[wine] Spanish at Auriga

Greetings, I Nonni was wonderful. Thanks to Mark and Frank for having us. Joe did some good leg work for us. Fhima was willing to cut their normal corkage in half ($15 to $7.50). That's reasonable in general, but doesn't work well for the group. Kincaids does not charge corkage, but is booked up until 4/29. This week, we're doing Spanish at Auriga. 19th and Hennepin Bob Betsy Lori Jim Nicolai Cheers, Jim ----- Forwarded message from The 30 Second Wine Advisor <wine(a)wineloverspage.com> ----- THE 30 SECOND WINE ADVISOR, Monday, April 12, 2004 ___________________________________________________________________ TODAY'S SPONSORS: * California Wine Club http://www.cawineclub.com?Partner_ID=winelovers * Brentwood Wine Co. http://www.brentwoodwine.com ___________________________________________________________________ IN THIS ISSUE * AUSTRIA REVISITED Returning to the land of Alps, great food and intriguing wine. * SEPP MOSER 2001 NEUSIEDLERSEE BLAUER ZWEIGELT RESERVE Fresh and fruity, plus a mouth-watering snap. * SEPP MOSER 2002 WOLFSGRABEN KREMSTAL GRUNER VELTLINER Crisp fruit gains character from stony minerality. * CALIFORNIA WINE CLUB Collector or connoisseur? Try the Club's Signature Series! * BRENTWOOD WINE CO. It's spring cleaning season. Don't forget your wine cellar! * WORDS ABOUT PORT Fladgate tasting report, and a new Port E- letter. * THIS WEEK ON WINELOVERSPAGE.COM Classifying wine lovers. * LAST WEEK'S WINE ADVISOR INDEX Links to recent articles in the Wine Advisor archives. * ADMINISTRIVIA Change E-mail address, frequency, format or unsubscribe. ___________________________________________________________________ AUSTRIA REVISITED When most of us in the rest of the world hear Austria mentioned, we think of pleasant associations: Strauss waltzes, "The Sound of Music," snow-capped Alps and the Blue Danube, luscious pastries and dollops of rich whipped cream ... and, for many Americans, German- speaking immigrant ancestors. What's not to like? But even committed wine enthusiasts tend to think of Austria for other glories than its wine. A bit of history here: Although its wine history goes back to the ancient Celts more than 2,500 years ago, Austria's modern wine story is sadly shaped by a wine-adulteration scandal that hit world headlines in the 1980s, when it was revealed that some of the country's bulk wine producers, making cheap sweet wine for sale on the German market, were using diethylene glycol - better known for its use as antifreeze - as an artificial sweetener. No injuries were reported (this particular antifreeze, though illegal, was non- poisonous), but in spite of quick criminal prosecutions, the international sales of Austrian wines plummeted, and many producers went bankrupt. Under both legal and economic pressure, the Austrian industry quickly reinvented itself, adopting strict new regulations and a fierce commitment to quality. But the memory of the marketplace is enduring, and to this day Austrian wine remains a relatively minor niche in the world market. It deserves better. Modern Austrian wines are consistently impressive, in a style very different from the familiar products of their cousins across the border in Germany. Although you'll find a few luscious dessert wines, most Austrian wines are bone-dry and crisp, with a consistent "minerality" that adds complexity and flavor interest to both the reds and the whites. I got a good and impressive exposure to Austrian wine during a visit to Vienna and several of the country's wine regions in 1998, and I'm looking forward to a return visit as I guide a group tour there this coming September. More about that below. But first, let's have a quick refresher on a few of the basic points of Austrian wine regions and grapes. THE MAP Adjoining Germany, Switzerland, Northern Italy, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, Austria is a smallish but mountainous country, with craggy Alps rising in much of its western and southern portions, while its wine-producing regions cluster in the warm and fertile Danube Valley around Vienna on the country's eastern end. The regions best-known internationally are those along the Danube - Kamptal, Kremstal and, in particular, the Wachau - but there's much more variety and diversity in wine regions such as Steiermark in the southeastern Alps and Neusiedlersee in the country's scenic eastern lake region. To view a map and charts about Austria and its wine regions, you can download the Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file at http://www.winesfromaustria.com/edownload/docu2003chap1.pdf In contrast with Germany's most sought-after wine regions, the Rhine and Mosel valleys, Austria's vineyards enjoy a relatively benign climate that fosters full ripeness and powerful, intense wines. Those who insist on finding comparisons among disparate regions might better liken it to Alsace than Germany. But why compare? It's Austrian, and