Column 'That Hague feeling'

'A glass of rosé, please.’ The waitress asks: ‘Dry or sweet?’ ‘Dry’, I answer. ‘But just as sweet as you.’

It’s good that the young lady isn’t a feminist. She smiles, takes it as a compliment and brings the wine. Later I learn that her name is Suzanne, that she’s 21 years young and she waits on tables at Barlow on the Plein.

The wine is fantastic, fruity and refreshing. Rich raspberry and strawberry aromas. Suzanne is kind enough to get the bottle because I want to know what kind of wine tastes this way. It is an Urmeneta from Chile. The grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from the new harvest, which means 2011. It’s terrific.

Urmeneta

The Hague has improved. When I arrived 25 years ago, there was only the choice of ‘white or red’ in terms of wine. Nowadays you can order a Riesling or a Sauvignon, a Chardonnay or a Merlot practically anywhere. The wine culture has made its appearance in The Hague. Not only in the city’s numerous wine bars but also in most of the restaurants – however, the noble drink is often priced too high. The Urmeneta costs € 3.50 per glass which, depending on how you see it, is half-full or half-empty when it’s served. It’s usually half-empty.

Although the Chilean Urmeneta rosé is excellent, it doesn’t stop drizzling. It’s a totally grey day in The Hague. In this dreary weather not even a pigeon is perched on the head of the monument to William of Orange, Father of the Fatherland, as he’s called by the Dutch. A thought suddenly pops in my head: Time to make a quick getaway. Away, to Thailand, to the sun. But Thailand is also flooded by the monsoon at the moment. Not really an option then. But life just wouldn’t be the same without Prinsjesdag, without Koninginnenach, without Scheveningen or without the Denneweg, Bierkade and Lange Voorhout. Fine, I’ll stay in the most beautiful city in the Netherlands even in the drizzle. Suzanne brings over another Urmeneta rosé. She smiles. That Hague feeling is back again.