot from the remaining ten. A horse is assigned to each by lot. Though often a brutal and dangerous competition for horse and rider alike, the city thrives on the pride this competition brings.

Siena's cathedral, the Duomo, begun in the twelfth century, is one of the great examples of Italian romanesque architecture.

Siena's university, founded in 1203 and famed for its faculties of law and medicine, is still among the most important Italian universities.

Wine regions:

basically, South Africa has two main wine regions:

Western Cape regions

with

Constantia  Valley around Capetown

Stellenbosch

Franschoeck

Paarl

and the

Northern Cape Wine Region

with the

Orange River
Newish cool-climate region

which is still predominantly a fruit-growing area.

we feature

Mulderbosch Stellenbosch

the famous "Faithful Hound"

on our wine menu

The best known regions are

Constantia
Historical region that's tucked away in the smart southern suburbs of Cape Town (this is where the first vineyards were planted in South Africa), now undergoing a bit of a revival. As well as being a beautiful region, the vineyards are ideally sited on the slopes of Constantia Mountain, where they are cooled by the sea breezes.

The Franschoek valley is a small but significant region, inland (to the west) of Stellenbosch. Surrounded by the spooky-sounding Drakenstein mountains, the wide variety of soils and relatively high rainfall permits production of a wide variety of wine styles. It's a hotter region than Stellenbosch, and with its profusion of trendy restaurants it can rightfully claim to be the gourmet capital of the winelands.

Paarl
Well known region north-west of Cape Town, and home to several leading producers, including Veenwouden, Nederburg, Fairview, Glen Carlou and Plaisir de Merle. Traditionally a white wine region, but with its Mediterranean climate and terroirs it's now focusing more on reds. Hotter than Stellenbosch, so the very best wines come from the more elevated vineyards.

Robertson
Some 120 km east of Cape Town, next door to Worcester, this hot region is rather paradoxically best known for its whites.

Stellenbosch
Just a short distance east of Cape Town, this is the country's leading wine area, and is home to many of the country's leading estates. The town itself is dominated by the University, and despite its relatively large size has quite a relaxed feel. Vineyards fringed by mountains make for some lovely views. There are several different subregions, and the geology here is quite complex. Simplistically, the granite-based soils in the east are especially suited to the production of fine red wines, whereas the sandstone soils in the west are best for whites.

Wines

Wine and winemaking in South America has a longer history than anywhere else in the New World. In the mid 1500’s, Jesuit missionaries brought viticulture to South America. This introduction began in Chile and continued to Argentina. The wine producing nations of South America are making progress to improve the quality of their wines. While Chilean wines are better known on the foreign market, Argentina is increasing the quality of its wines and is making a global impact. As well as these two countries, there is also a small amount of wine coming out of Uruguay.

Argentina is one of the world’s largest wine-producing countries. The Climate of Argentina is similar to the Andes and it is this similarity that supports the Argentinean wine industry. Argentina is mainly an arid landscape that profits from irrigating waters off the mountains. Argentina’s warmer inland region encourages vine growth down the entire length of the country. In the north, the vineyards lie at the same latitude as Morocco; and in the south, vineyards share latitude with New Zealand. One of the vital aspects to growing quality wine grapes here is altitude, with vineyards planted at 2,000 and 3,000 feet to take advantage of the cooler temperatures. Argentine wines are made from grapes such as traditional Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and also varieties like Tempranillo, Bonarda, Barbera, Torrontés and Malbec.

Chile has a wonderful climate for growing healthy wine grapes. Located, west of the Andes, Chile's climate varies from the heat of the arid, rocky, mountainous desert to the north and the icy, cold, Antarctic expanse in the south. Chile’s vineyards flourish in the warm, fertile valleys that are positioned between the two areas. Viticulture has been established in Chile for centuries and there are a wide selection of global wine varieties planted, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and many more. Many of the wine grapes that were believed to be Merlot have recently been determined to be Carmenère, which is a scarcely planted variety of Bordeaux.

Uruquay:

There are a few Uruguayan wines to be found.Uruguay's top grape is Tannat which, like Malbec, also has it's home in the appellations of the south-west of France, in Madiran

Brazil's 600 producers and growers are concentrated in three provinces: Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Sao Paulo. Over 65% of vineyards, and most producers, are in Rio Grande do Sul in the south. Sao Paulo is the headquarters for more than 100 wine companies and their processing plants. To the south is Santa Catarina, where vineyards and winemaking styles reveal a German influence.

References: www.thewinedoctor.com

Greek, ground lamb meat marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and oregano,

placed on skewers and grilled

Tiny flour-and-egg=noodles of Southern germany and Switzerland,

one of Rudi's favorite pasta

Vino de crianza

is the one aged for at least

one year in vats and another

year in bottles. It is usually a three-,

four- and five-year old wine.

Vino de reserva

is the one aged for at least two years in vats and another

in bottles.

Vino de gran reserva

is aged in oak barrels for at least three years and another in bottles

in the famous Rioja underground calaos (cellars). These

wines are of the best years.