that's good. Following disastrous floods in 2002, Austria basked with the rest of Europe in the torrid summer of 2003, and early reports suggest that the wines of the vintage will be exceptional. THE GRAPES While Riesling, Chardonnay and the Pinot grapes will be familiar to visitors, many of Austria's leading grape varieties are indigenous, and not all are well-known. The white grape Gruner Veltliner ("Green-er Felt-leen-er"), however, is developing an international reputation and a virtual "cult" following in its own right, and sommeliers in particular hail it for its food-friendliness. Austrian reds are only just starting to break out, but persuasive examples of Blaufrankisch (more famliarly named Lemberger) and today's featured Blauer Zweigelt ("Blow-er Tsvy-gelt") offer evidence that Austria's climate is well suited for the production of powerful, complex red wines. MORE AUSTRIAN INFO ONLINE For extensive information about Austria and its wines, available in German, French, Chinese and English, see the Austrian Wine Marketing Board's Website. For the English pages, click http://www.winesfromaustria.com/ ___________________________________________________________________ JOIN US FOR AN AUSTRIAN WINE TOUR THIS AUTUMN I'm delighted to partner with the respected California-based touring company Food and Wine Trails for a seven-day "Austrian Wine Experience" tour this coming Sept. 25-Oct. 1. We'll visit wineries in three of Austria's top wine-producing regions - Wachau, Kamptal and Burgenland - as well as taking in the rich world of art and culture (and food and wine, of course!) in Vienna. For a quick summary and details, visit http://www.foodandwinetrails.com/html/wines_of_austria.html ___________________________________________________________________ SPEAKING OF WINE TOURS: YOU CAN STILL JOIN US IN BURGUNDY IN MAY The day is growing late, but we can still accommodate one more couple, or possibly two, on my May 24-30 tour of Burgundy and Champagne with French Wine Explorers, an exceptional introduction to the vinous and gastronomic world of Burgundy (plus a bonus side trip to Champagne). We'll enjoy VIP-style visits at several top producers plus four-star lodging and meals at some of Burgundy's top restaurants including the classic Lameloise. Details at French Wine Explorers, http://www.wine-tours-france.com/BurgundyWineTours.htm ___________________________________________________________________ TALK ABOUT WINE ONLINE Fond of Austrian wine? Or is it entirely new to you? Whether you want to teach or learn, you're always welcome to join in the conversations about wine in our interactive Wine Lovers' Discussion Group, where you'll find a round-table online discussion on today's topic here: http://www.myspeakerscorner.com/forum/index.phtml?fn=1&tid=49993&mi… If you prefer to comment privately, feel free to send me E-mail at wine(a)wineloverspage.com. I'll respond personally to the extent that time and volume permit. ___________________________________________________________________ Sepp Moser is a respected producer with a long history in Austria; his father, Lenz Moser, has been making wine since the 1950s, and the family winery history goes back to 1848. Today's featured wines from Sepp Moser - a beautifully structured, minerally Gruner Veltliner from Kremstal and a fruity, snappy Blauer Zweigelt from Neusiedlersee - represent the family's two primary properties. SEPP MOSER 2001 NEUSIEDLERSEE BLAUER ZWEIGELT RESERVE Clear garnet in the glass, this unfamiliar variety introduces itself with a forward, fresh and fruity aroma that blends red fruit with a pleasant scent of very ripe Winesap apples. Mouth-watering acidity, a hallmark of good Austrian wines, frames ripe but bone- dry red-cherry fruit on the palate, with a spicy hint of fragrant white pepper to add pleasing complexity. Snappy acidity makes it an exceptionally fine food wine, while its ripe fruit flavor and interesting complexity give it the tools to stand alone as an aperitif. U.S. importer: California Wine Club International Selections, imported by Victoire Imports Co., San Leandro, Calif. (April 11, 2004) FOOD MATCH: Acidity and fruit make it a versatile food wine, and it's not so robust as to overpower lighter fare. It made a very fine match with an Austrian classic, Wiener Schnitzel with fresh lemon. VALUE: Competitive in the ultra-premium category. WHEN TO DRINK: The conventional wisdom suggests drinking up Blauer Zweigelt while it's young and fresh, but this one certainly isn't going to fade over the next few years. WEB LINK: The winery Website is available in German and English. The English-language pages start here: http://www.sepp-moser.at/starte.html FIND THIS WINE ONLINE: Today's featured wines are available as a package from The California Wine Club, by phone at 1-800-777-4443 or on the Web at http://www.cawineclub.com?Partner_ID=winelovers You'll also find international "where to buy