An Austrian Reawakening
“Philippines Wine Shop reports news about wine: An Austrian Reawakening
March 4, 2011
Austrian wine is a little abstruse. This isn’t to say the quality is deficient. Far from it. It’s just I suspect that for those of you who don’t curl up in front of the fireplace with “The World of Atlas of Wine,” it’s a wine-producing country one approaches in trepidation.
Found at the back of the wine list or at the far corner of the wine merchants, sandwiched between Germany and Eastern Europe, the country’s vintners are relatively unknown, which seems a little unfair as it’s hard to think of a comparable wine region that has shown such a dramatic reinvention in recent years.
Part of the problem is that Austria has a large and thirsty domestic market that consumes a vast swathe of the country’s production. Figures from the trade group Austrian Wine show that 70% of all production is consumed locally, while 30% is exported. Last year, exports reached a value of €122 million. Then, of course, there is the diethylene glycol scandal of 1985, when a handful of producers were caught adding the chemical, which is related to antifreeze, to make their wine sweeter. But the episode occurred a long time ago now and the present generation of Austrian winemakers have moved beyond the scandal and are producing wines of exceptional character.
The country’s most famous exponent is the grape variety Grüner Veltliner, which in areas such as Kamptal, Kremstal and Wachau produces a green-tinged white wine that is lean, tart and dry, with aromas that can range from white pepper to perfume to herbaceous spiciness. Above all, it is a wine that refreshes much in the style of, say, a Riesling from Alsace. Along the Danube River, Riesling is cultivated on rocky soil that gives it a mineral character, with notes of white peach, apricot and lemon, and, with bottle age, petrol-like scents.
Other white grape varieties range from Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Neuburger, which again, with time, can develop an attractive nuttiness.
But Austria is also carving out a niche for its red wines, based around Blaufränkisch and grape varieties such as Blauer Zweigelt. Blaufränkisch is an interesting varietal; pre-medieval, it was widely planted throughout the time of the Hapsburg monarchy and is still one of Austria’s most prevalent grapes. Today, it thrives in the vineyards that stretch east on the north bank of the Danube as the river flows out of Vienna toward Slovakia, an area known as Carnuntum. At its best, Blaufränkisch takes on a spicy, cherry-like aroma, with freshness and purity. When drunk young, it can taste a little hard. But with bottle age, it can take on a farm-yard, yeasty character.
Blauer Zweigelt is Austria’s most widespread grape variety, with deep, sour-cherry, earthy and berry aromas. These wines work best when they haven’t been exposed to too much oak, providing a welcome antidote to the large quantities of heavier wines on the market.
Like most wines, Austria’s reflect their sense of place and are best understood when tasted alongside the local food. A chilled glass of Grüner Veltliner marries wonderfully with schnitzel, while the earthy, cherry character of Blaufränkisch is a perfect foil for veal or stewed meats. For the more adventurous, I would recommend trying a bottle of one of the white-grape varieties with lighter seafood-based dishes. Weingut Bründlmayer, Weingut Pichler-Krutzler, F.X. Pichler, Uwe Schiefer, Emmerich Knoll and Muhr-van der Niepoort are among the wineries that impressed. Willi Bründlmayer’s wines are worth seeking out, with fresh, elegant, clean wines that don’t overwhelm.
One wine that won’t fail to impress when lined up against its more expensive counterparts is sweet wine from the Kracher winery. The wines are grown in the east of the country in the Burgenland region, close to Lake Neusiedl at Illmitz. They shot to fame in 1994 when the late Alois Kracher’s Welschriesling TBA beat France’s celebrated Château d’Yquem in a blind tasting. Since then, the wines have enjoyed something of a following and it’s not hard to see why they are simply some of the best sweet wines out there.
Source:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703498804576156283719612252.html
Clark Wine Center is more than a wine shop to people living in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone. Clark’s wine shop is also a popular venue for parties and family gatherings. Conveniently located on the main highway of Clark Philippines, it is accessible to guests from Manila, Subic, Pampanga, Angeles City and of course those who live and work in Clark. Aside from the 2-storey wine shop which also has a nice roof deck lawn for small party of up to 80 people as well as an indoor wine tasting room which accommodates up to 60 comfortably, this wine store called Clark Wine Center also has one hectare of picnic grounds surrounding it.
Best birthday gift to send to someone living in the Philippines is a nice bottle of wine from Yats Wine Cellars. Delivery of birthday wine can made to Manila, Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines and Subic.
Wine Shop Manila offers best luxurious beers in Philippines called Vintage Beer.
Birthday gift of wine is the most popular gift idea this year in Philippines. Yats Wine Cellars offers birthday wine gifts that are unique and certain to make the recipient very happy. These birthday wines are not available in wine shops so it is a unique bottle of wine for the recipient.
This Manila Wine Shop is the largest wine shop in Philippines. This is the wine shop to go for fine vintage wines, not just the big names like Lafite, Latour, Petrus, Cristal, Krug, Grange, Vega Sicilia and Sassicaia. This wine shop in Manila offers many excellent vintage wine for under p4,000, even for some that are 20-30 year old from St. Emilion and Pomerol.
Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center. Visitors buy wine in Manila and Pampanga should not miss stopping at this wine shop for a few bottles of fine vintage wines to bring home.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com
Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.
Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.
Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)
YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay
Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.
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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com
YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.yatsleisure.com
Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com
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