Where people know how to celebrate

There are plenty of opportunities to celebrate in the Nahe valley. The mild climate, the pleasant landscape and especially the wine, provide the best conditions for "Kerben" (church fairs) which alternate with the local vintage wine festivals. The local food is robust. The upper Nahe area is the home of spit roasts over an open fire as well as the grilled pork known as "Schaukelbraten". In "Sowerum" (Bad Sobernheim), there is a rather unusual dish, perhaps not to everyone's taste, the so-called "Krumbeeresupp un Quetschekuche" (potato soup with fresh plum cake).

A special festival celebrated in autumn is the suckling pig meal. During the time of "Federweisser" (fermenting new wine), from the beginning of October until the end of November, many young pigs (maximum weight 20 kg.) end up in ovens throughout the region. After being stuffed, they are basted in butter, and then slowly baked, making a good accompaniment for the sweet Federweisser.

 

Hunsrück Mushroom Dish

Ingredients: 30g butter, 150g button mushrooms, 80g shallots, 400g fine mixed forest mushrooms (chanterelles, edible boletus), 100ml port, 1/4 l of crème fraîche, 1 garlic clove, 1 thyme sprig, 20g chives, 10g parsley, 10g chervil, and freshly ground salt and pepper.

Preparation: Dice the shallots and sauté in butter until transparent. Cut the Button mushrooms in quarters and add to the shallots. Sauté briefly. Cut each forest mushroom in half, add to the pan and pour in the port. Season with salt, pepper and the crushed garlic clove. Allow it to simmer at low heat for 15 minutes. Chop the herbs. Stir the crème fraîche in. Garnish with the herbs and serve.

Recipe from: BALANCE KOST, das Rezeptbuch der gesunden Vollwertküche. Bad Sobernheim 1997

 

Along with a Glass of Wine

The steep slopes of the Nahe region benefit from special ground, intense sun light and dryness. All these factors contribute to the fruity acidity of the Riesling. Since wines vary from "strong to weighty" near the lower Nahe to "fairly light" near the upper Nahe you will always find one or more suitable wines irrespective of the occasion, whether for a formal feast or a more casual event.