The Tasting Table Budapest is the kind of place that we wish existed in every wine country. Located on Bródy Sándor in the Palace District, it’s at the top of the list as a “must-visit” place in Budapest. Whenever we visit Budapest, Tasting Table is always our first stop.

Owned by the same team behind Taste Hungary, a leading food and wine tour company in the country, Tasting Table Budapest is a wine shop and wine bar. Stocked with over 200 Hungarian wine labels, it offers a diverse selection of Hungarian wines by the glass and in its tasting flights.

Walking down the stairs into Tasting Table unveils a nirvana for wine geeks. The walls of the stone cellar are lined with wine bottles, the tables are always full, and there’s a constant buzz in the air.

Thursdays @ Taste Hungary’s Tasting Table Budapest

Every other Thursday, Tasting Table hosts a Hungarian wine-pairing dinner. One local winemaker is invited to present his/her wines while the in-house chef, Tamás, makes magic with one small oven and stovetop. It adds up to an intimate evening.

I had a chance to attend three of these wine-pairing dinners last Autumn. Every meal consisted of 3-4 food courses and 6-7 Hungarian wines. The wine selection goes beyond basic labels and the food is prepared with intention and care. But what I enjoyed most about every wine dinner was the company.

Hungarian is a difficult language to grasp, so it’s refreshing to be in an English-speaking environment. Tasting Table attracts visitors from all walks of life and the dinners and tastings are conducted in English. I’ve met diplomats, writers, and travelers—all with interesting stories to share—at Tasting Table.

During one of the dinners, I shared a table with people from Sweden, Germany, Romania, Hungary, Britain, Italy, and America. We were all strangers, but thanks to the social lubrication, conversations and laughter flowed freely after a few glasses of Hungarian wine. After an hour, we were exchanging life experiences and contacts. I left the meal full, not just from the food but with the warmth that comes with making new friends.

Food and wine are powerful tools in human interaction. They break down barriers and get to the core of what we need, sustenance and connection. And every time I walk down the stairs into Taste Hungary’s Tasting Table Budapest, I know that I’ll get those things. If you have a few hours to spare in Budapest, do yourself a favor and reward yourself with the same experience.

Hungarian Wines from Thursdays @ Tasting Table:

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

• Kovács Nimrod, Rhapsody, 2016 – Eger

Kovács Nimrod is one of the names to know in Eger. The Rhapsody is his entry-level Bikavér (Bull’s Blood). It’s a blend of Kékfrankos, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. This is a sleek, medium-bodied red with flavors of cherry, earth, pepper, and a kiss of oak. This is an everyday type of red but for those who want more complexity, I suggest the Kovács Nimrod Superior, Grand Bleu, or NJK. Score: 89/100

• Kolonics, Nagy-Somlói Furmint 2017 – Somló

Somló is one of Hungary’s smallest wine regions and is known for making complex, barrel-fermented white wines. The region consists of tiny producers like Kolonics. The Kolonics Nagy-Somlói Furmint is barrel fermented. Notes of lemon, white pear, smoke, and flint, with plenty of texture and fiery acidity. For hardcore wine nerds, this is really enjoyable. Score: 89/100

• Jackfall, Villányi Franc 2016 – Villány

The Jackfall Villányi Franc is a riper Cabernet Franc with notes of black cherry, graphite, tobacco, and mocha. The fruit is countered with savory and earthy notes. Most people would guess this a Bordeaux blend, not a varietal wine. Big, ripe tannins. Score: 91+/100

• Samuel Tinon, Szaraz Szamorodni 2009 – Tokaj

Samuel Tinon is a Frenchman who moved to Tokaj. He’s known as a specialist in dry Szamorodni, a unique style of wine similar to Fino Sherry. There are notes of bruised apple, almond, dried apricot, and walnut. Full in body and high in alcohol. The acidity is sharp and the wine finishes with a combination of dried peach and mineral. This is a pure geek wine. Score: 90+/100

• Oremus, Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos 2000 – Tokaj

The beautiful thing about Tasting Table is they usually end their tastings and dinners with sweet Tokaji. Owned by the Vega Sicilia group, Oremus is one of the big names in the Tokaj region. This wine has really come along with notes of butterscotch, orange peel, dried apricot, and yellow peach. This is uber complex, concentrated, and rich. Layered with lots of flavors, fiery acidity, and a long finish. Score: 95/100

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[ap_call_to_action button_text=”Book Now” button_url=”https://share.www.exoticwinetravel.com/tastehungarytour” button_align=”center”]Use the code EXOTICWINETRAVELS for 10% off any tours, tastings, and wine dinners at Taste Hungary.[/ap_call_to_action]

Cover photo from Taste Hungary Website. Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Hungarian Wine: Thursdays @ Taste Hungary’s Tasting Table appeared first on Wine Travel.

