The Nobel banquet is an occasion to showcase Sweden's history and culture to distinguished guests from around the world. On Dec. 10 (local time), the Nobel Prize ceremony was held at the Stockholm Concert Hall in Sweden. Han Kang became the first Korean and Asian woman writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature at this event. After the award ceremony that lasted about one hour, the author and this year's Nobel Prize winners moved to the Stockholm City Hall. Around 7:10 p.m. local time, the author appeared in the Blue Hall of the City Hall banquet hall, sitting in the middle of the hall among around 1,300 guests.
The banquet menu, which had been kept strictly confidential until the day of the event, was naturally revealed through a live broadcast. The Nobel Foundation selects the banquet chef by carefully evaluating menu proposals submitted by famous chefs from around the world. This year, chefs Emma Johansson and Frida Beck handled the main course and dessert, respectively, featuring dishes made with seasonal Swedish ingredients under the theme of 'nature and sustainability.'
◇ Choose brands with independent brewing philosophy and pioneering spirit
No banquet is complete without alcohol. According to the Nobel Foundation on Dec. 13, this year's banquet featured three types of wine: one from France, one red wine from the northern Italian region of Piedmont, and one fermented drink made from Swedish apples. A total of 400 bottles of champagne and 450 bottles of wine to accompany the food were prepared.
The Nobel Foundation carefully curated a selection of wines from various countries for this year's banquet. Last year's banquet featured three types of wine, all from France. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nobel Foundation typically favored German Riesling or Portuguese Port wine, often used as dessert wines. This year, they incorporated fermented apple cider from a small Swedish producer for a distinct twist.
Leading sommeliers and wine experts noted that the Nobel Foundation reflected the diligence and integrity shown by scholars, writers, and artists in this year's alcohol list. Roger Morris, an American liquor specialist, told Chosun Biz, "Both the champagne and the red wine have long had independent philosophies, representing pioneering brands that have walked paths not taken by other brewers." He added, "The inclusion of the little-known Swedish fermented apple drink is a challenging and experimental endeavor that recalls the high intellectual curiosity of Nobel laureates."
Champagne, a sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region of France, is an essential element of the toast. This year's first banquet wine was Champagne Lamandier-Bernier Longitude Blanc de Blanc. Longitude refers to geographic lines on Earth in both English and French. This champagne blends grapes grown on four vineyards located at specific longitudes within the Champagne region. Lamandier-Bernier aims to create wine that transcends borders, similar to how science and literature exist beyond geographical limitations. This aligns with the Nobel philosophy of creating valuable truths from universal facts.
This brand has been managing its vineyards organically since the early 1990s. Many well-known producers in the Champagne region were focused on increasing production rather than sustainability. In 1999, they elevated their practices to biodynamic methods, a traditional approach to grape cultivation passed down since the Middle Ages. They do not use pesticides or even organic fertilizers, employing just a small amount of compost. Natural predators, such as ladybugs, are used to control pests. This cultivation method encourages contemplation of questions like, 'What does it mean to be human as a living being?' posed in one author's signature work, The Vegetarian.
Global wine broker Jakis New York stated, "Lamandier-Bernier produces another champagne called Latitude, made from grapes grown at the same latitude, making it an innovative producer that is one of the few offering champagnes based on latitude and longitude."
◇ The main course paired with wine resembling a patient human in The Boy Who Comes
The main course featured roasted chicken with autumn truffles from the Gotland region of Sweden. Guests enjoyed this dish paired with Barolo wine from the northern Italian region of Piedmont. Piedmont is one of the regions outside France that produces some of the most expensive wines. Barolo, the representative wine of the region, has built an unparalleled reputation since the 19th century, often referred to as 'the king of wines, the wine of kings.'
This wine is made from the indigenous grape variety Nebbiolo, which is known for being challenging to cultivate. It has high acidity and pronounced tannins. However, when sufficiently ripened, it reveals deep flavors befitting the king of wines. Floral aromas of roses, along with rich notes of fruit like plums, emerge prominently. Wine critics state that well-made Barolo wines eventually develop unique aromas of truffles over time.
However, this wine does not reveal its character easily. To bear the Barolo name, it must be aged for a minimum of 38 months by law. Traditionally made Nebbiolo wines age slowly in the bottle and can withstand more than half a century. The longer they are left, the more complex their flavors become. This wine resembles the characters in a novel by one author, who received the Nobel Prize for their work, enduring and healing from the wounds of history.
Giacomo Fenocchio is one of the notable traditionalists in the Barolo region. In the 1990s, many other Barolo wine producers turned to intuitive, quickly drinkable wines to appeal to popular tastes. Some found commercial success by effectively utilizing modern technology.
Nonetheless, Claudio Fenocchio, who leads this winery, family-run for five generations, has quietly emphasized traditional methods amid these changes. This mirrors the dedication Nobel laureates show, remaining committed to their lifelong pursuits despite external pressures or hardships. Claudio told Chosun Biz, "I never anticipated that our wine would be used at this year's Nobel Prize banquet, as the Nobel Foundation did not inform us in advance," and he described it as "the fruit of patience and perseverance."
◇ The banquet concluded with a small-batch Swedish fermented apple cider
The dessert that wrapped up the banquet was made from Swedish specialty apples. Thinly sliced apples were stacked and caramelized like candy before being served with ice cream. Alongside this dish, Swedish fermented apple cider Butte Muselande was presented.
Butte Muselande is a drink that would leave even seasoned liquor connoisseurs puzzled. Made from naturally frozen apples from Umeå in northern Sweden, only about 1,000 bottles are produced each year. The previous two wines are imported formally into the country, but this drink is hard to find locally due to its limited production.
The tradition of fermented apple cider hails from Normandy in northern France. Swedish fermented cider is sweeter and richer than its French counterpart. Umeå apples receive abundant sunlight during their growth period due to the summer midnight sun phenomenon. In winter, the extreme cold below -20 degrees causes the apples to freeze and shrink like raisins. One author has depicted the dignity of humanity, which becomes more evident in extreme circumstances, in several of their works. Likewise, apples concentrate their juice in the center as they undergo extreme heat and cold.
In Germany and Canada, ice wines are made using frozen grapes in a similar manner. In Sweden, this fermented drink made from frozen apples is called iscider. Iscider originated in Quebec, Canada, in the 1990s. However, Sweden has developed a new market with its unique grape strains that withstand more severe cold and greater temperature fluctuations. Butte Muselande is a new brand that emerged in the market in 2021.
Wine experts have commented that this iscider honors the nature of Sweden, where the Nobel Prize has its roots, while also conveying the meaning that sometimes to innovate, one must boldly break free from traditional constraints.
Jeff Lewis, the head winemaker of Butte Muselande, told Chosun Biz, "Iscider can only be made in regions that are warm enough for apple trees to grow in the summer and cold enough for apple fruits to freeze in the winter, making Sweden the optimal production site," adding that "the 2022 vintage used at the Nobel banquet had about 1,200 bottles produced, mostly supplied to fine dining in Sweden, with only about 100 liters remaining."