Food and Wine of the Habsburg Empire

A Wine and Food Tour of the Habsburg Empire
Over several centuries, the Austrian House of Hapsburg ruled much of Central Europe, finally ending in 1918, with the end of WWI. These days, many of these countries, like Austria, Hungary and Croatia, are making exciting and compelling wines at a fantastic price point.

Often, the wines are made by ancient techniques that were abandoned centuries ago with indigenous grape varieties that are unfamiliar names. The labels are often difficult to to read, using languages that have too many consonants, not enough vowels and weird punctuation.

This tasting will take you on a tour through Central Europe: Hungary, Austria, northeast Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Georgia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Macedonia and Serbia.

These wines will be paired with traditional Austrian favorites like apple strudel, schnitzel, roasted sausages, pretzels and cheese.

1. HeidiSchrock furmint Trocken (www.Heidi-Schroeck.com; TerryTheiseSlctn; 13.5%) Rust/Burgenland 2013:
$26
2. IngridGroiss GemischterSatz Braitenpuechtorff (12.5%; http://www.Ingrid-Groiss.At; CircoVino/Tuscon) Breitenwaida/Niederosterreich/Austria 2015: $22
3. CO Coronica Gran Malvasia (13.9%; Malvazija Istarska; http://www.Coronica.eu/en/) Moreno Coronica/Koreniki/
Istria/Croatia 2015: $33
4. Kabaj Amfora GoriskaBrda/Slovenia (12.8%; Rebula/Malvazija/Zeleni/Sauvignon; Frmtd: 3500 litre clay Qvervi; http://www.Kabaj.Sl) Jean-Michel Morel/Šlovrenc/Slovenia 200: $30
5. doqi Rkatsiteli (13%; Frmtd: on the skins in clay Qvervi/Doqi) Gogi Dakishvili/Burkhard Schuchmann/Kisiskhevi/Kakheti/Georgia 2015: $22
6. Evolucio Blaufrankisch Weinland/Austria (Lemberger; 12.5%; http://www.BoutiqueWines.info) 2015: $11
7. Stoka Izbrani Teran (11.8%; http://www.Stoka.Sl) Tadej & Primož Štoka/Krajna Vas/Kras/Slovenia 2015: $24
8. Ronchi di Pietro Schioppettino Dd’OC: Friuli Colli Orientali (13%; L18) Francesco & Fulvio Zorzettig/
Cividale del Friuli 2015: $20