RIOJA, the Richest Winegrowing Region of Spain

Rioja, after the area with the small River Oja, is the richest wine-growing region of Spain for table wines. According to its wines the area is divided into three parts: Rioja Baja (the Lower Rioja) which produces heavy fruity wines with a high alcohol content; Rioja Alta (the Upper Rioja) which is the area of the great aged and mature quality wines, with a moderate alcohol content. They are very fragrant, of different shades of red and have a balanced, unmistakable flavor. These wines lend themselves to being aged in oak vats. Young white wines are also produced. Rioja Alavesa produces red wines which are usually drunk young and have a pleasant trace of acidity.
The wines of this Dominación are famous and develop their best as mature quality wines. The following varieties can be distinguished according to their age:

CASTILE
Denominaciones de Origin are Rueda, Ribera del Duero and Toro. They produce reds and light reds with between 13 and 17% alcohol. Some of them are universally famous: those produced between Valbuena, Quintanilia de Arriba and Quintanilia de 0nésimo. They mature exceptionally, well for which Bordeaux barrels and underground wine cellars are used. These wines have a limited production and sell at very high prices. Around Rueda very pale and transparent whites of excellent quality and 11.5-14% are produced. Dry, sherry-type wines are also made there.
GALICIA
Its Denominación de Origin includes Rias Baixas, Ribeiro and Valdeorras. They are light, agreeably acid white and red wines with low alcohol content, excellent companions of the typical Galician cuisine.
NAVARRE
Denominación de Origen: Navarra. The area basically produces red wines, which at times reach 14.5% alcohol and are perfectly in tune with the heavy cuisine of the region.
ARAGON
Denominaciones de Origin exists for Campo de Borja, Cariñena and Somontano. In this area, the wines are very red with high alcohol content. Their aroma is very concentrated and their taste is powerful, ideal for very spicy meat and heavy dishes
CATALONIA
Here the regions with a Denominación de Origin are Ampurdán-Costa Brava, Alella, Costers del Segre, Penedés, Priorato, Tarragona and Terra Alta. There are magnificent reds, whites and light reds in the area, all of which have a long tradition. The most sought after are the Penedés and Priorato wines. The former are famous because of their whites and have an alcohol content of between 10 and 13%. The Priorato wines are probably the ones receiving most skilled attention in the entire country, especially the dark reds which have a velvety flavor and complex aroma. They are fairly heavy and have high alcohol content. In Tarragona, the most typical ones are white wines, which are appropriate for fish and as aperitifs. The cavas or sparkling wines from Saint Sadurní d'Anoia (Barcelona) have developed great quality and are widely found inside and outside Spain.
LA MANCHA
Denominaciones de Origin includes Mancha, Méntrida, Vaidepeñas and Almansa. This is the great Spanish wine reservoir, which includes the Provinces of Toledo, Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Albacete. In general the wines are very widely drunk and are of good quality: mild, dry, with almost no acidity. The most commonly known are the ones from Valdepeñas, i.e., light reds and whites. All of them tend to be drunk young, not more than one or a maximum of two years old, while the alcohol content lies between 11 and 13%.
ANDALUSIA
Has the following Denominaciones de Origin: Jerez-Xèrés-Sherry, Manzanilia-Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Málaga, Montilla-Moriles and Condado de Huelva. Its wines are the most characteristic of the country and internationally the most famous. They are produced by a unique method, which has something of a miracle about it, since it is not a wine from one particular harvest, as is the rule, but the result of different mixtures made over the years.

frothy sherbet, made with light sugar syrup, mixed with champagne or dessert wine, while freezing mixed with uncooked meringue

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liquid in which meat, fish poultry or vegetables have been cooked with seasonings

to extract their flavor, strained and used as base for soups or sauces

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The Swiss wine region has nearly 15 000 hectares of vineyards, and the wines are mainly produced in the west and in the south of Switzerland.

Look for more information under the corresponding letter of the region.

West Switzerland comprises the cantons of Geneva, Vaud,

Neuchâtel, Fribourg, Bern and Jura.

The Valais is the valley of the Rhone river. Protected by the Alps it borders West Switzerland in the North, Italy and France in the South. With an average of 2,100 hours of sunshine per year it reaches the maximum in Switzerland

East Switzerland (or the German part of Switzerland) with 2,300 ha of land is smaller than that of the Valais, although it comprises no less than 17 cantons from Basel to the Grisons.

The Ticino as the southern canton of Switzerland with its local national language Italian, bordering to Italy on three sides

Shiraz or syrah are two names for the same variety. Europe vine growers and winemakers only use the name syrah.

Districts: syrah excels in France's Rhône Valley, California and Australia.

Typical taste in varietal wine: aromas and flavours of wild black-fruit (such as blackcurrant), with overtones of black pepper spice and roasting meat. The abundance of fruit sensations is often complemented by warm alcohol and gripping tannins.

Toffee notes if present come not from the fruit but from the wine having rested in oak barrels.

The shiraz variety gives hearty, spicy reds. While shiraz is used to produce many average wines it can produce some of the world's finest, deepest, and darkest reds with intense flavours and excellent longevity.