Swedish Christmas table

The Christmas spirit is here and to sample the Swedish Christmas table with all the traditional delicatessen is a must for everybody here but the challenge is to find the right place to visit for this extravaganza.

Last year we tried the Rusthållargården http://www.rusthallargarden.se in the small fishing village of Arild and were amazed by the presentation and the quality of the food so we decided to do this all over again but this time stay over in the beautiful settings.

The food was as I expected of great quality, not to much but precise selection of all the must have on the Christmas table, I am very picky on some things like the herring must be perfect, the salmon cured as it should be and the pate just perfect.

To have salmon in different way is a big tradition here like the meatballs (köttbullar) and people are suckers for it, but I prefer the more complex flavours of smoked ribs, green cabbage cooked in cream, Jansons frästelse (shredded potaoes baked with anchovies and cream) and the pickled vegetables.

This kind of heavy food you need to drink a lot of snaps ( I prefer OP Andersson or Herrgård and sometimes both)& beer to.

I would also like to mention the dessert and the sweet table with candy’s, cheeses and cakes, a paradise for all with sweet tooth I Just love Christmas J

Thank you Claes with staff for a great experience.

 

 

German vintage 2012

Vintage 2012 – Ripe and Healthy Grapes Guarantee High Quality

 

The bottom line: crop quality and harvest conditions in Germany was influenced not only by months of capricious weather but also by consistent, quality-oriented work in the vineyards

that resulted 2012 to be one of the top vintages with broad selection of first class wines.

FRANKEN

Thanks to a predominantly healthy crop, growers are optimistic about the potential quality of the new vintage.

The weather was good as preliminary harvesting began and Riesling grapes were in top form and nearly all were of Prädikat-level quality.
Growers anticipate powerful, yet fruity, wines that are brilliant and elegant.

RHEINHESSEN

The crop was healthy and ripe ready to be harvested by early October, followed by completely ripened and aromatic Riesling grapes at the end of the month. Quality was above average.

Good, solid everyday wines as well as first-class wines from individual sites are expected.

NAHE

Unfortunately, some estates report quantities well below the average of recent years, especially with regard to the Pinots Grau- and Weissburgunder.

Harvesting in the small region began in mid-October. The crop – particularly Riesling, the region’s leading variety – was ripe and aromatic. Optimal acidity levels promise firm wines.

BADEN

Germany’s third-largest growing region reports low yields in 2012, In general, the crop was healthy and must weights were decent.

All grape varieties reflect a very homogenous vintage. Despite their youth they are powerful wines with an excellent balance of fruit and body.

MOSEL, SAAR & RUWER

Along the Mosel, the harvest began in mid-October and the Vintage 2012 is marked by clean fruit aromas; high must weights; racy, refreshing acidity; and a mineral-based expressiveness.

The grapes along the Saar and Ruwer reached optimal ripeness and were highly concentrated. The 2012 wines are expected to be firm and exceptionally aromatic.

PFALZ

Growers in the Pfalz were able to harvest thoroughly healthy grapes with decent must weights. Varying levels of ripeness made it necessary to harvest selectively, in several stages.

The young wines – Pinots and Riesling alike – show a high level of quality and finesse.

RHEINGAU

September enabled healthy grapes to develop and achieve high levels of ripeness. Cooler nighttime temperatures helped preserve acidity and Riesling had reached optimal ripeness.

Extremely intense flavors and harmonious acidity were the hallmarks of the crop.
Depending on location, yields varied considerably among sites.

 

 

 

Washington state wines

Last night I was invited to the residence and beautiful house of the American ambassador in Denmark Madam Laurie Fulton for the Washington state wine tasting for specially invited guests.

I was there to learn more about the wines from Washington that I do not have enough knowledge about the stats wines, and I was truly amazed of the quality shown here and this was the best of the night.

Columbia Crest is a stabile producer as always and the H3 cab & chardonnay is good and the reserve cab in impeccable.

Kiona vineyards showed some great late harvest Riesling & gewürztraminer and wine spectator have put two of Kiona wines on its “100 best” list, not bad at all.

Charles Smith is very well known here in Sweden for the funny names as Kung Fu girl & Velvet Devil.

Located in the blue mountains in the Walla Walla where he makes his signature wines that are easy approachable.

The Long Shadow Vintners Feather cab, Pedestal merlot and the Sequel syrah was one of the true eye-opener of what this state can deliver and the winemakers are not bad either, what do you say about Randy Dunn, John Duval, Michel Rolland and Philippe Melka.

The house of Independent producers makes great wines especially the Descendants Liegeois Dupont syrah and the La Bourgeoise merlot both made by Pete Hedges of the Hedges family estate.

To make some kind of conclusion of this night I must say that I am surprised of the quality and depth that all wines are showing tonight and I hope that I can someday travel there for more on site experience.

 

Jaboulet visit

 

To visit great producers are always nice and one of the great things in life when you travel in wine country’s.

To visit the Rhone valley without visiting the Casa Jaboulet and the talented winemaker Caroline Frey it a true treat, but when you arrive to the tasting room and meet the unfriendly attendants you make it easy for the, I just walked out and I will not return.

All of the wines are great vallue for money and you can find them at bolaget in Sweden.

Caroline Fray you make great wine but you have to train your staff.

 

 

 

 

 

Dolina vino från Serbien med egen identitet

Att prova vin som är rena fat prover kan ibland vara svårt då dessa viner oftast är knutna och visar långt ifrån sin bästa sida.

Jag fick ett fat prov direkt tappat på flaska så att jag skulle kunna testa den senaste årgången 2010 som ligger kvar i Dolinas källare.

Dolina Barrique som produceras av Bacina vino i Varvarin Serbien har jag skrivit om tidigare och alltid tyckt att vinet visar en trevlig familjär tillgänglighet utan en massa krångel.

2010 är ett väldigt öppet mörkt rubinrött vin med strålande doft av mogen röd frukt med inslag av rökig stekt bacon och örter.

Smaken är torr och medelfyllig med tydlig omognad och vissa gröna stjälk toner, mörka körsbär samsas med mogna plommon och fint balanserad fat ton, balanserade mjuka tanniner och frisk syra gör vinet drickbart redan idag.

Eftersmaken är medellång och har en mjuk fruktighet som ligger kvar.

Jag tycker att Alec, Anders och dom andra gör ett bra vin redan nu efter endast några få årgångar och vinerna blir allt bättre men en hårdare gallring redan i vingården skulle öka kvaliteten väsentligt samt att man av stjälkar alla druvor före press.

Gott med Serbiska viner som finns att beställa på bolaget, detta är vi inte bortskämda med.

Ziveli drugovi.

Some pictures from the last blogger

 

 

 Me And Patrik having a food and wine pairing session

Hemma Gastronomi i Luleå

Luleå, the small town far up north of Sweden have some great nature just around the corner, people hunt, fish and enjoy the magic sceneries every day of the year, Sweden at its best.

The thing that moved me personally was the small delicatessen shop and food studio HEMMA GASTRONOMI owned by Simon Laiti and his wife Emma, these guys are doing something that is not possible any where else on the same level, there are just one word for this, Fantastic and all of you who want to know what Swedish cuisine and food is all about have to do a visit.

Thanks to Simon with staff for some great days.

 

Hope to see you soon again