Short Pour: Sylvaner
This was delicious paired with homemade spaetzle in the lovely home of my husband's childhood friend who is an expat in Nuremberg.
Sylvaner in Germany
Week 8, February 19-25: I wasn't in Michigan last week. I was in Nuremberg, Germany, for a work conference, an organic trade show which happens to be the world's largest. Without a doubt the wine highlight was discovering Silvaner/Sylvaner, a white grape variety grown in Germany and poured frequently in Franconia; we weren't about to miss out on it in our 6 days there. Therefore, the format departs to include a Northern Michigan perspective on some time spent elsewhere.
Madeline Puckette, better known as @WineFolly, calls Sylvaner "undervalued" and I couldn't agree more. As a lover of acidity- and minerality-forward wines like Sauvignon Blanc and dry bubbles, this was right up my alley. We paired it with everything from vegan Indian & Indonesian Food (shout out to Kloster, we will be back), to Nuremberg's local Weisswurst (pictured below) served with Sauerkraut and juniper seeds, and after dinner hotel bar networking/gossip.Â
Germany and Northern Michigan grow many of the same grapes - not just Riesling, but especially so. I am intrigued enough to want to ask around about whether Sylvaner could make an appearance in Northern Michigan.
Semur Betawi - just one of the fabulous dishes paired with Silvaner at Kloster
Photo: @Klosternurenberg
Weisswurst is at 7:00 and 1:00 on a platter for two, with juniper-sauerkraut, horseradish, potatoes, three other types of sausage, and crusty fire bread
"...delicate, earthy and fruity tones and easily digestible acid, Silvaner makes an excellent food match"
Photo & quote: Germanwines.de