Riesling Sushi Dinner

Last night, we had the pleasure of hosting a Germany meets Japan Riesling Sushi Dinner with Juliane Schmitt. Juliane is the CEO for Schmitt Söhne, a family-owned winery in Germany. Schmitt Sohne has been producing Riesling for over 200 years. Juliane is also a passionate advocate for pairing wine with food.

We started with the crisp and refreshing Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier Scharzhofberger Riesling Sekt Brut.  Our Chefs paired this with Lemon Salmon (Salmon Sashimi with Wasabi Microgreens, Lemon Zest and Wasabi Aioli).  Guests were delighted to experience a Brut Riesling and the citrus flavors of the Lemon Salmon really popped.  

Guests then moved into the world of more traditional Rieslings with the following selections:

• Schloss Vollrads ‘Volratz’ Dry Riesling
• Friedrich Wilhelm Gymnasium ‘Fritz Willi’
• Schloss Vollrads Kabinett
• Schmitt Sohne Auslese 
• Schmitt Sohne Beerenauslese 

Juliane enlightened the crowd with stories about her family estate, their many brands in Germany, styles of Riesling and the winemaking techniques used. She explained that Riesling is a versatile wine that can be enjoyed with a variety of foods. The acidity of the wine helps to cut through the richness of the sushi, while the sweetness of the wine complements the flavors of the fish.  She was able to explain the nuances of each wine and how it complemented the sushi. 

The Riesling Sushi Dinner was a truly magical experience. The omakase was delicious, the wine was superb, and the company was delightful. Guests learned a lot about wine and food pairings from Juliane, and excitedly left with various bottles to try some of her recommendations at home.