Joie de Vivre with Princess Marie and The Women of Organic Princely Winery of Liechtenstein plus A Quick History of Quiche For Pi Day!

 

Organic Princely Winery of Liechtenstein plus A Quick History of Quiche For Pi Day!

“Our vineyards in Liechtenstein and Austria, steeped in tradition, imbue our wines with
individual stylistic expressions that make every occasion a celebration of joie de vivre,” says Princess Marie of Liechtenstein, a sommelier since 2014. Joie de vivre is a French term meaning “an exuberant enjoyment of life” and I am here for it! And clearly so is the Princess and the Princely Wines of Liechtenstein. In 2013, Princess Marie von Liechtenstein helped with marketing and distribution. With a desire to make wines she wants to drink and enjoy (there’s that joie de vivre again!), she’s now devoting more of her time to the grapes grown on family vineyards in Austria and Liechtenstein. When the UC Davis trained native Austrian Stefan Tscheppe came on in 2019, he began the transition to organic and biodynamic farming, and he brought in more women to join Princess Marie: Oenologist Natalie Ströhle, Sommelier Hannah Fiegenschuh, and Operations Manager Alexandra Goop. Celebrate joie de vivre and Women’s History Month with these women made wines!
 

The Princely Wines of Lichtenstein’s Princess Marie and Stefan Tscheppe

 
Known formally as The Hofkellerei Fürst Liechtenstein, the vineyards and wineries in both Liechtenstein and Austria are owned by Prince Hans Adam Il of Liechtenstein and the Princely Family including sommelier Princess Marie. During a virtual tasting with Stefan Tscheppe, I learned about the vines and wines, and experienced the beauty of the castle and alpine landscape that is Liechtenstein, one of the smallest and most wealthy countries on the planet, and saw how that place is perfect for Pinot Noir. I can’t wait to visit this stunning, regal region myself, see their art collection, and eat in their Michelin star restaurant.

Princely Winery Oenologist Natalie Ströhle

 
If you don’t know much about tiny Liechtenstein, you’re not alone! It’s a constitutional monarchy with about 40,000 people living on about 62 square miles. For context, the city of Los Angeles is about 500 square miles, and Washington DC is almost 70 square miles. Landlocked Liechtenstein has Austria on one side, Switzerland on another with the Rhine River its western border and a continental climate that is surprisingly temperate given its alpine nature— a warm wind blows in fall and spring and the Alps protect it from any icy blasts. 

 

The name Liechtenstein comes from the light colored stone that comprises their castle built in the 13th-14th century, and so the castle became known as Liechtenstein, and the family that resided there as well.   Wine grapes have been grown there that long or longer as wine was part of the wages for workers. In addition to the palace and vineyards in Liechtenstein, the family has a palace in Vienna which houses their extensive art collection, and they also have vineyards in Austria.  Learn more about the winery here.

Happy Pi Day! Today is 3.14 and we are celebrating Pi Day with these wines and quiche— a savory egg and cheese pie that originated from the part of Europe where today you’ll find France, Germany, Austria and Liechtenstein! The word “quiche” comes from a German word too: “kuchen” or cake. The official language of both Austria and Liechtenstein is German. While most people think of quiche as being French, the truth is that the boundaries in Europe have fluctuated, and at one time, where quiche was invented was in German called Lotharingen aka Lorraine which is now in France. Looking at an old map to me it included modern day Liechtenstein where they enjoy asparagus too and since we were pairing riesling and pinot noir, Sue made a quiche with asparagus, prosciutto, mushrooms, Emmental and gruyere cheeses! To be honest, this part of Europe and its history is little known to me and I look forward to learning more and having a better understanding by going there. 
 
For now I am traveling virtually via ZOOM and by wine in my glass celebrating yesterday’s Riesling Day, today’s Pi Day, and Women’s History Month!

Looking for wines for St. Patrick’s Day that would go with corned beef and cabbage? I’ve loved riesling like these and you might also. Read more about the history of St Patrick’s Day plus wines, pairings, and an instant pot recipe to make corned beef and cabbage.