it" information on the winery Website (link above), or locate vendors and compare prices at Wine-Searcher.com, http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/Sepp+Moser/-/-/USD/A?referring_site=WLP ___________________________________________________________________ SEPP MOSER 2002 WOLFSGRABEN KREMSTAL GRUNER VELTLINER This clear, light straw-color wine shows a greenish hue in the glass. Pleasantly musky honeydew-melon aromas add overtones of citrus fruit; these appetizing aromas carry over on the palate, adding a distinct "stony," "chalky" minerality that is the trademark of quality Gruner Veltliner ("GV" for short). Crisp pineappley white fruit and a soprano high note of acidity hang on in a very long, clean finish. U.S. importer: California Wine Club International Selections, imported by Victoire Imports Co., San Leandro, Calif. (April 10, 2004) FOOD MATCH: GV is a remarkable food wine, right up there with Riesling in its versatility. It makes an amiable companion with poultry, pork, seafood and even spicy Asian fare. I matched it against the simple, warming background of a rich potato, celeriac and leek soup. VALUE: Increasing popularity is starting to boost the price of quality GV, but this one would be an excellent buy in the $15 range and still fair in the $20s. WHEN TO DRINK: Although this one is ready to drink, top GVs will keep well under good cellar conditions; I've found 30-year-old Gruner Veltliners holding up remarkably well in Austrian cellars. WEB LINK AND WHERE TO BUY IT: See links above. ___________________________________________________________________ CALIFORNIA WINE CLUB: COLLECTOR OR CONNOISSEUR? If you're a collector or a connoisseur, then The California Wine Club's Signature Series is for you! With the Signature Series, the search is unique. Club owners, Bruce & Pam Boring seek only the rarest, most decorated, most coveted wines from California's best boutique wineries. Some are library wines, held in reserve deep in the cellar ... others are covered in gold and silver medals, with only a few cases remaining. The Signature Series is not for everyone and due to the limited availability of wine, club membership is limited to just 800 members. Each shipment includes two bottles of rare, hand-selected wine as well as detailed tasting notes and winemaker comments. Monthly shipments vary in price, averaging $125. For more information or to join the Signature Series call 1-800-777-4443 or visit http://www.cawineclub.com?Partner_ID=winelovers ___________________________________________________________________ BRENTWOOD WINE CO. It's spring cleaning season. Don't forget your wine cellar! Savvy wine enthusiasts know that the time of year when we clean up, fix up and paint up is also a great time to review our wine collection and consider moving things around, clearing out old bottles that no longer intrigue us and making room for something new. Perhaps you over-bought what seemed like a good deal at the time ... or your tastes have changed ... or maybe you just see an opportunity to realize an investment gain on something you bought a decade ago. Whatever your reasons for taking wine to auction, Brentwood is the place for you. Here's why: * Brentwood pays sooner! With consignment auction houses, you'll wait months for your money. Brentwood pays in three to five days. * Brentwood pays more! You can count on average auction net or above for your wines. * Brentwood buys your wine outright! There's no risk of a bad auction result or unsold lots. * Free appraisals! Send your list to appraisal(a)brentwoodwine.com or fax it to 1-503-638-6737. Of course selling is only half the game. If you're buying collectibles, Brentwood is your year-round source for centerpiece wines for entertaining. Enjoy the fun and excitement of buying wine at auction ... at Brentwood Wine Co., http://www.brentwoodwine.com PS: Thinking about restocking your home glassware? Make Brentwood your source for Riedel crystal: They have the entire line ready for immediate shipment! ___________________________________________________________________ WORDS ABOUT PORT Kobrand Corp., a major importer, recently sponsored a series of Port tastings around the U.S., and Port expert Roy "Portolover" Hersh couldn't resist the opportunity to fly down when the tour came to Los Angeles. We're all the beneficiaries, as Hersh files this comprehensive report on a fine assortment of Ports from The Fladgate Partnership, (Taylor, Fonseca, Croft and Delaforce), along with comments on the 2001 Port growing conditions and tasting notes on a remarkable series of Ports old and new. You'll find his full report online at http://www.wineloverspage.com/port/fladgate.phtml Hersh is launching an E-letter about Port. If you would like to be included on his E-mail list, you're invited to send him E-mail at PortoLover(a)aol.com, including your first and last name and the city, state and country in which you reside. Knowing him