Bernadette Fideli
Ein Prosit! (A toast) to Germany. Germany has been producing wine since 250 BC and is the eighth largest producer of wine in the world. To celebrate her German heritage, Kathy Ferguson Perry treated the wine stewards to an early Oktoberfest dinner that showcased a variety of German wines alongside home-cooked family recipes. A trip to Munster, TX resulted in the makings of a showcase appetizer platter. Smoked pepper jack, olive cheddar, salami cheese, muenster, bratwurst, beef sausage, and summer sausage were accompanied by two different Rieslings. Dr. Heidemanns Riesling Dry is from the Mosel-Saar region. Known as a ‘Trocken” style wine—the German word for “dry”—this Riesling has crisp citrus and mineral notes. Anne de K Riesling is an easy drinker, fresh and fruity. It is produced in the Kayserberg Valley. The main course featured sliced pork loin, German potato salad, red cabbage, and apple sauce.
Accompanying this amazing family recipe meal were two surprise tastings. Dr. Heidemanns Pinot Noir is a fruit-forward wine that displays delicious flavors of cherries and red berries. It is a fragrant and balanced wine with a soft, fruity finish. A surprise second tasting was Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier beer. It has a 99 rating from BeerAdvocate. It is their No. 18 top beer on planet earth! It is a wheat beer that is fruity, medium-bodied, with banana and clove notes. A fabulous triple-layer black forest cake was the crowning glory to this marvelous tasting. Dr. Heidemanns Dornfelder wine did justice to this showcase dessert. It is from the Platz region of Germany and is a fruity red wine with a hint of sweetness and intense fruit flavors of blackberry and cherry. Each wine steward departed this delightful evening with a unique gift—a small bottle of Jägermeister. This is an herbal liqueur made with 56 different herbs, fruits, roots, and spices. It is sweet with dense licorice flavors and meant to be sipped chilled. It was definitely an evening to remember—history, geography, and genealogy all learned over a glass of wine.