“EWT Insider” is meant to be a practical guide for gastronomy travelers. We’ll continue to update this page with every new visit to Budapest, so consider it a work in progress. This guide, compiled over six weeks in and around Budapest, is packed with information about where and what to eat and drink.

Budapest as seen from the Gellért Hill. From the left to the right: you can see the Buda Castle, the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, and the Hungarian Parliament Building. (Photo: Christian Mehlführer, CC BY 3.0)

Where to Drink

WINE TASTING

• Cintányéros (The wine selection is small so this isn’t the place to visit if you’re looking for a full-fledged, educational wine experience. But what you’ll find here is a good ambience to enjoy wine, sumptuous cheese & meat platters, and friendly service staff.)
• Cultivini (Also offers simple cheese and cold cut selections.)
• Tasting Table (Also offers artisanal cheese and meat selections that you shouldn’t miss.)

BUY & GO 

• Bortársaság (Has many outlets in Hungary; check https://www.bortarsasag.hu/hu/boltok/ for details.)
• In Vino Veritas (Has an adjacent wine bar.)

DINING PLACES WITH GOOD WINE LIST

• Bock Bisztró (Owned by Bock Winery in the Villány wine region, Bock Bisztró’s wine list is compact and offers a good introduction to Hungarian wines, but the food here is what keeps us coming back.)
• Konyvbar (There are many small-production and off-menu wines here. If you’re a vinous treasure hunter, this is the place to visit. The food menu changes every few weeks.)

Where to Eat

ASIAN FOOD: Hanoi Xua Vietnamese Restaurant, Indigo Indian Restaurant

BUDGET MEAL: Bors Gastro Bar (soup), Dagoba Bisztró (lunch), Hummus Bar (middle eastern), Karavan Torok Bufe (Turkish food)

CHOCOLATE: Chocolate Rózsavölgyi, Endorfine Csokoládéüzlet, Stuhmer Edessegbolt

CAFÉ: Butter Brothers (There are many interesting cafés in Budapest, but I love Butter Brothers for its pastries.), Central Cafe (An Art Nouveau cafe best suited for a long coffee-and-cake break.), The Bake Shop (Small café offering good-quality coffee and fantastic cakes, including paleo-friendly ones.)

CRAFT BEER: Beerselection.hu

‘EXPERIENTIAL’ GROCERY SHOPPING: Central Market Hall / Great Market Hall, Szimpla Sunday Farmers’ Market

HUNGARIAN FOOD: Belvárosi Disznótoros, Getto Guylas

TRADITIONAL BAKERY: Fröhlich Kóser Cukrászda, Sütipatika

Where to Find

ASIAN COOKING INGREDIENTS: Szep Kis India International

PALEO INGREDIENTS & NATURAL SKINCARE: Bio-Barát Biobolt, Dieta Life Market

Videos

Timestamps: Summer 2018 in Hungary
[0:09] Szimpla Sunday Market – Budapest, Kazinczy u. 14, 1075 Hungary
[0:24] Fröhlich Kóser Cukrászda – Budapest, Dob u. 22, 1072 Hungary
[0:30] KönyvBár & Restaurant – Budapest, 1074, Dob u. 45, 1074 Hungary
[0:40 and 1:54] Tasting Table Budapest – Budapest, Hungary, Bródy Sándor utca 9, 1088 Hungary
[0:48] Cintányéros Wine Bar – Budapest, Bókay János u. 52, 1083 Hungary
[1:05] Central Market Hall / Great Market Hall – Budapest, Vámház krt. 1-3, 1093 Hungary
[1:36] Belvárosi Disznótoros – Budapest, Király u. 1d, 1075 Hungary / Budapest, Károlyi utca 17, 1053 Hungary
[1:47] Central Cafe – Budapest, Károlyi utca 9, 1053 Hungary
[2:00 onward] About Tokaj wine region

Travel Deeper

WINE REGIONS AROUND BUDAPEST: Etyek-Buda (about 30 minutes by car), Ászár-Neszmély (about 60 minutes by car), Balaton Lake (about 90 minutes by car), Eger (about 100 minutes by car), Szekszárd (about 120 minutes by car), Villány (about 140 minutes by car), Tokaj (about 160 minutes by car)

The post EWT Insider: A Wine Lover’s Guide to Budapest appeared first on Wine Travel.

