Dutch Wine Apprentice

Weingut Klumpp x Restaurant Merlot 🇩🇪 🇳🇱

At Restaurant & Wine Bar Merlot (), guests enjoyed an evening dedicated to one of Germany’s most exciting family wineries: Weingut Klumpp (Weingut Klumpp) from Baden.

Hosted by Markus Klumpp (Markus Klumpp) alongside Merlot owner Vincent Tomassen () , the dinner celebrated a shared philosophy: wines should not only impress in the glass but truly shine at the table.

From sparkling Riesling to elegant Pinot Noir and expressive Chardonnay, every wine reflected the freshness, precision, and “drinking fun” that define Klumpp’s style.

The Wines 🍷

From the vibrant Riesling Sekt Brut to the aromatic Auxerrois, the mineral-driven Kirchberg Chardonnay, and the refined Weiherberg Pinot Noir, the evening showcased the remarkable diversity of the Kraichgau region.

Highlights included the beautifully balanced Kirchberg Chardonnay 2022, Markus’s favourite Auxerrois 2025—described as “Kraichgau in a glass”—and the elegant single-vineyard Pinot Noir Weiherberg 2022.

The Food 🍽️

Chef Simon Groenhuijsen and his team created a refined five-course menu designed to complement each wine:

🦐 Swordfish with watercress, fennel & kalamansi paired with Klumpp Blanc 2024

🍤 Prawn with vanilla, coconut & radish paired with Auxerrois 2025

🌿 Asparagus with seaweed & shrimp oil served alongside Hand in Hand Grauburgunder 2023 & Kirchberg Chardonnay 2022

🐓 Free-range polderhoen with polenta, broad bean & pickled onion paired with Pinot Noir Weiherberg 2022

🍑 Peach, pistachio, basil & orange blossom with Gewürztraminer 2025

🌿 An evening that perfectly demonstrated why Baden has become one of Germany’s most exciting wine regions, where terroir, craftsmanship, and gastronomy come together in every glass.

🔗 Read the full story—written by our own Brigitte Janssen (Brigitte Janssen)—now live on our website.

A heartfelt thank you to Weingut Klumpp, Markus Klumpp, Vincent Tomassen and the entire team at Merlot for an inspiring and memorable evening.

Have you discovered the wines of Baden yet?