Tuesday, June 16, 2009

The Wines of Austria

I’m back in Philadelphia from the Austrian Wine Marketing Board’s Austrian Wine Summit 2009, and am, to be honest, going to have a very difficult time containing my enthusiasm for the wine, food, and hospitality I experienced there. I’ve hinted at it before, but I’m going to say it plainly: Austria is one of the single most exciting places in the world right now for wine.

From wines you’ve heard of (Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Zweigelt) to ones that are perhaps less familiar (Zierfandler, Muskateller), Austria is simply exploding with fabulous grapes, world-class vineyards, and a range of styles, from white and red to sweet and sparkling, that rivals anywhere on the planet.

Between last Thursday and this past Sunday, I took dozens and dozens of tasting notes and shot several hours of video, so it’s going to take some time to work my way through it all. In the coming days and weeks, however, keep checking back for more from my trip to Austria.

For now, however, I’ll leave you with this video. It was shot immediately following our lecture and tasting last Friday at the Schloss Hof in Weinviertel on the wines of Niederösterreich, or Lower Austria. The Schloss Hof is considered one of the most exquisite Baroque buildings in the world, and at one point was even owned by Empress Maria Theresia. Learning about and tasting the wines of the region in a historically significant and absolutely magnificent palace like this was easily one of the most amazing experiences of my wine life.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello, Brian (McMahon)! Your video of the Schloss Hof reminds me of just how lucky we were on this truly amazing trip. Many, many rounds of standing-ovation-type applause for the Austrian Wine Marketing Board. I'm looking forward to reading your posts! I'm starting to post some of my own. So much to say, right?

Paula Sindberg on June 16, 2009 at 11:52 AM said...

Wine Summit 2005 was probably the best (and most exhausting) wine trip I've ever been on. Their wines are fantastic, the people are warm and friendly, the scenery is gorgeous and the food is amazing. What a great country!

Post a Comment

 

My Blog List

Uncork Life! Blog Copyright © 2009 Powered by WineChateau.com WineChateau.com