This July 25th we’ll be hosting a once in a lifetime collaboration dinner at Villa Frantzen featuring two incredible winemakers, Brad Hickey of Brash Higgins from Australia and Daniel Twardowski of Pinot Noix from Germany.
“Terroir without borders” will be completely a one-of-a-kind event, showcasing the unexpected and rule-defying wines of these gentleman set alongside Villa Frantzen’s inimitably charming tasting menus. Brad brings with him years of expertise a sommelier now turned winemaker with a focus on Sicilian varietals grown in the South of Australia along with Daniel’s obsessive perseverance in the Mosel to create some of the best Pinot Noir in the world. This wine pairing will span unique offerings from both winemakers including wines exclusive to this collaborative event.
Diners can expect an immersive evening of wine and food, as the night commences with precise bubbles from Mr. Twardowski paired with a selection of Frantzen’s signature bites of oyster with dill and vendace roe alongside Kalix roe served with brioche. Then our guests will be whisked away into the dining room for a five-course menu paired with these incredible wines with informative insight and engagement from the winemakers and head sommelier, Jochen Sandkuhl.
The entire menu and pairing for the evening can be found here:
- Welcome – Daniel Twardowski, Ultra Brut, Sekt, Mosel, Germany, NV paired w/ Oyster, dill, and vendace roe & Kalix Roe, brioche, creme fraiche, onions
- One – Daniel Twardowski, Ultra Brut, Sekt, Mosel, Germany, NV paired w/ Cured Norwegian Salmon & Beer-Poached King Crab, dill, ponzu, avocado, horseradish, sour cucumber
- Two – Brash Higgins, ZBO, Zibbibo, Riverland, Australia, 2022 paired w/ Chawanmushi, lobster, ikura, fermented fennel
- Three – Daniel Twardowski, Ardoise, Mosel, Germany, 2017 paired w/ Braised Pork Cheek & Glazed Beetroot, Jerusalem artichoke, hazelnut vinaigrette
- Four – Brash Higgins, CBSV, Cabernet Sauvignon, McLaren Vale, Australia 2020 paired w/ Wagyu Striploin & Endive, pear, truffle jus
- Five – Mizubosho, Kawaba Village, Sweet Sake, 2021 paired w/ Sea Buckthorn Sorbet, mango, peanut brittle, black tea mousse
The wines that will be featured include:
- Daniel Twardowski Ultra Tradition Brut NV, Mosel, Germany – “The grapes come from our own plots on the Dhroner Hofberg. The young wines of both vintages (15 and 16) spent 12 months in used barriques before undergoing a second fermentation together passed on the bottle. The result is bone dry and finalized without any dosage, hence the name. It’s exciting how this edition differs from the Brut Edition, even if it’s just 2 grams more dosage . Citrus, yellow plum, apple, spicy, with gripping acidity and fine perlage . It’s one of those wines that sticks in your memory for a long time.” – Daniel Twardowski
- Daniel Twardowski Pinot Noix Ardoise 2017 3L Jeroboam, Mosel, Germany – “This Pinot Noir comes from our own plantations in the historical Grand Cru location Dhroner Hofberg, located in a cool side valley of the Moselle. “Ardoise” is our flagship, which we have been producing from our own plantations since 2011. The natural environment is reflected in the wine as an aromatic essence: smoky slate, coniferous wood, wild cherry, cool winds, supported by taut elegance.” – Daniel Twardowski
- Daniel Twardowski Hofberg Reserve 2018 3L Jeroboam, Mosel, Germany – “Smokey and earthy nose with lemon zest and paprika notes. Incredible interplay of dark minerality, concentrated fine tannins and delicate red-fruit character. Great brilliance at the very long finish. Almost supernatural vitality and fantastic aging potential”- James Suckling
- Brash Higgins CBSV 2020, McLaren Vale, Australia – “Winemaker Brad Hickey likes cabernet. “It’s nice to have a Cabernet”, says Hickey, “a guilty pleasure, a northern Californian style, per se, cabernet qualities, fuller flavoured, richer style. I like my Alice In Wonderland Zibbibo and frisky wines, but it’s great to have this in the mix too”.Very fragrant, plums, brined green olive, minty notes, cassis and lavender. Plush and so very supple in the palate, bright acidity perking up a lush flow of unctuous, dense, concentrated cassis, green herb and more olive character. Goes long, stains the palate gently, open weave, light web of tannins. Really delightful in its generosity and unashamed fuller flavour. Lovely.” – Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)
- Brash Higgins ZBO 2022, McLaren Vale, Australia – “It’s not sickly sweet and overly perfumed as far as Zibibbo that spent 150 days on skins goes. This is a good thing. There are, however, sweet elements in the bouquet of lemon candy and fairy floss, but overall, it comes across as a more savoury style. Lemon myrtle, lime leaf, candied citrus peel and dried herbs, especially a lovely note of spearmint. Chalky, grapefruity texture with a gentle acidic lift and white pepper crunch. A bit of a watercolour finish, nevertheless tasty and refreshing.” – Kasia Sobiesiak (The Wine Front)
The “Terroir without Borders” dinner in Villa Frantzen’s series of Wine and Dine events will take place at 18:30 on Tuesday, July 25th and costs 7,900thb per person. The evening will include five courses, seven glasses, two supplementary dish options, and a surprise serving alongside some equally rare formats of Daniel’s wines.
Please make your bookings by sending an email to reservations@villafrantzen.com or by visiting the booking calendar on the Villa Frantzen website (view here) and following instructions to sign up for the event. To get to the venue view here.
We hope to see you all for a borderless and boundless evening of wine and food!