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European Wines

HomeEuropean Wines (Page 14)

By 1European Wines, Red Wine, Rest of the World, Sparkling Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  While I have been extremely lucky during this COVID pandemic, in that I have neither been sick and have kept my job; it is not to say that I'd not getting itchy feet. [caption id="attachment_14476" align="alignleft" width="300"] Taken inside the Bridge of Sighs, Venice[/caption] Some borders are opening back up and people are tentatively planning travel. I cannot wait to get out of Istanbul having missed planned trips to Hungary and Greece. However, I believe I'll be stuck a little while longer yet. Europe is slowly opening but restrictions on people coming from Turkey are strict. And fair enough. The government here did a crap job to control the spread

By 1European Wines, Rest of the World, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  I've had a couple few Juhfark wines in the past. But I think I'd never actually tasted Juhfark until this bottle of Fekete Pince Somlói Juhfark. In the early 1970's, Béla Fekete founded Fekete Pince on the southern slopes of Somló Mountain in western Hungary. Through his careful viticulture and winemaking Fekete built something of a legendary reputation in the area. During his winemaking career he earned the moniker of ‘Grand Old Man of Somló’. Fekete retired in 2014 and sold his winery to Ákos Dölle, György Emmert, and Gábor Riesz who carry on the traditions he began. The smallest wine region in Hungary, the volcanic Somló Mountain stands out as

By 0Amber Wine, Amphora, European Wines, Orange Wine, Red Wine, Rest of the World, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  My foray so far into Slovenian wine has been limited but highly rewarding. I first visited Ljubljana with a dual purpose in mind: Christmas market and, of course, wine. Accompanied by Istanbites, we met up with friends E&M to spend a few days shivering in a proper winter environment while delighting in the Christmas atmosphere and museums, and imbibing to my heart's content.  We found Ljubljana to be utterly charming. A city made easy for walking, we wandered from cafe to church to castle to museum to wine bar. We didn't make it out of the city on this trip but I hope to do so on a future

By 0European Wines, Rose Wine, Turkish Wine, Wine Reviews

  I don't usually celebrate Rosé Day, pink wine not being a favorite of mine. However, this year the intermittent bright spring weather in Istanbul has gifted me with a fresh outlook on pink. So, I decided to dive into Rosé Day with a celebration of  four wines from three of the wine countries I know the best: Turkey, Austria, and Greece. Rosé Day in Turkey Rosé, or blush wine has gained popularity in Turkey over the last few years. Most wineries have added at least one to their roster (although a few have done it reluctantly). Some wineries make a distinction between the two terms. Particularly if they make more

By 0European Wines, Rest of the World, Sparkling Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  I recently read an article in Forbes by the great wine writer Dame Wine about British sparkling wine producer, Nyetimber. While I had the absolute privilege of visiting a couple British sparkling wine producers a few years ago, neither was Nyetimber. However, through some connections, I have been able to at least get my hands on a couple bottles of their wine here in Istanbul. In her article, Dame Wine gives tasting notes for several of Nyetimber's vintage sparkling wines. I don't have those kind of connections! But I have been able to drink the Classic Cuvee on more than one occasion and also got to try the Blanc de

By 0European Wines, Rest of the World, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  Assyrtiko. The most iconic of Greek grapes immediately brings to mind images of Santorini, the distinctive vines, and the smell of the sea. Assyrtiko is most at home in the volcanic soils of Santorini; where the vines are trained into baskets low to the ground to protect the fruit from the island's harsh wines. However, it is also grown as far north as Drama in Macedonia. It's a versatile grape used in Vin Santo sweet wines as well as dry varietal wines. As a dry wine, Assyrtiko displays a yellow-gold color with mineral, pear, apple, and citrus blossom aromas and flavors. Assyrtiko can also be found blended; often

By 0European Wines, Rest of the World, Turkish Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  [caption id="" align="alignright" width="302"] From oesterreichwein.at[/caption] Whether you call it Welschriesling, Laški Rizling, Olaszrizling, Graševina, Riesling Italico, or anything else, what does not change is how enjoyable the wines are. Despite its name, this grape bears no relation to Riesling. Welschriesling grows largely in Austria but also Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia, Northern Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Turkey (sort of-we'll get to that). According to Wine Searcher, the grape is "relatively easy to grow, although it does have a preference for dry climates and warm soils. Welschriesling is productive and retains its acidity in warmer climates, making it a reliable grape for growers. In most cases this will

By 1European Wines, Rest of the World, Sparkling Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  These are odd times. You don't need me to tell you that. Social distancing, self-isolation, working from home etc have all led to an explosion of online activities. My two bbfs in Istanbul and I have a weekly happy hour on House Party. Wine tastings have gone virtual on YouTube, Zoom, Instagram, and other platforms. For me, life hasn't change a great deal since all this began. I already work from home. I have an abiding dislike of people generally and really only leave my apartment a few times a week anyway. What I do miss, is Mass. My church has discovered Zoom (and don't get me started

By 2European Wines, Rest of the World, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  Living in Turkey I'm pretty well accustomed to outsiders' surprise that this is a winemaking country. Every once in a while, I get treated to the same surprise about other countries. One semi recent example involved Ukraine and the Shabo Wine Company. I still have not visited Ukraine myself but received this bottle courtesy of a friend who transited through Kyiv. In 1822 Swiss immigrants established the Shabo Wine Company, based in the town of the same name  in Odessa. Between 1882 and the founding of the modern Shabo Wine Company in 2003, the winery saw a lot of history roll by including Ottoman and Soviet invasions. And while

By 0European Wines, Rest of the World, White Wine, Wine Reviews

  Over the last couple years I've visited Greece once or twice a year. However, I have to make it to Santorini. The most famous of Greece's islands definitely has a place on my bucket list but I am waiting for a convenient off-season time to visit. As much as I'd love to see the picturesque views most people associate with the island; what I really want to see are the vineyards. Assyrtiko is easily one of my favorite grapes. I very much want to pilgrimage to its home to visit producers large and small alike. Like Art Space Winery. Art Space is a unique art gallery, museum, and winery