 

Princely Wines and Quiche for Pi Day

 

Wines

  • 2022 Princely Winery of Liechtenstein, “Herrnbaumgarten” Cuvée of Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, Austria 
  • 2021 Princely Winery of Liechtenstein, Grüner Veltliner, Austria
  • 2020 Princely Winery of Liechtenstein, Pinot Noir Single Cru “Herawingert” Liechtenstein  

Menu

  • Spring Salad with Beets, Chèvre, Honey Pecans  
  • Asparagus Prosciutto Mushroom Quiche made with local Cedarfield Farms biodynamic eggs with Emmental and Gouda

2022 Princely Winery of Liechtenstein, “Herrnbaumgarten” Cuvée of Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, Austria

2022 Princely Winery of Liechtenstein, “Herrnbaumgarten” Cuvée of Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, Austria 

ABV: 12.5%
SRP: $23
Organic Grapes: about 50-50 riesling and Gruner 

It has a Stelvin closure because this is meant to be enjoyed soon after it goes in the bottle!

Appearance:  Lemon platinum rim, very clear.

Aroma: Petrichor, fresh rain on asphalt, very fresh and clean, chamomile, alpine meadow, fresh running spring water, watercress.

Palate: Very bright and acidic, mouthwatering acidity, salinity on the finish, Eureka lemon, lime, tart green apple, very refreshing.

Pairing: The rich earthy sweet beet is very nice with the wine. The honey pecans in the salad is absolutely perfect with the wine. So fabulous with the quiche; asparagus can be a tricky pairing, however it works in the quiche with the wine. The wine was lively before food and with wine, it becomes even more alive. The quality of the biodynamic eggs in the quiche are so enhanced by this wine, and this meal really enhanced this entry level wine.

2021 Princely Winery of Liechtenstein “Ried Karlsberg” Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, Austria

2021 Princely Winery of Liechtenstein, “Ried Karlsberg” Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, Austria

ABV: 13%
SRP: $24
Organic Grapes: old vine Grüner Veltliner and Riesling 

Appearance:  Lemon yellow, a bit golden, platinum rim, very clear

Aroma: Very subtle nose, petrol, minerals, herbal sweetness, nice complexity of alpine herbs, lemon menthol, bee pollen, bee’s wax, fennel fronds.

Palate: What a lovely texture silky smooth, ponderosa pine, butterscotch, Douglas fir tips, wet stone. It reminds me of hiking in a forest and sucking on a stone! 

Pairing: The quiche and this wine are so lovely together, this is a subtle dish matched with this wine are nearly perfect together. This wine really responds nicely to the beets in the wine. So perfect together. The rich lovely meal are beautifully enhanced by this bright lively wine. We thought how nice it would be to have shaved fennel in the salad. 

2020 Princely Winery of Liechtenstein, Pinot Noir Single Cru “Herawingert”, Liechtenstein

2020 Princely Winery of Liechtenstein, Pinot Noir Single Cru “Herawingert” Liechtenstein

ABV: 13%
SRP: $60
Organic Grapes: Pinot Noir

Appearance:  Pale and translucent, raspberry, rhubarb, mauve rim 

Aroma: Very aromatic, raspberry, mountain strawberry, violet, iris, damp earth, loamy forest, eucalyptus, sandalwood. 

Palate: Dark cherry fruit, dry and extremely tannic, light and lifted while heavy at the same time, this is a very different Pinot, drying, sandalwood, cedar, plum skin, crab apple, spinach, radicchio, very interesting and very different than other Pinot Noirs we have tasted in the past— and I just came from World of Pinot Noir where I participated in a blind tasting! 

Pairing: Nice with the earthy beet salad as the sweet roasted flavor of the beets mellows the tannins in the wine quite well and the tart and tangy goat cheese plays off with the tart rich wine. The salty proscuitto in the quiche with the earthy mushrooms and subtle asparagus are a beautiful match for the wine as the wine is enhanced by the rich subtle flavors in the meal. 

One thought on “Joie de Vivre with Princess Marie and The Women of Organic Princely Winery of Liechtenstein plus A Quick History of Quiche For Pi Day!”

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