Award Winning Dutch Wines
When you think of the Netherlands, many things spring to mind - windmills, poppies and canals to name but a few.
These will surely be on every tourists bucket list when they visit the country, but if you are the type that likes to dig a little deeper into the culture of countries that you visit, then enrolling on a food tour may provide you with that special insight that will help you develop a deeper appreciation.
Amsterdam boasts some fine eateries, and is a melting pot for different foods and cultures to thrive. And what goes well with a fine meal? The answer is emphatically fine wine - and you might just be surprised by what the Netherlands have to offer.
If you are asked about what alcohol springs to mind when you think of the Netherlands then more than likely the very popular exports of Heineken or Amstel may be your first thoughts. They’re popular for a reason, they’re great beers, but they perhaps cast a shadow over some other fine beers and lagers, readily available, but not
having benefited from strong marketing campaigns to grab your attention. It
is advisable to seek them out as there is no better time to sample them than
when you visit the country.
This brings me on to the hidden gem of the nation - Dutch wine.
Overshadowed by French, Italian and Spanish exports, Dutch wine can
provide a delicious alternative to those more famous exporters of wine -
particularly if you like white wine, as it accounts for around two-thirds of the Dutch wine industry.
Dutch wines are beginning to dramatically increase in popularity, both domestically and internationally. What was once a rarity, and only seen in the southern regions of the Netherlands, is now becoming much more commonplace as vineyards are beginning to sprout up all over, and there are now more than 170 nationwide.
That might sound like a lot, but compared to its contemporaries, that is still small fry - the Dutch wine industry produces around 1 million bottles per annum, which only equates to 1 bottle per 17 people.
The focus is very much on quality rather than quantity, so you would be wise to seek out some authentic Dutch wine and see for yourself why it is gaining critical acclaim.