In the Spring of 2018, we set out on a re-tour of Croatia to bring our book Cracking Croatian Wine: A Visitor Friendly-Guide to life. After Plešivica, our second stop was the Istria wine region. There was so much to share about Istria that we ended up shooting four episodes there. In Part 1 of Cracking Croatian Wine in Istria, we introduce you to some interesting characters in the Istrian food and wine scene.

Istria Wine Region

Located on the north corner of the Adriatic Sea, Istria is extremely diverse in topography because of its towering mountains, rolling hills, pastureland, and coastline. The peninsula of Istria is surrounded on three sides by the Adriatic Sea and bounded by the Alps on the north, enabling a wide array of microclimates for viticulture. Most of the peninsula belongs to Croatia, with a small portion lying within Slovenia and Italy.

Istria touts the moniker “New Tuscany”, and it’s easy to observe where the similarities lie. The region is covered in vines, with green rolling hills topped by medieval towns. In addition to the topographical similarities, the Italian language is widely spoken here. Due to Istria’s proximity to Italy, many Istrians have Italian roots and relatives in Italy. The Istrian cuisine also takes on an Italian tint. Expect lots of hand-rolled pasta, fresh seafood, air-cured Pršut, tantalizing truffles, and award-winning olive oil when traveling in Istria. There are many small kitchens (called “konobas” in Croatia), similar to the traditional Italian trattorias and osterias, where you can scarf down honest, local fare paired with Istrian wines.

The wines of Istria are as exciting as its gastronomy. The leading wines of the region are made from indigenous varieties such as Malvazija Istarska and Teran.

Watch “Cracking Croatian Wine in Istria, Part 1 of 4” on Exotic Wine Travel YouTube:

Timestamps: Cracking Croatian Wine in Istria, Part 1 of 4

(0:57) Introduction to Istria.

(1:40) Meet Jacqueline Marovac and Olivier Ertzbischoff of Domaine Koquelicot. Olivier is a Frenchman who dreamed of making high-quality Chardonnay in Croatia, where Jacqueline was born. The Domaine Koquelicot’s cellar is located in the town of Gračišće.

(3:24) We eat at Konoba Morgan, a local favorite in the Brtonigla town (near Buje) in Northwest Istria, The restaurant boasts beautiful views of the surrounding area and is listed in the Michelin Guide.

(4:43) Meet Marko Fakin of Fakin Winery. Marko is a new face on the Croatian wine scene, and he’s already won several local and international awards for his Malvazija and Teran wines.

(6:59) We visit Konoba Fakin in the hilltop town of Motovun and enjoy excellent seasonal dishes including wild asparagus and summer truffle (Tuber aestivum).

(8:10) Meet the man known as the “Godfather of Istria”: Giorgio Clai of Clai Winery. This producer is well-known throughout Croatia and around the world because of Giorgio Clai’s uncompromising take on making minimal-intervention wine and—of course—the superior quality of the wines.

(12:18) Preview of the next episode, Cracking Croatian Wine in Istria (Part 2 of 4).

View, like, share the full episode on our Facebook Page:

The finest selection of

Croatian wines available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Croatian Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Croatian wines?    

If you’re looking to savor the exquisite flavor of Croatian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With an abundance of options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! We can’t wait to share our passion for wine with you!

You May Also Enjoy
Making Cracking Croatian WineIconic Croatian Wines: Clai Brombonero and Clai Sv Jakov

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Cracking Croatian Wine In Istria (Part 1/4) appeared first on Wine Travel.

In the Spring of 2018, we set out on a re-tour of Croatia to bring our book Cracking Croatian Wine: A Visitor Friendly-Guide to life. Our first stop on this journey was Plešivica. It’s a wine region that delivers some of the best Croatian wines but somehow still receives little attention.

The Plešivica Wine Region of Croatia

Plešivica is located in the western part of Central Croatia, less than 30 kilometers southwest of Zagreb.

This wine region experiences a continental climate. The mean annual temperature is around 11°C, with a mean temperature of 18°C during the growing season. The annual precipitation is slightly over 1,000 millimeters, half of which falls during the growing season.

This wine region receives around 1,870 hours of sunshine annually. Most of the vineyards face south; the aspect enables the grapes to receive sufficient sunshine for proper ripening. The vineyards lie on rolling hills, starting from 200 meters in elevation up to over 400 meters. The elevation and early morning fog help to retain the grapes’ acidity. The soil substrate, composed of mainly limestone and marl, further promotes the production of acidity in grapes.
 

