Learn to drink beyond Bordeaux
From Austria’s celebrated Grüner Veltliner to Japan’s intriguing varieties, you’ll find detailed guides, insider tips, and my top picks for each country. It’s all about broadening your wine horizons and finding those special bottles that are off the beaten path.
Curious about what’s next? Stay tuned as I add more exciting wine regions and discoveries. Whether you’re planning your next wine journey or just looking to try wine beyond Bordeaux, this is your one-stop shop for exploring the world of wine!
Cheers to new discoveries and expanding your wine world!
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Why are Austrian wines not as well known as of other countries?
As you know, I’m a big fan of Austrian wines. They have several different wines and the value for money is GREAT…unlike some French wines. Considering this aspect, people should be all travelling Austria-wards to get those wines… But this is NOT the case (which is actually really good for me and you!) So how come they’re not as well…
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What is Pinot Noir called in Austria?
Austria has a lot of local grape varieties and focuses mainly on growing these. However, in order to increase sales, it is also good to produce wines from international grape varieties known from the everyday drinker (ie client). However, as nothing is simple in Austria, Pinot Noir isn’t called Pinot Noir…. So what is Pinot Noir called in Austria? Pinot…
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What is Smaragd wine?
In the Wachau region, there was no DAC for quite some time but top-growers created Vinea Wachau Nobilis Districtus (abbr Vinea Wachau). It started in 2018 with 24 members and has a three-tier system. Quick reminder on what a DAC is. If you want to know more, feel free to check out my post on Austria’s DAC. A DAC (Districtus…
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What is Austria’s signature red grape?
Austria is best known for the quality of its white wines, made from both native Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. However, it also produces excellent red wines from local grape varieties such as Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch, as well as dessert wines made from welschriesling. In Austria, grape varieties don’t respect political boarders. If you want to know why, check out my…
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Is Blaufränkisch Pinot Noir?
While Austria is renowned for its high-quality white wines made from native Grüner Veltliner and Riesling grapes, it also boasts exceptional red wines from indigenous grape varieties. They are named Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch and Saint Laurent. I usually compare Saint-Laurent to Pinot Noir, but following several discussions with friends and tastings, some have compared Blaufränkisch to Pinot Noir. So, is Blaufränkisch…
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Which is better Blaufränkisch or Zweigelt?
Austria allows the use of 26 white grape varieties and 14 red grape varieties for the production of Qualitätswein, Prädikatswein, and Landwein. Over the past 20 years, the proportion of red wines has doubled and now accounts for about one-third of Austria’s nearly 46,500 hectares of vineyard area. In addition to internationally renowned grape varieties like Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay,…
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What does St Laurent wine taste like?
Austria permits 26 types of white grapes and 14 types of red grapes for the production of Qualitätswein, Prädikatswein, and Landwein. In the last two decades, the proportion of red wines has doubled and currently represents a third of Austria’s almost 46,500 hectares vineyard area. Not only has Austria globally renowned grape varieties like Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Muscat Blanc…
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What to eat with a Saint-Laurent wine?
Austrian cuisine, aka “Viennese” cuisine, is like a delicious melting pot reflecting the diverse cultural influences that have flavored the Austro-Hungarian Empire over the centuries. This hearty and flavorful cuisine is rooted in Nordic heritage and is as distinctive as its wines, thanks to the local terroir. The Austrian kitchen features a vast array of ingredients like Schwammerl (wild mushrooms),…
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Grauburgunder vs Weissburgunder
Grauburgunder translates as Pinot Gris and Weissburgunder as Pinot Blanc. These are two different grape varieties. As we will see, they have different flavor profiles and it’s best to know how each one tastes in order to choose your wines accordingly to your taste. These flavor profiles impacts food pairing of course. Last, understanding these differences will provide insight into…
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Blauburgunder vs Pinot Noir
The tradition of Pinot Noir in Austria has been long-standing since the 14th century when Cistercian monks brought the vines to Mönchhof. However, the warmer climate in zones like Gols means that the vines require protection from excessive sun exposure or deleafing. While Austria’s Pinot Noir may differ from Burgundy‘s due to the unique growing conditions, the long tradition and…
