Weekend tip: dance, flirt and drink delicious wine at Bacchus in the Amsterdamse Bos
Our favorite wine festival? That’s been Bacchus for years—you know, the one where we spend the whole weekend honoring Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, intoxication and drunkenness, in the Amsterdamse Bos. Did you miss the first weekend? Don’t worry, there are still three days of festivities to go.
There are people who know nothing about wine, annoying wine connoisseurs (sorry, but sometimes you really are such know-it-alls) and maybe you’re somewhere in between. It doesn’t matter, because at Bacchus, enjoyment is what matters most. During this wine festival, you can drink fantastic wines from €3.75 per glass. And if you find the wine irresistible, you can order a bottle too.
More than 300 wines
The fun thing is that various wine shops are present in the forest, sometimes together with their international winemakers, and between them they have brought more than 300 different wines. And if you thought you’d already tasted quite a few wines in your life, you’re in for a treat here, because every wine region imaginable is represented—from classics from France to the big boys from Napa Valley (the over-the-top wine region in the United States). Would you rather have a glass of natural wine or Vin Naturel? You can do that here too.
Tastings
On Saturday and Sunday, the wine shops De Gouden Ton, Henri Bloem, Vindict & bob, Chateau Amsterdam, Dis Donc and de BordeauxSpeciaalzaak host a tasting led by a sommelier. See, you can learn something while drinking after all. These tastings take place from 3:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. and cost €25 per person (tickets are available in the Bacchus ticket shop).
Delicious food
You can’t keep drinking wine on an empty stomach. Well, you can try, but it has never ended well for me. Luckily, you don’t have to, because you can eat at a top restaurant or a food truck here. Knock back a Zeeuwse Platte, Fine de Claire or Royale Cabanon with a glass of Sancerre (that’s a white wine always made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape; there, now you’re all set with that bit of information).
Or order a classic Flammkuchen with bacon, cheese and onion—which makes a perfect combination with a German Riesling. With 13 food stands, there’s plenty to choose from.
Get your feet moving
And then there’s the great music that makes Bacchus such a top festival. Hosts Horace Cohen and Pim Veth chat, taste and DJ their way through the first few hours, after which various DJs are scheduled to take over.
Go, go, go!
Tempted and in the mood? Bacchus Wine Festival in the Amsterdamse Bos is open on Friday, June 10 from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Saturday, June 11 from 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Sunday from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Dogs and children are also very welcome; at Children’s Paradise “Chateau Migraine” there’s a silent disco and bitterballen from the smallest snack wall in the Netherlands for you and your kids (and/or dog).
Also read:
- Eddie’s food frustrations: a word about cheese sticks versus cheese stems
- 10x tips from chefs for an even better cheese fondue
- They’ve done it again: gold for this Swiss Gruyère, the best cheese in the world
