Edgewater 122 is a restaurant nestled on the basin in downtown Southport, North Carolina, where several other restaurants are located. On a brisk and cold fall evening this past Tuesday, November 11th they had a German Wine Dinner that my wife Brenda and I attended.
And what a dinner it was. Six different courses of well prepared and innovative German food that was matched with some exceptional German wine. The event will be hosted by Michael Doerfler from Winesellers German Imports.
THE FIRST COURSE
Pretzel + Obatzda (Soft Pretzel, Camembert Cheese + Chives)
Paired with NV Fitz-Ritter Sekt Extra Trocken Sparkling Riesling, Pfalz
This was a wonderful introduction to the meal in both the briskness of the Pfalz along with the creaminess of the Camembert cheese and chives spread. The spread on the accompanying pretzel was creamy, smooth and salty with an added sweet gerkin to provide a sweetness to the blend. It opened up your taste buds with the unique flavors of the Pfalz mixing with the spread. A delicate yet bold first course to set the tone for the dinner.
SECOND COURSE
Onion Tart + Potato Soup (Caramelized Onion Tart, Bratwurst + Potato Soup)
Paired with 2022 Dr. Heyden Silvaner Alte Reben Trocken, Rheinhessen
The next dish was a robust creamy potato soup that had chunks of bratwurst in it along with a perfect accompaniment of a caramelized onion tart in it. The tart helped to accent the creaminess of the potato soup while bringing out the stronger flavors of the bratwurst. Accenting the soup and tart flavors was a white wine, a 2022 Dr. Heyden Silvaner Alte Reben Trocken, Rheinhessen. The German Rheinhessen wine region is well known for its white wines. This wine was a strong match for the soup as it was a lighter wine with floral taste. It paired well with it.
THIRD COURSE
Beef Rouladen (Beef Tenderloin, Spicy Mustard + Potato Cake)
Paired with 2024 Karp-Schreiber Brauneberger Kabinett Riesling, Mosel
Our next course was a true delight. This course, known as Beef Rouladen, is comfort food at its best. And it was a classic dish to start off the three main courses of the dinner. A well prepared and flavorful beef tenderloin was delicately placed on a hearty potato cake. The potato cake reminded me of the splendor of potato pancakes at a traditional Polish Easter dinner. This was comfort food at its best as it was uniquely paired with one of the best Reislings that I have tasted in years, a 2024 Karp-Schreiber Brauneberger Kabinett Riesling, Mosel. This Reisling provided a great balance between the beef and the potato. Again the pairing brought out the best of the wine along with the best of this slow cooked Beef Rouladen.
FOURTH COURSE
Trout + Spaetzle (Seared Trout + Brown Butter Spaetzle)
Paired with 2023 Weingut Allendorf Spatburgunder, Rheingau
The next main dish a simple yet intricate seared brown trout placed gently over a rich brown butter spaetzle. Spaetzle is a traditional German egg noodle dish that can be served in several ways. The trout was cooked to perfection with the spaetzle providing a full bodied and full flavored addition to the dish. But the best was yet to come as the 2023 Weingut Allendorf Spatburgunder, Rheingau wine it was paired achieved its goal. The Spatnurgunder grape is used in this German red wine, which may also be viewed a Pinot Noir wine. I have never seen a clearer and lighter red wine. It was an amazing pairing, the wine was light and crisp. Again this was one of the nicest red wines I have had in a long time. And again an ideal pairing of food and wine.
FIFTH COURSE
Bavarian Wild Boar Pie (Wild Boar, Flaky Pastry + Wine Sauerkraut)
Paired with 2022 Dr. Heyden Oppenheimer Pinot Noir, Rheinhessen
And yet there was more as the third main course came out. Not be outdone was a Bavarian Wild Boar Pie. Wild Boar topped over a delicious pastry shell placed over a bed of wine sauerkraut. The sourness of the sauerkraut was a great match with meatiness of the Wild Boar. Add to that crispness of the pastry shell and it was a mrvelous match of foods. The wine that was paired with this a 2022 Dr. Heyden Oppenheimer Pinot Noir, Rheinhessen was a robust wine to match the flavors of the food.
SIXTH COURSE
Stilton Cheesecake (Stilton Cheesecake, Apricot + Ginger)
Paired with 2020 Heinz Eifel Eiswein Riesling Auslese, Rheinhessen
Are you full yet? Now it is time dessert. To wrap up this sensory delight of tastes, flavors and palate pleasing pleasure was a Stilton Cheesecake topped with apricot and ginger pieces. The smoothness of the cheesecake coupled with the sweetness of the apricot and ginger pieces was a fitting end to this dinner. The wine wrap up was an excellent Ice Wine, a 2020 Heinz Eifel Eiswein Riesling Auslese, Rheinhessen.
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