The Rhine, Rick and Riesling

It is Wednesday, we have been overnight in Cochem (spoken with lots of throatiness) for two nights. Leaving the busy Rhine to enjoy the Mosel and the New Wine Season. We are staying at a winery which is very handy to the train station, thus we hear the trains throughout the night. Grape vines, loaded with ripe grapes, crawl up the hillside behind our room and the smell of juice is strong when the wind is right.

New wine is a new taste for us. Note the cloudy purple and yellow glasses. The grapes are crushed, put in a bottle and allowed to ferment for a day or two. I've been told not to try this at home, they explode under pressure.

The juice is light on alcohol, but heavy on grape, with a nice pre-wine flavor. It is traditionally served during late September and early October with onion cake. So we have been enjoying the tastes of the season with Caroline. It is called zwiebelkuchen and Deutsche federweisser, hence why we need Caroline along to order it.

In addition to the New Wines, we have had spectacular Rieslings. Everywhere we go, we sit down to crisp, fragrant, fruity Riesling. Our favorites tend to be the semi-dry. But I haven't met a Riesling I haven't liked yet.

Aren't they beautiful?

And my final note. Thanks to our friends, family and Rick Steves, we are having a wonderful chance to sip our way through the wine country.

Love you all,

Carol