The large wooded regions of Rhineland‑Palatinate, primarily the Palatinate Forest, the Hunsrück-Hochwald, the Bingen Forest and the adjacent areas used for farming represent the perfect habitat for wild animals. They are a relatively rare sight on a walk through the woods, but the foresters can see traces and tracks left by red and fallow dear, wild boar, hares, rabbits and pheasants.
The red deer, for example, prefer the unspoilt clear forests and open countryside where they are little disturbed by humans. They are the largest deer species in Germany and clearly feel at home in the larger contiguous forest areas. The hunters ensure that the deer population is healthy and biodiverse. Therefore, the hunting season in autumn means not only new wines in Rhineland‑Palatinate but also game dishes including a venison pot roast in prune sauce, delicate fillet of fawn, venison ragout with poppy noodles and wild boar spare ribs. Game is rich in vitamins and nutrients, free of cholesterol, low in fat and rich in important Omega 3 fatty acids.
There is a long tradition of local game in Rhineland‑Palatinate cuisine and the flavours of roasts, fillets and goulashes work really well at this time of year, when it is getting colder, wetter and darker outside, perfect weather for sitting in the warmth over a hearty meal. Fresh game from local hunters promises to be excellent quality, as the animals live in the region’s forests under natural conditions.
Majestic stag in the Südliche Weinstrasse Wildlife Park, Palatinate
In the cooler months of November and December, the Southern Palatinate hosts a Game Festival where chefs showcase local game dishes on their menus. In the Hunsrück, this foodie event is known as ‘Game Week’ and the philosophy is all about using not only the expensive cuts, such as the saddle of venison, but also the whole animal to produce delicious dishes. The programme of events traditionally starts with the big game market in Wadern. There are also guided walks and foodie events relating to game.
Fine cuisine in the Palatinate, e.g. game dishes in the Südliche Weinstrasse
Enjoying a glass of wine with a vintner in Hatzenport, Moselle valley
Of course, the aromatic game dishes would not be complete without a lovely drop of local wine. And that is not difficult in Rhineland‑Palatinate, the largest wine-growing region in Germany. Wine lovers are now increasingly eschewing the traditional belief that ‘red wine goes with red meat’. A top-notch Riesling or Pinot Gris can also be an excellent choice. It is primarily a question of taste. But lovers of red wine will not want to do without a full-bodied red wine, such as a Pinot Noir or a Cabernet Sauvignon, with a goulash or haunch of venison. Red wine is often used in the preparation of game stews and sauces.
The symbiosis between game and wine is also the reason why the ‘Welterbe-Gastgeber’ hospitality association in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley offers such wonderful game dishes in the autumn and winter. The foresters and hunters get the fresh venison from the surrounding woodlands.
Delicious game dish at the Pfälzer Hof, Palatinate