Croatian Wines from Plešivica

Plešivica is touted as “Croatia’s Champagne”. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (“Pinot Crni” in Croatian) thrive here; both varieties are used for making sparkling wine and still wine. Other notable wine grapes include Muškat Žuti (Yellow Muscat), Plavec Žuti, Portugizer (Blauer Portugieser), Rizling (Riesling), Rizvanac (Müller-Thurgau), Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah.

There are around 30 producers in this area. Most of them own small plots of vineyards amounting to less than 10 hectares per producer. We would say about 10 of those producers are worth seeking out and a handful are outstanding. The outstanding ones, in our opinion, are in the league of the top 10 percent of the best producers in the country. This means that you’ll need merely two to three days to explore Plešivica in order to have a fundamental understanding of this wine region.

While Plešivica may seem small in geographical and production size, it is arguably the most exciting and ‘experimental’ wine region in the country. When in Plešivica, you can enjoy wine made in amphora, orange wine made in oxidative style, sparkling wine made in the traditional method and aged for four years on the lees, Pinot Noir redolent of Santa Maria Valley AVA’s quality, and cool-climate Syrah.

 
YOUR CHEAT SHEET TO PLEŠIVICA 
[ap_list list_type=”ap-list2″]
[ap_li]EAT: Restoran Ivančić, Restoran Karlo[/ap_li]
[ap_li]DRINK: Ivančič Winery, Korak Winery, Šember Winery, Tomac Winery[/ap_li]
[ap_li]STAY: Guesthouse Režekov Podrum in Plešivica (budget option), Hotel Princess in Jastrebarsko (mid-range option), Esplanade Hotel in Zagreb (luxury option)[/ap_li]
[/ap_list]

Watch “Cracking Croatian Wine in Plešivica” on Exotic Wine Travel YouTube:

Timestamps: Cracking Croatian Wine in Plešivica

(1:06) Introduction to the Plešivica wine region.

(1:47) Meet Krešimir Ivančič of Ivančič Winery. Learn why he uses the wine grapes Portugieser and Müller-Thurgau for his sparkling wines.

(4:22) Tourism infrastructure is limited in Plešivica. However, its proximity to Croatia’s capital city Zagreb makes it accessible. Visitors can choose to stay in Zagreb and make day trips to this wine region. Alternatively, this quality guesthouse, Režekov Podrum, can also provide a good night sleep plus tranquil views of the countryside.

(5:00) Meet the Šember family. Šember Winery is crafting delicious sparkling wines and juicy Pinot Noir. In this episode, Nikola Šember, son of the winery’s headman Zdenko Šember,  introduces the new premium sparkling wine Šember Pavel Pjenušac Brut.

(6:05) Meet Tomislav Tomac of Tomac Winery. This winery is best known for their sparkling wines and still wines made in amphora (Georgian Qvevri).

(8:47) We dine at Restoran Ivančič. one of the high-quality restaurants in the region. It boasts panoramic views of the Plešivica wine region and offers seasonal meals.

(9:35) We visit Korak Winery, a producer that many Croatian winemakers adore. Korak produces excellent white wines and sparkling wines but Josip Korak explains that, together with his father Velimir Korak, their true passion is Pinot Noir.

(13:00) A preview of the next episode, Cracking Croatian Wine in Istria (Part 1/4).

View, like, share the full episode on our Facebook Page:

The finest selection of

Croatian wines available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Croatian Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Croatian wines?    

If you’re looking to savor the exquisite flavor of Croatian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With an abundance of options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! We can’t wait to share our passion for wine with you!

You May Also Enjoy
Making Cracking Croatian Wine
Tomac Winery: Leading the Charge in Croatia

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Cracking Croatian Wine in Plešivica appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk By Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature wines that are worth noting. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!
 

Boškinac Hotel, Winery & Restaurant

Located on the Pag island, Boškinac is one of Croatia’s leading culinary hot spots. Owner/Chef/Winemaker Boris Šuljić is making a splash in the gastronomy scene with this one-stop venue and it’s not by any coincidence that Boškinac Hotel, Winery & Restaurant is located in “Croatian Ibiza”. Boris is also the founder of Kalypso Club, the pioneer of the world-famous Zrće beach’s club scene. As a serial entrepreneur in the service and entertainment industries, Boris is sure-footed when it comes to delivering the “wow” experience. Established in 2001, the Boškinac estate has welcomed many high-profile visitors, including Anthony Bourdain.

