Copenhagen Wine Forum

Saturday we went to Copenhagen Wine Forum. T was in a foul mood due to poor golfing and adverse football results. (This might happen quite a few times the next 8 months (K adds; and to be repeated every season....). We got there 2 hours before closing and took stock of the show. It was divided into two sections: Danish Wine producers and more or less Danish wine importers. K has on occasion tasted Danish wine, whereas T has not done so yet. (Yes, T knows it is embarrassing). So, we headed into the Danish wine producers section.
The Danish climate is not suited for wine production. It might become so in a couple of years when Global Warming has affected our climate, but for now, it is not. Even so, it is all the more fascinating to meet the Danish wine producers who, like their more southern colleagues, are just as enthusiastic about their wine albeit most are very modest. Having said that, we tasted some wines that were rather good, even if the price tag is to be compared with wines of another league. The wines we tasted cost between 100 DKK and 500 DKK.

First off we came to Ørnberg whose dessert wine won a gold medal and who K had had an opportunity to taste before. The white wines are made on Ortega, Phoenix, Siegerrebe, Zalas Perle and Solaris. The dessert wine, Mynster, was quite nice. Not too sweet and with fresh fruits 7,5/10

We also tasted the dry Jørgen and the sparkeling Perle. Both very nice and drinkable :)













On we went down the Danish aisle to the next stop; Degnemosegaard.
Especially their light red Vinbondens lette røde cuvée was very pleasant. 6,5/10


















Last of the Danish wine producers we visited was Kelleris that is situated in North Zealand. It appeared to us to be quite ambitious and we had a long talk with the producer who gave quite a few insights on the various barriques. His wine, Utopia, comes in various versions with the barrique fermentation being the main diversifying factor. The 2008 on show was promising (6-6,5/10). The Utopia Rex 2006 was also the most expensive wine we tasted at almost 500DKK (6/10). All wines were made on the Rondo grape.











It had been very interesting and fascinating to talk to Danish wine producers and taste their wines. In conclusion we decided that we have to compose some dishes in the future to which we serve Danish wine.

On we went to the importers' section. This was actually not very interesting. Maybe it was because of the late hour, but we found many of the exhibition staff to be more interested in (single) female audience. Quite a few of them were probably friends of the importer and presented the wines with rehearsed comments such as "this goes along well with Sushi". Time was running out when we came to the stand of L'Esprit du Vin. Here we tasted a nice Slovakian Riesling from Egon Müller (7,5/10) and a corked Schartdorf (T thinks it was called), but which was nevertheless the last few drops from the bottle, so we think others might have found it OK! While tasting a glass of Riesling Spätlese it came to our attention that a Burgundy tasting was underway next to the stand. T asked if we could participate despite not having requested this before. (This we could have done, if T had not been in such a foul mood)

We got the last 30 minutes ... but what 30 minutes. It was almost spiritual! We got to taste 4 wines:
Domaine des Varoilles: Gevrey-Chambertin "La Romanée 1er cru" 2005. 8,5/10
Domaine des Varoilles: Clos de Beze  2005 8/10
Gevrey-Chambertin 1982 Leroy 9,3/10.
(Tasted of tobacco, rope, light red fruit, cowshed....)
Mersault Perriere 1988 Leroy 9,5/10













Jørgen Krüff who presented the wine was extremely knowledgeable and reminded us of how far we have to go in order to say something truly expert-like about wine.

... and we licked up every drop. You may be able to still get an idea about the age of the Gevrey Chambertin on the right.









Jørgen Krüff continued on talking about the wine despite the closing of the show being announced over the loudspeaker, but in the end we had to leave.

It was a very tough task to follow after the burgundy tasting, but the evening ended up with a couple of steaks with green beans and red onions. The meat was a little tough but the taste was fine. We started out with olive oil, fresh goat cheese, pickled sweet chilies and cured ham. (7,5/10) and bottle of Monpra from Conterno Fantino (8/10) and it held up on its own very nicely despite the competition from the big boys