We spent 2 weeks in Dakar/ Senegal to visit our daughter and her family. The visit was scheduled to coincide with the end of the 2019 Dakar Paris New Edition Rally (Interncontinental 2019), in which our son-in-law Chris Tremann participated. We wanted to be there when he arrived in Dakar after 2 weeks on the road through Africa. He and his partner finished the rally successfully (6th place), but unfortunately, the rally was overshadowed by a serious accident during the last day of the rally in Dakar.
During our visit of Dakar, Annette and I organized a tasting of premium German wines at Africa Gourmet in the Ngor District in Dakar. Africa Gourmet specializes in French wine, ranging from an entry-level Guigal Rhône Valley wine for less than Euro 10 to an aged Château Mouton Rothschild Magnum at more than Euro 1000 per bottle. Senegal being an islamic country, the clients of Africa Gourmet are essentially expatriates.
We were honored by the presence of the German Ambassador, Stephan Röken.
Last time I visited my daughter and her family, I released three postings on schiller-wine, following the visit:
Wining, Dining and Chilling in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa
Schiller's Favorite Restaurants in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa
Schiller's Favorite Wine Bars in Dakar, Senegal, West Africa
Dakar, Senegal, West Africa
Kate Thomas: With its hot sandy streets, whitewashed mosques and bright flashes of color, Dakar beats to a different drum than other West African capitals. Spread out over a rocky peninsula, the year-round breeze carries the complex sound of mbalax music and the smell of piping hot thieboudjenne, the national dish. As sunset falls, thousands of Dakarois head to the beaches for open-air workout sessions, while in the bustling Medina area, women fry fish and plantains by the roadside. Fishermen haul in their catch in the shadow of sleek shopping malls, while men dressed in silky boubous stop for prayers and hawkers sell peanuts and wood carvings on every corner. Dakar is a city of contrasts, of gentle breezes and loud chatter, of colonial architecture and construction sites.
Wine Stores in Dakar
You can buy wine everywhere in Dakar, ranging from small shops to supermarkets. The best wine store in Dakar is Africa-Gourmet in Ngor.
Africa Gourmet specializes in French wine, ranging from an entry-level Guigal Rhône Valley wine for less than Euro 10 to an aged Château Mouton Rothschild Magnum at more than Euro 1000 per bottle. Senegal being an islamic country, the clients of Africa Gourmet are essentially expatriates.
The Cuisine of Senegal, West Africa
The cuisine of Senegal is a West African cuisine influenced by North African, French, and Portuguese cuisine and derives from the nation's many ethnic groups, the largest being the Wolof. Islam, which first penetrated the region in the 11th century, also plays a role in the cuisine. Senegal was a colony of France until 1960. Because Senegal borders the Atlantic Ocean, fish is very important in Senegalese cooking. Chicken, lamb, peas, eggs, and beef are also used, but pork is not due to the nation’s largely Muslim population. Peanuts, the primary crop of Senegal, as well as couscous, white rice, sweet potatoes, lentils, black-eyed peas and various vegetables, are also incorporated into many recipes. Meats and vegetables are typically stewed or marinated in herbs and spices, and then poured over rice or couscous, or eaten with bread.
5 German Premium Wines
We poured 5 German premium wines, one red wine and 4 dry white wines.
We carried all the wines in our luggage to Senegal. The selection was determined by several factors:
Availability of wines in our cellar in Frankfurt.
We were looking for a good balance in terms of wine regions and grape varieties (we even poured a wine from the Saale Unstrut region in Saxony).
We wanted to showcase the new terroir-driven classification of Germany's wines. Thus we needed a Gutswein, an Ortswein and two Lagenweine (Premier cru and grand cru).
We only choose producers that we knew personally well and had visited on an ombiasy wine tour. Annette Schiller organizes winetours to Germany and France: Germany-North, Germany-South and Alsace, Germany-East, Bordeaux, Rhône Valley, Bourgogne including Champagne.
See:
Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017 UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: February 1, 2019)
The Wines
We poured 5 German premium wines.
2014 Weingut Jülg, Spätburgunder, Réserve, Pfalz (Gutswein)
2017 Weingut Siener, Riesling, Buntsandstein, Trocken, Pfalz (Gutswein)
2016 Weingut Born, Hohnstedt, Weissburgunder, Löss, Trocken, Saale-Unstrut (Ortswein)
2015 Weingut Franz Keller, Chardonnay, Oberbergener Bassgeige, Trocken, Baden (Premier Cru Einzellage)
2016 Schloss Vollrads, Riesling, Schlossberg, Grosses Gewächs GG, Trocken (Grand Cru Einzellage)
Next Event with Annette Schiller: Château Kirwan and Château Beychevelle in Washington DC/ USA
Annette's next event will be a winemaker dinner at the French Embassy in Washington DC - Château Kirwan with Owner Sophie Schÿler and Château Beychevelle with Managing Director Philip Blanc.
Château Kirwan is a 3ième Grand Cru Classé en 1855, Appellation Margaux, and Château Beychevelle, is a 4ième Grand Cru Classé en 1855, Appellation Saint-Julien.
See: Invitation: A Special Bordeaux Winemaker Dinner at Le Café Descartes/ French Embassy in Washington DC - Château Kirwan with Owner Sophie Schÿler and Château Beychevelle with Managing Director Philip Blanc, France/ USA
Africa Gourmet was carrying a 2012 Château Kirwan and Annette and Martine said hello to Sophie from Dakar, with the 2012 Château Kirwan.
schiller-wine: Related Postings
Ombiasy Wine Tours 2018: 3 x France and 3 x Germany - Ombiasy Newsletter December 2017
UPCOMING Tours/ Wine Dinners/ Tastings - Annette and Christian Schiller/ ombiasyPR & WineTours/ schiller-wine, Germany, France, USA (Issued: February 1, 2019)
Total Immersion in Bordeaux: World Class Wines and Exquisite French Gourmet Cuisine - Bordeaux Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours, France
Tour and Tasting at Château Beychevelle, Appellation Saint-Julien, 4ième Grand Cru Classé, with General Manager Philippe Blanc - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2017, France
Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Château Kirwan, Appellation Margaux, 3ième Grand Cru Classé, with Owner Natalie Schyler - Bordeaux Tour by ombiasy WineTours 2016, France
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