 

It’s been a long day! We checked out of our apartment at 11AM, collected our rental car, had lunch, started driving from Zagreb, and arrived on the Pag Island only at 430PM. Check out the views from our ride! Croatia is beautiful.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on May 23, 2017 at 3:16pm PDT

It took significant effort to reach Boškinac as we were departing from Zagreb, the capital city of Croatia. But the effort was well-cushioned by moments that were extremely rewarding to the sensory department.

Over the course of three days and two nights, we stuffed ourselves with the best that Boškinac had to offer. The Boškinac restaurant delivers a modern rendition of the Pag island cuisine. Here you wouldn’t find robust jus or abstruse mixture. The ingredients are seemingly kept to a minimum, which allows for refined flavors that do not cross the line into being highbrow. The dishes are only lightly seasoned, giving space to the pure, fresh ingredients to shine. Most of the creative effort is injected into the textural construction and presentation, as you can observe in the photos below.

(Scroll through the two feeds below for photos of the dishes.)

 

Some a la carte dishes we tried at Boškinac: 1. Cuttlefish strips sous vide / cuttlefish coral / caviar / cuttlefish ink spaghetti. 2. Three parts of Pag lamb prepared in three different ways. 3. Wild berries with yoghurt cream. 4. Fish stew / prawns / potatoes / carrots. 5. Squid stew with polenta & garlic crisps.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on May 26, 2017 at 2:27am PDT

 

Wine-pairing degustation dinner on our last night at Boškinac. Really stellar food!

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on May 26, 2017 at 3:02am PDT

The breakfast at Boškinac is just as elaborate as the dinner tasting menu, with a selection of the world-famous Pag cheeses. The cheeses run the gamut from soft to hard, aged to young, and pure to herb-infused.

(Scroll through the feed below for photos of the Boškinac’s breakfast spread .)

 

All food snaps today! We had the opportunity to spend 3 days at Boškinac hotel, winery & restaurant and were completely blown away by the food! These are 3 highlights from our breakfast spread: local Pag cheeses, local cured meat, and scrambled egg presented with so much attention to detail.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on May 26, 2017 at 1:52am PDT

Boškinac Gegić 2016

Find and buy at wineandmore.com

Gegić is a Croatian wine grape native to the island of Pag. There are currently only two producers working with this grape and they are Boškinac and Vina Otoka Paga. Gegić is known to produce irregular yields and as a result, its plantings have shrunk considerably. Boris continues to work extensively with this grape because he believes in its potential.

 

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on May 23, 2017 at 3:48pm PDT

Our first taste of Gegić 2016 was a tank sample and it showed promise. Now that it is in the bottle, it’s something to admire. Flavors of pine, pineapple, ripe peach, green herb, and mineral. It’s round in the mouth and dashes into every corner with flavors and salinity. A wine that makes us crave seafood.    

4.0/5   (You can find out more about our scoring system on the START HERE page.)
 

Boškinac OCU 2015

Find and buy at wineandmore.com

Boris also makes a macerated white wine from a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gegić, and another Dalmatian grape called Debit. The wine is named OCU, which means “to father”. It’s a wine that pays homage to Boris’s father and grandfather who were making this style of wine in accordance with Pag’s wine tradition. The tasting note is appended to the feed below.

4.2/5  (You can find out more about our scoring system on the START HERE page.)

 

Weeeee they are pouring wine-by-the-glass from a magnum bottle! 🙆🏻 Boskinač Ocu 2015 is a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Debit, and Gegić. The last two are Croatian varieties. 21 days of maceration. 6 months in oak before bottling. The result is an amber wine with medium frame, refreshing acidity, and white tea-like astringency. Aromas of summer flower, ginger, caramel, and marshmallow. Orange pith and citrus flavors on the palate. I don’t come across many amber wines with pronounced oak flavors, and definitely welcome the toasty sweetness that the oak lends to this wine.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on May 31, 2017 at 2:37pm PDT

The finest selection of

Croatian wines

available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Croatian Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Croatian wines?    

If you’re looking to savor the exquisite flavor of Croatian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With an abundance of options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! We can’t wait to share our passion for wine with you!

You May Also Enjoy
Amber Revolution by Simon Woolf
15 Amber Wines (Orange Wines) to Try in Croatia
Croatian Wine: 10 Refreshing White Wines to Try

Disclosure: Boris offered us a complimentary full-board stay at Boškinac hotel, but we were under no obligation to review the hotel or the wines. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers.

