Erin Feges, chef and co-owner of Feges BBQ, has always had a strong interest in sharing the greatness of pairing wine and barbecue. She first fell in love with German wine during her years working in New York City and that love grew even deeper while working as a bartender at Camerata Wine Bar.
Wonderfully, with the opening (less than month ago) of the Feges BBQ Spring Branch location (at 8217 Long Point Road, Houston TX 77055) Erin and her husband Patrick have a perfect venue to showcase this pairing. They currently have 15 specially curated wines on their menu (available by the bottle or the glass), have started Wine Wednesdays where bottles and glasses are half off, AND they will be doing regular wine events. Note they also carry a huge assortment of beer for those that aren't into wine (yet) and have a must-order frozen margarita.
The first such event, where they are partnering with Wines of Germany is called Rheinstone Cowboy which will be held on Tuesday July 27th from 5pm - 7pm.
They will be offering a wide range of styles and varieties of German wine – from sparkling rosé to dry whites to savory reds. Each wine will be expertly paired with a specific dish on our menu, and a flight of all five wines will be available for discounted purchase. Local sommelier and Wines of Germany Ambassador Chris Poldoian have teamed up to show attendees just how unique and special German wines really are.
Note that the event is SUPER casual so no reservations are needed. You can order the wines a la carte, get a flight, and add food pairings to any order. Sounds awesome.
Von Buhl Sparkling Rosé with their Fried Chicken
What’s better than rosé? Sparkling rosé! Bubbles and fried chicken are a tried and true combo – and for this event we’re kicking things off with some Sekt, which is the German name for sparkling wine. This Sekt is made in the traditional method, so think of all the savory, umami character you love in Champagne, except with a distinctly German twist.
Peter Lauer ‘Barrel X’ Riesling with their Pulled Pork Nachos
We intentionally chose this wine to challenge your expectations of the Riesling grape. Packed with Germany’s trademark acidity and complemented by just a touch of sweetness, this citrusy white wine will be served alongside our pork nachos. The electric texture of this Riesling accentuates the crispy chicharron and cuts right through the rich avocado crema.
Kruger-Rumpf Scheurebe with their Beef Rib Bulgogi
Scheurebe is the grape you never knew you needed. Juicy and floral and unabashedly fruity, this vibrant white wine has everything you love in Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Albariño… all rolled into one! We’re specifically pairing it with our spicy Beef Rib Bulgogi – the heat pairs perfectly with the sweetness of this wine. The Kruger-Rumpf winery dates all the way back to the 1700s… and while we don’t think they were drinking those early wines with spicy barbecue beef rib, we’d like to think the Rumpf ancestors would be proud of this pairing.
Weingut Seehof Rosé of Pinot Noir with their Pork Ribs
Rosé season is 51 weeks out of the year here in Texas, and we are super stoked to pair our classic ribs with a classic rosé. Weingut Seehof sources this Pinot Noir from the Rheinhessen region of Germany. The soils here are dominated by limestone, giving this rosé delicacy and depth. It’s pretty darn good on its own, but we think it’s extra special with some of our ribs.
Georg Breuer Pinot Noir with their Smoked Chicken
The German name for Pinot Noir is Spätburgunder, but don’t get it twisted – this is the variety you know and love from California and France. As a matter of fact, Germany is the third-most popular spot for Pinot Noir production. What makes German Pinot Noir special is its spicy aromas and herbal finish… perfect with smoked poultry dabbed with Alabama white sauce! This bottling comes from a Rheingau winery called Weingut Georg Breuer, which was founded over 130 years ago and is currently run by fourth-generation winemaker Theresa Breuer.
See my chat with Erin all about Spring Branch AND their wine program here:
