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Rest of the World

HomeRest of the World (Page 4)

  It has been so long since I've been to Moldova that I don't even remember what year it was. 2009? Maybe 2010? For a brief couple years I was in Moldova, mostly Chisinau, not infrequently visiting for work. Any free time I had was spent with my local colleagues touring churches and the like. While this was long before I became involved in wine, I was even then conscious of the wine industry there.  Unfortunately, the relatively quick in and out trips and only a passing interest in wine meant that I missed huge opportunities to experience more and learn more about Moldovan wine. Enter Jeff with Food Wine

  [caption id="attachment_14549" align="alignright" width="300"] Park in Bad Homburg[/caption] As part of my ongoing meandering down memory lane, I can across a bunch of pictures from my last trip to Germany. I've been to Germany a handful of times since college. First on a summer study abroad learning German at the Sprachinstitut Deutschland in Tübingen. I've passed through a number of times since then but my last trip was a handful of years ago. I went to visit a friend who'd move to Bad Homburg, a suburb of Frankfurt. In the midst of the multi-lingual trip (English, German, and very bad Serbian-on my part-in their home and German and Italian on

  [caption id="attachment_14489" align="alignleft" width="300"] Chreli Abano sulfur baths[/caption] Georgia is a perennial favorite destination of mine. I like to go at least once every other year or so. Past trips have been to visit wine regions like Kakheti; once to see the Pope and meet the Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church; another time for a wine festival. My last trip was a whirlwind three and a half days in Tbilisi for an eating and drinking extravaganza. When I'm in Tbilisi I'm generally pretty lazy about where I go. I already have a handful of favored restaurants and wine bars (Vino Underground, g.Vino, Pastorali, Azarphesha to name a few) so I

  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

  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

  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

  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

  So. Canadian wine, eh? Although in this case I suppose I should say "oui" as today's post is about Quebecois wine. My family is from Quebec. Originally. Like three or four generations ago. We're Lemieux and Dion so, yeah. Despite any possible family remaining in Canada, I did not receive this Coteau Rougemont Vidal Reserve from them. Rather, Istanbites, who actually is Quebecois, brought it back from a visit to Montreal. Founded in 2007 by the Robert family, Coteau Rougemont planted its first vines in Quebec's sandy soils in 2008. From those early Frontenac vines, the vineyards have expanded to include Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Vidal, Pinot Noir, Frontenac Gris, Frontenac

  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

  I know what you're thinking. "Wait, did you say Maui?!" Indeed I did. Kula is a white wine from Maui Wine, a winery located in Hawaiian. Yes, they make wine in Hawaii. Every single one of the 50 States makes wine. My friend E who lives in Athens is more or less from Hawaii. That's what her driver's license says anyway. Athens to the 'big island' is not an easy or cheap trip for one person, let alone two people and a baby (two of whom need US visas). But she does go home sometimes. Prior to her last trip I begged, a lot, for her to please please