to be both passionate and deeply knowledgeable about Port, I'm confident that this will be a don't-miss publication for anyone who enjoys this great wine. Highly recommended. ___________________________________________________________________ THIS WEEK ON WINELOVERSPAGE.COM Here are links to some of our recently published articles that I think you'll enjoy: * RANDY'S WORLD OF WINE: The compelling call of Walla Walla What's up with Walla Walla, and why is everybody going there? Well, not quite everybody; but everybody certainly ought to. Washington State's Walla Walla Valley is now making some earth-shattering wines, belying the region's non-reputation just 10 or 15 years ago. Randy Caparoso is back from a trip to Eastern Washington's rising wine region, and he brings us this report, complete with a wine rack full of Walla Walla tasting notes. http://www.wineloverspage.com/randysworld/walla.phtml * DAVE MCINTYRE'S WINELINE: Fighting the Palate Doldrums Dave McIntyre tells us that he's going through one of those phases when his brain and palate seem to be on autopilot. Food is fuel. Wine is medicine. Everything tastes the same. Heck, he's even trying to write verse! Seeking to rejuvenate his palate, he ruminates about wine in WineLine No. 41. http://www.wineloverspage.com/mcintyre/wineline41.phtml * WINE LOVERS' DISCUSSION GROUP: "Painful measures" in Bordeaux? Bordeaux wine producers are starting to "think the unthinkable," according to recent news reports, as they try to halt an ongoing plunge in sales of one of the world's most prestigious wines. Suggestions range from tearing out vineyards to taking stern measures to improving the quality of the product, particularly the low-cost bottlings sold as generic "Bordeaux" and "Bordeaux Superieur." Participants in our Wine Lovers' Discussion Group are commenting on these issues, and you're welcome to read the posts and join in. http://www.myspeakerscorner.com/forum/index.phtml?fn=1&tid=49973&mi… ___________________________________________________________________ LAST WEEK'S WINE ADVISOR INDEX The Wine Advisor's daily edition is usually distributed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (and, for those who subscribe, the FoodLetter on Thursdays). Here's the index to last week's columns: * Little Penguins, Yellow Tails and youth (April 9, 2004) http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineadvisor1/tswa040409.phtml * More Southern Italians (April 7, 2004) http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineadvisor1/tswa040407.phtml * Do wine lovers improve with age? (April 5, 2004) http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineadvisor1/tswa040405.phtml * Complete 30 Second Wine Advisor archive: http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineadvisor1/thelist.shtml * Wine Advisor FoodLetter: Salade Rouge et Verte (April 8, 2004) http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineadvisor1/tsfl040408.phtml * Wine Advisor Foodletter archive: http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineadvisor1/foodlist.phtml ___________________________________________________________________ SUBSCRIBE: * 30 Second Wine Advisor, daily or weekly (free) http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineadvisor/index.shtml * Wine Advisor FoodLetter, Thursdays (free) http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineadvisor/foodletter.shtml * Wine Advisor Premium Edition, alternate Tuesdays ($24/year) http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineadvisor/premium.phtml ARCHIVES: For all past editions: http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineadvisor1/thelist.shtml CONTACT US E-mail: wine(a)wineloverspage.com SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: For information, E-mail wine(a)wineloverspage.com ___________________________________________________________________ ADMINISTRIVIA To subscribe or unsubscribe from The 30 Second Wine Advisor, change your E-mail address, switch from weekly to daily distribution, or for any other administrative matters, click to http://www.wineloverspage.com/admin.php?id=20970&cs=7d1109b668af1f87d36… We welcome feedback, suggestions, and ideas for future columns. We do not use this list for any other purpose and will never give or sell your name or E-mail to anyone. All the wine-tasting reports posted here are consumer-oriented. In order to maintain objectivity and avoid conflicts of interest, I purchase all the wines I rate at my own expense in retail stores and accept no samples, gifts or other gratuities from the wine industry. Monday, April 12, 2004 Copyright 2004 by Robin Garr. All rights reserved. ----- End forwarded message ----- -- ------------------------------ * * Dr. James Lee Ellingson, Adjunct Professor jellings(a)me.umn.edu * * University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 fax 651 XXX XXXX * * Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *