This past week, I’ve been immersed in an article about the drinks scene in Amsterdam. An assignment that came my way last Friday and I gladly took on. I live just 20 minutes from the city center and have written about this subject before, though not as in-depth. This past week has been packed with interviews, scheduling new ones and lots of research. I’m still keen to speak with anyone who’s familiar with the city’s drinks scene, so if that’s you or someone you know, give me a shout.
Some of the people I’ve spoken to include a 22-year-old young woman who was recently voted the country’s best bartender (impressive!), and the brainchild behind four of Amsterdam’s hottest craft beer bars (this man knows his beer!). I hope to have a chat with a few wine bar owners soon, which will be interesting, because as most of you know, wine is really my thing. One of the highlights of my weekends is deciding which fine bottle we’ll pair with dinner. My husband is making a vegan choucroute tonight, so I know there will be an Alsatian Riesling to look forward to, for example.
While reading up on the subject of drinks in Amsterdam, I noticed that many high-end establishments in the city are adding Dutch wine to their offerings, and that’s a very good thing because it’s about time the world finds out that there’s so much more to the country than beer (as good as it may be; I’m not really a beer drinker). I admit, my first sip of Dutch wine a decade or so ago wasn’t especially memorable (not bad, just not as ‘enchanting’ as I expect my wine to be), but man was I deliciously surprised when I tried the Cuvée St. Martinus ‘Gerardus Rood 2018’ from Wijndomein St. Martinus (the country’s first red wine producers, with a history that goes back to 1986). We discovered this gem while having a beautiful lunch at De Gerardushoeve, overlooking the hills of Epen. The wine was made exclusively for the restaurant, but after showering staff with compliments, we managed to score two bottles to take home.
This wine had nothing to envy some of the finest Bordeaux wines that have crossed my lips. And to think that it was made in a country hardly known for wine!
Well, it’s about time we remedy that! There are plenty of reasons to raise a glass and say ‘proost!’
Wine lovers these days have more choices than ever. While many still associate excellent wines with Old World countries such as France and Italy, the Netherlands is also making exceptional wines – in all colors and styles – that are tickling the taste buds of connoisseurs. Here’s a taste of the country’s fascinating viticultural landscape.