A Candid Look at the 2025 Dutch Winetasting in Speakeasy Winecellar, Amsterdam
Okay, so you’re thinking about a trip to Amsterdam, and you know you want to find something a little different. I mean, the canals are gorgeous and the museums are world-class, but you are really looking for an experience that feels a bit more personal, you know? Well, I was in literally the exact same boat just a few weeks ago. I stumbled upon something online, actually, an experience named ‘Dutch Winetasting in a Speakeasy Winecellar’. Dutch wine, frankly, wasn’t something I had ever considered before, and the speakeasy part was sort of intriguing. So, I figured, why not give it a shot, at the end of the day? It turned out to be one of the most memorable things I did, and I just have to tell you all about it.
Finding the Secret: The Speakeasy Atmosphere
So, the whole thing starts with an email, which is actually a really cool touch. It pretty much gives you a riddle to solve, just a little fun thing to figure out your meeting point somewhere in the Jordaan district. You know, it makes you feel like you’re in on a real secret from the get-go. After solving the little puzzle, you’re actually led to this very unassuming, heavy wooden door on a quiet side street, a place you would honestly walk past a million times. We were met there by our host, who just had a really friendly and warm smile. He didn’t say much at first, just sort of guided us down a narrow, winding stone staircase. You can almost feel the temperature drop with each step, and that slightly damp, earthy smell that old cellars have, you know, fills the air. The place below, well, it was basically lit by candlelight and some very soft, low-hanging lamps, making the old brick walls and arched ceilings seem to glow in a way. It’s obviously a setting that feels incredibly intimate and a million miles away from the busy streets just above.
Meeting the Host: A True Person of Wine
As I was saying, our host for the evening was a gentleman named Lars. Lars wasn’t like your typical, sometimes stuffy sommelier; in fact, he was completely the opposite. He had this infectious kind of energy, and you could just tell he was really passionate about what he does. He explained that he’s part of a very small group of people in the Netherlands who are seriously dedicated to showing that Dutch wine is more than just a novelty. Basically, he wants to prove it can stand on its own two feet. He talked for a little bit about how the unique Dutch climate and soil, with a little help from modern techniques, are now producing some really interesting grapes. His approach was just so down-to-earth; honestly, he made everyone feel completely at ease right away. There was, like, no snobbery at all, just a shared table and a guy who obviously wanted to share stories and a few good bottles of wine with us.
The Main Event: Tasting the Wines of the Netherlands
Alright, so this is obviously the part you’ve been waiting for. We settled around a big wooden table, and Lars began the tasting, starting, of course, with the whites. The entire experience wasn’t rushed; it felt more or less like a slow, deliberate discovery.
The Lively White Wine
First up was a white wine made from the Johanniter grape, something I had literally never even heard of before. Lars poured a small amount for each of us, telling us to just give it a good swirl and a sniff first. The aroma was so fresh; honestly, you could smell green apples and maybe a little bit of lime. When I finally took a sip, wow, it was so crisp and clean. You know, it had this minerality that sort of reminds you of a Chablis, but with a character that was completely its own. It wasn’t overly complicated; it was just a really refreshing and well-made wine that started the evening off perfectly. Lars explained that this grape, you know, tends to do very well in cooler climates, making it sort of perfect for the Netherlands.
A Surprisingly Deep Rosé
Next, we moved on to a rosé, and frankly, I wasn’t expecting much. Many rosés can be kind of simple, you know? This one, however, was a completely different story. It had a much deeper, almost ruby-like color than the pale rosés you typically see from Provence. Lars told us this one was made from the Regent grape, which actually gives it that richer color and a bit more body. On the nose, it was just bursting with wild strawberries and a hint of cherry. The taste was pretty much dry, but with this really nice fruitiness that filled your mouth. It was, sort of, a serious rosé, one that you could really sit and think about for a minute. We all sort of agreed it was a genuine surprise and not at all what we expected from a Dutch wine.
The Unique Red Wine
Finally, it was time for the red wine, which Lars sort of presented as the main event. He explained that making a good red in the Dutch climate is a really big challenge, so finding one is pretty special. This one was also from the Regent grape, but obviously handled very differently. In the glass, it had this deep, dark purple color. The smell was really interesting; you got dark fruits like plums and blackberries, but also this slightly earthy, almost peppery note in the background. It was medium-bodied, you know, not a huge, powerful red, but it had these very smooth tannins and a really pleasant finish. He served this one with a small piece of aged Dutch cheese, and that pairing was absolutely incredible. It really showed that with the right care, Dutch vineyards can produce some pretty remarkable reds.
The Food Pairings: Better Than Just Cheese
Okay, so let’s talk about the food, because it was really a big part of the whole experience. Lars was very clear that he didn’t want to just throw some boring crackers and cheese at us. Instead, each wine was paired with a specific little bite of local Dutch food, and you could tell he had put a lot of thought into it. For example, with the crisp white wine, we had these little slivers of smoked eel on toast, which sounds a bit strange, but the oily fish was just cut perfectly by the wine’s acidity. The rosé was paired with a special sausage made by a local butcher just a few streets away; its mild spice was a fantastic match for the fruitiness of the wine, you know? And as I said, that aged cheese with the red was a moment of pure magic, honestly. He talked us through each pairing, explaining why he chose it, which made us appreciate both the food and the wine so much more.
Is This Amsterdam Wine Tasting the Right Choice for You?
So, at the end of the day, who is this experience for? Honestly, I think it’s for the curious traveler. It’s for the person who wants to do more than just check boxes off a tourist list and is actually looking to connect with a place on a deeper level. You get to meet a local who is seriously passionate about his craft, and you get to try something that very few visitors to Amsterdam even know exists. It’s an intimate, slow-paced, and very personal evening. It’s less of a party and more of a conversation, you know? If you are a wine lover who thinks you know it all, this could be a really humbling and fun experience. It’s definitely not for someone looking for a loud, boisterous wine bar or for someone who only wants to drink big-name wines from famous regions. This is about discovery and enjoying something unique and local.
“It was a truly special evening. More than just a tasting, it was like being invited into a secret club for a few hours. Lars’s passion is infectious, and the wines were genuinely surprising and delightful. A must-do for anyone looking for the real Amsterdam.”
To put it simply, this experience is likely for you if:
- You love finding hidden gems and secret spots.
- You are, you know, curious about trying new and unusual wines.
- You enjoy small, intimate group settings over big, crowded ones.
- You appreciate stories and learning from a passionate local expert.
- You want an experience that feels authentic and completely different.
Read our full review: [Dutch Winetasting Speakeasy Winecellar Amsterdam Review Full Review and Details]
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