Mar
20
2010
On the foothill of the Leitha mountain from the town of Grosshöflein through Eisenstadt along the B50), Purbach, Jois to the north eastern tip of the lake Neusiedl and the same town stretches this new DAC region. New in a way that it was end of last year when it received its controlled status. Where the Leithaberg stops stars a new bit of vineyard on the Parndorfer plateau and the best wine makers come under the name of Pannobile.
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Tags: Leitha, Pannobile
Mar
07
2010
The town of Rust and Ausbruch can not be separated from each other. The history goes a long way back, 1524 when Queen Maria from Hungary granted the mark of origin to the wines (the barrels were branded with an “R”). Rust gained a sort of independence during the medieval time when it supported the Empire’s treasury not only with money but also with plenty of wine. The town became its own coat-of-arm and gained a lot of privilege with the patronage from the Hungarian king.
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Tags: feiler-artinger, ruster ausbruch
Feb
28
2010
The Esterházy house dates back to the 14. century. A noble, aristocratic family possessing properties around the Lake Neusiedel and beyond. Today the cultural heritage is not only in Eisenstadt (the headquarter) and Fertöd the Hungarian side of the lake but also Castle Forchtenstein belongs to it and the foundation also owns the stone pit St. Margarethen which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The Prince Esterházy also appreciated music, Joseph Haydn famous composer lived and worked for around 40 years for the family in the 18. century. He quite often received his salary in wine…
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Tags: Esterhazy
Jan
31
2010
Its probably not the boldest move to start with, but I must confess. I never really liked sherry, none of them, low acidity, most of them bone dry, high alcohol, some had a weird salt drive to them others nutty, pine raisin and alike notes, you name it. Yes, nothing too good to start with, but it all changed. Now I drink fino when ever I can, I love manzanilla could drink it all day long, crazy about the amontillado and oloroso types and in the middle and between palo cortado. Oh yeah, and I haven’t even mentioned the good old PX. But it wasn’t until I actually left Jerez that I realized how great sherry actually is, the visit to Romate helped a lot to understand and I call my self ambassador of sherry, I love it…
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Tags: sanchez romate
Dec
06
2009
Massandra, The Crimea
Chateau Musar
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Dec
02
2009
Where should I start? Don’t even know my self, the news came just out last week, the Hungarian Marketing Board has trouble to finance their work and most of their employees resigned and it looks like the end of the Marketing Board if something doesn’t changes, quickly. Dark clouds hanging over the wine marketing situation, once again. It took so long to get some people behind it, to make things happen, financing the whole idea. While other countries advancing, bounding unity and putting a good effort in communicating nationally and internationally their wines, Hungary would make a step backwards if they do not pursuit to be successful in communication and marketing. Continue Reading »
Tags: communication, marketing
Nov
08
2009
This was the title for the first trade tasting held in London, or to be precise trade and consumer tasting. To summarize the event in one word: well done. This would be actually two words, the venue was magnificent, great producers and everything was just perfect. Decanter, Tokaj Renaissance, Wines of Hungary and ITD Hungary the sponsors for this well organized tasting.
Celebration of 20 years, the new “Tokaji” if you like could have been another title too. After 1989 a lot of new investment hit the wine region, after the Soviet Union collapsed, fall of the iron curtain, Hungary was once again free, so where the wines as well. Independent thinking and quality wine making got re-introduced in this probably one of the oldest wine regions in the world, Tokaj-Hegyalja.
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Oct
25
2009
20/10/2009 Annual Grand Crus de Bordeaux (2007), London Opera House
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