Expert Food and Wine Pairings: Detailed Tasting Notes

Curated Food and Wine Pairings Menu

1. Shrimp, Cucumber, Lime & Vadouvan

Wine: 2022 Moschofilero »Mantinia« – Bosinakis Winery, Peloponnese

Grape

Moschofilero (pink-skinned Greek variety).

Vinification

Stainless steel, crisp and aromatic.

Soil

Alluvial and limestone at high altitude.

Story

Exotic aromatics — rose, citrus blossom, ginger — lifted by high-altitude freshness. The spice of Vadouvan finds a perfect echo in Moschofilero’s floral-spicy terpenes.

2. Pumpkin, Hummus, Chimichurri & Almond

Wine: 2023 »Cuvée Weiß« – Hofgut Dahlem, Rheinhessen

Grapes

Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Blanc.

Vinification

Stainless steel.

Soil

Loess and limestone.

Story

Juicy, light, and playful. Riesling adds zip, Pinot Blanc body, and Müller-Thurgau softness. Works like a “bridge wine,” tying the earthy pumpkin to fresh chimichurri.

3. Egg Yolk, Mushrooms, Spinach & Potato

Wine: 2007 »Berg Rottland« Riesling Kabinett trocken – Johannishof, Rheingau

Grape

Riesling (single vineyard, old vines).

Vinification

Stainless steel, aged in bottle.

Soil

Slate with quartzite.

Story

A rare mature dry Riesling — honey, petrol, dried citrus peel — balanced by vivid acidity. The umami from mushrooms and egg yolk mirrors Riesling’s savory, aged complexity.

4. Goat Cheese Ravioli, Tomato & Gremolata

Wine: 2020 »Viviser« Gutedel – Ziereisen, Baden

Grape

Gutedel (Chasselas).

Vinification

Spontaneous ferment, neutral oak aging.

Soil

Limestone.

Story

Minimalist, Burgundian-style Chasselas. Almond skin, hay, and delicate fruit — a subtle backdrop that frames goat cheese’s tang and tomato’s acidity.

5. Catch of the Day, Octopus & Thai Bisque

Wine: »Fait accompli« – Georg Breuer, Rheingau

Grape

Riesling, oxidative style.

Vinification

Long aging in large old oak, oxidative handling.

Soil

Slate-rich vineyards in Rüdesheim.

Story

This is Riesling reimagined — nutty, saline, almost sherry-like tones. It deepens the umami of the bisque and enhances the oceanic flavors of fish and octopus.

6. Artichoke, Pepper, Edamame & Olive

Wine: 2023 »Les Contours de Mairlant« – François Villard, Rhône

Grapes

Marsanne & Roussanne.

Vinification

10–12 months in used oak.

Soil

Granite.

Story

Creamy texture, quince and acacia notes, balanced by granite-driven tension. Handles artichoke’s bitterness with its honeyed roundness and minerality.

7. Eggplant, Beans, Apple & Horseradish

Wine: 2021 Pinot Gris »Reserve« – Heitlinger, Baden

Grape

Pinot Gris.

Vinification

Stainless steel + used oak.

Soil

Limestone and loess.

Story

Broad, nutty, and smoky with pear and hazelnut notes. Its savory depth stands up to horseradish’s bite and eggplant’s earthiness.

9. Stilton, Radicchio, Fig & Walnut

Wine: »Maderista« Medium Dry Reserva – The Madeira Collection, Madeira

Grape

Verdelho-based blend.

Vinification

Canteiro aging, oxidative maturation.

Soil

Volcanic, terraced vineyards.

Story

Caramel, roasted nuts, dried fruit. The salty-sweet Madeira cuts Stilton’s fat and enhances fig and walnut’s richness.