2_1_DiscoverGermany_May 2015_Issue26:Scan Magazine 1
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Discover Germany | Wine&Dine | Park Hotel Vitznau
A place for taste Park Hotel Vitznau presents award-winning cuisine and world-class wines
Two gourmet restaurants adorned with Michelin stars, six cellars full of world-class wines and a terrace with a magnificent view towards Lake Lucerne – the Park Hotel Vitznau is a culinary hotspot set in a breathtakingly beautiful landscape, just a short boat trip from Lucerne. TEXT: JESSICA HOLZHAUSEN | PHOTOS: PARK HOTEL VITZNAU
The two words ‘wine and dine’ reach new heights at Park HotelVitznau, as diners are treated to an indulgent fine-dining experience. The first of the two restaurants, focus, is reached by a glass-walled walkway that lines the wine cellars, casting a remarkable view onto the selection of first-class wines from all over the world, considered an appetizer of what to expect in the restaurant itself. Nature, water, the surrounding mountains and the hotel’s own lake view combine to inspire the kitchen philosophy of head chef Nenad Mlinarevic.This is a philosophy that
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not only influences the dishes but has also inspired the avant-garde architecture of the rooms: warm colours and the use of different materials create an inviting atmosphere. The connection to nature can also be found in his choice of ingredients. Placing value on using regional produce, regardless of whether it is light snacks or multi-course menus, the head chef assiduously follows the seasons, making it possible for guests to enjoy filigree and harmonic new creations throughout the year. With 17 Gault Millau points and two Michelin stars, it is one of the best restaurants that Switzerland has to offer.
What can be seen on the way towards the restaurant focus is only a fraction of the extensive treasure-filled vaults. The six cellars, which are filled with about 32,000 bottles of world-class wine, are worth a total of about 26 million CHF. Yet the figures do little to capture the uniqueness of the wine cellars, as each cellar’s design is a portrayal of the wines stored in it. French wines, for example, are stored in stone shelves, while wines from the New World are stored in a blue overseas container further down the cellar. Wines from other parts of the old world – Italy, Germany, Spain or Switzerland – can be found on the opposite side in wooden shelves. Hidden behind the invaluable champagnes are the true treasures, as some wines not only have an outstanding taste but also an outstanding age.The oldest wine shelved is from the year 1811 and is enclosed in a