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European Wines

HomeEuropean Wines (Page 15)

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

  As close as I am to Armenia, living in Turkey, I still haven't visited. A pity as I hear Yeravan is nice. And of course I'd love to check out the wine scene in Armenia. We certainly don't see any here. Relations between Armenia and Turkey being what they are, Armenian wine isn't exactly thick on the ground here. It's not even thin on the ground. Luckily, thanks to some well-traveled friends, the wine came to me. Karas Wines, founded in 2002, is a relatively new winery by anyone's standards, let alone by a country that measures years making wine by the thousands. Yet the winery has already managed

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

  Nestled in the sunny slopes of Megara, just 60 km from bustling Athens, lies Ktima Evharis. In 1992, owners Eva-Maria Boehme and Harry Antony began planting Assyrtiko, Malagouzia, Sauvignon Blanc, Roditis, Chardonnay, Agiorgitiko, Syrah, Merlot, and Grenache. Part of PGI Gerania, the vineyards cover about 12 hectares between the Gulfs of Salamis and Corinth, surrounded by tall pine trees and old olive groves. Vines here, many of them traditional goblet, are interspersed with rosemary, lavender, colorful roses and fragrant mimosas, lustrous almond trees and pomegranates; lending the vineyards a Garden of Eden atmosphere. With its limestone soils rich in lava, sand, and fossil shells, cool summer and mild winters, the

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

  At Gotsa winery, wine is a family tradition that founder Beka Gotsadze is determined to preserve. Located 4200 feet above sea level in the hills of the Asureti Valley, in the Atenuri appellation, Gotsa is only about a 30 minute drive from the Georgian capital Tbilisi. If, that is, one wishes to attempt nearly impassible dirt roads to get there!  Gotsadze makes his wine in the traditional Georgian method, meaning with large clay qvevri. More than simply burying his qvevri in the ground though, his creativity and innovation are evident in his gravity flow qvevri winery. Built high in the mountains, the Gotsa winery and cellar comprises two levels, the first

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

  For over 40 years the Molnár family has cultivate vineyards on the southern slopes of the Örsi hill in Badascony. Now run by a mother-daughter team, Csendes Dűlő Szőlőbirtok vineyards comprises three acres of Hárslevelű, Kéknyelű, Olaszrizling, and Szürkebarát (Pinot Gris). Hárslevelű is more commonly grown in Tokaj where it often gets lost as a support grape for Furmint, and in Somló. However, if this wine from Csendes Dűlő Szőlőbirtok is a good indication of Badascony Hárslevelű; I'd say this region is giving Tokaj and Somló a run for their money. Basalt bedrock overlaid with loess and clay contribute to the PDO's distinctly mineral and elegant wines. Csendes Dűlő Szőlőbirtok Hárslevelű 2015

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

  The Hungaria Grand Cuvée Brut sparkling wine, or peszgő as it's called in Hungary is a delightfully affordable sparkling wine. I discovered this wine at a charming wine bar in Budapest, Doblo. If you're visiting Budapest I highly recommend a stop in here! I stopped in here on a warm Sunday afternoon and started, as I always do, with the sparkling wines by the glass. A little touch of sweetness kept the wine from austerity and lifted my spirits on that rainy day! I enjoyed it greatly that day and made sure to pick up a bottle to bring home! Hungaria Sparkling Wine Originally established in 1955, Hungaria, as of 2014,

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

  Since I am back in Athens, I thought it a good time to dig out some old notes on Greek wines I've drunk. Because I'm lucky enough to be a 90 flight from the city where my two best friends live (free accommodation!), I get a lot of opportunity to explore Greek wine. While I nearly sweepingly love the white grapes native to Greece, finding my red wine has not been as easy. Both my friend M and I prefer more powerful, muscular, tannic red wines. Which means Agiorgitiko hasn't been our favorite. However, with that profile as a goal, Greece's "sour black" Xinomavro is a sure bet. The most

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

  Each time I begin to explore a country's wine; there has been one wine that sticks in my mind as the one that made me think: okay, this country makes good wine! For Turkey that was Prodom's flagship blend and Vino Dessera's 190. For Greece it was a Seméli Moschofilero. Six-seven years ago during my first trip to Greece I drank whatever wine got plunked down on the table. It was not awesome. But at least it was better than the "dog killer" wines I was able to access in my conservative outer Istanbul neighborhood. Since then I've been to Greece several times during which I've attended small

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

  Ever having tried Domaine Porto Carras' sparkling wine Yliana I've been wanting to try more of the winery's wines. During my next trip to Greece I kept a look out for the domaine's wines and happily found one. And not just any wine, my new (Greek) obsession Malagousia. Malagousia (or Malagouzia) is an aromatic white grape grown primarily in central Greece and Greek Macedonia. The pale yellow wines which are given by Malagousia have intense aromatic content that refers to white flesh fruits such as peach, fresh aromatic herbs, green pepper and citrus, while some notes of muscat stand out. According to Konstantinos Lazarakis MW, Malagousia's resurgence started in

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

  One of my friends here in Istanbul is a lovely Austrian woman, Su. Originally from Graz, she's been in Istanbul almost 10 years but goes back and forth to Austria relatively frequently. Su, bless her, is a great supporter of my goal to drink and learn about all the wines. She does her best to further my education by bringing back examples of Austrian wine. One she often brings is Welschriesling. Welschriesling, which is a completely separate grape from Riesling, is an important grape in Steiermark (also known as Styria). Many consider the wines to be uninteresting or at best neutral. Usually low in alcohol, fresh, and easy; I

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

  Last December I met up with several friends in Ljubljana. We were there for the Christmas market (I try to visit one every year) and so that I could tick Slovenia off my former Yugoslavia country list. But most importantly, we were there for wine. A whirl-wind trip lasting just a few days, I nonetheless managed to discover a variety of Slovenian wineries and grapes. Vina Colja was one of those wineries. Part of the Primorska wine region along the Italian border, Vina Colja sits in the Vipava Valley. Sixty percent of the winery's vineyards is planted to white grape varieties including Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malvasia, Zelen, and Pinella. While