The post Boškinac Wines: Gegić 2016 and OCU 2015 appeared first on Wine Travel.

Check out our wine travel guide to Santa Barbara Wine Country. 

Los Olivos is a town located in Santa Ynez Valley. Despite its small population of about 1,000 people, the town is constantly bustling due to its plethora of tasting rooms, restaurants, cafes, galleries, and boutiques. There are around 50 tasting rooms, representing wineries and vineyards from all over Santa Barbara County. The number of award-winning and highly scored wines that can be found here is astounding. A wine lover can easily spend a week here and sip well every single day.

For wine nerds and movie buffs: there’s a famous movie line that once affected the global wine sales and the scene takes place in Los Olivos.

Outstanding Wine Tasting Rooms in Los Olivos

The theme here is similar to Lompoc Wine Ghetto – it isn’t about the quality level but rather personal preference when selecting the producers to visit. We can’t stress enough how important it is to explore wine with an open mind. During our research trip, a few places that we had planned to visit were closed, so we ended up reworking our schedule with ideas from the people we met along the way. We took recommendations from the acquaintances we met in town and went to visit Tercero and Kaena – two producers we hadn’t heard of prior to our trip. Both producers turned out to be a pleasant surprise and a breath of fresh air. They are excellent choices for people who tend to feel intimidated by wine but simultaneously curious to explore the diversity and sensory merits of it.

If you like richly flavored wine with an exuberant lift, then Dragonette is the tasting room to check out. All the wines are excellent and tell the characteristics of the various sources. The highlight for us is the rosé made from Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah.

For some of the best examples of Pinot Noir, head to Samsara. The Samara Cargasacchi Vineyard Pinot Noir is one of our favorite Pinot Noirs of Santa Barbara Wine Country. We love how it is not overtly fruity yet still captures the Californian sun with an underlying elegance.

If you’re a big wine geek who wants to understand the appellations, geographical characteristics, soil types, and climatic features in Santa Barbara County, then J.Wilkes is a place you shouldn’t miss. Wes Hagen has been a winemaker in Santa Barbara since 1994 and is now at the helm of J.Wilkes. Wes also did the research and wrote the petitions for Sta Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon and Happy Canyon AVAs. When we visited the J.Wilkes tasting room, he was there to walk us through the maps of Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley in greater detail than anything we could find anywhere else.

Charine Tan, Matthew Horkey, and Wes Hagen.

One thing to note is that while the operating hours are relatively uniform and that’s 11AM to 5PM, the days that each tasting room is open vary. It is also common for the rooms to be opened or closed at a different time from their official hours.

Planning a trip to Santa Barbara?
Want to learn more about Santa Barbara wines?

Our visitor-friendly guide to the wines and tasting rooms of Santa Barbara is available now!
Check out Sipping Santa Barbara: Recommended Wines and Producers for more information.

[sp_testimonials_slider category=”1048″]

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There are only two places in the world that make me mourn inappropriately and twitch theatrically over their foods. First: Piedmont with its purist foodies who strive to conserve the most authentic expressions of the regional cuisine. Second: San Sebastián and its prideful nonchalance in the everyday fine-food affair. As the title suggests, we are on the topic of San Sebastián’s pintxo today and the only description I can offer is a series of salacious grunts and moans. So let’s cut to the chase and go straight to the guide. Special thanks to my dear Basque friends, Ana Echeveste and Luis Cortés, for the recommendations. During my one-week stay in San Sebastián, I managed to stuff 90% of their recommendations into my gut and here are my top 10 delights for the senses.

WHY SAN SEBASTIÁN?

Home to fewer than 190,000 people, San Sebastián is a coastal city in the Basque Country of Spain. The city has the highest second number of Michelin-starred restaurants per capita in the world (after Kyoto, Japan, and ahead of cities like Paris and Lyon). But the charm of San Sebastián doesn’t stop at the tire-branded reputation; said food critic Nina Caplan, “Many cities can provide you with a fantastic Michelin-starred meal, but to be able to walk into almost any eaterie, order three dishes and be confident they’ll all be fantastic, is very rare.” Culturally, eating is viewed as a social sport. As my friend Luis Cortés said, “I don’t go to a restaurant to eat, I go there to have a good time with my friends over food and drinks.”

WHAT IS PINTXO? 

A pintxo–the Basque style of tapas–is an unassuming small bite served at bars in the hours between lunch and dinner. It is customary to order just one pintxo and one drink at each bar and then move on to the next stop. The grazing is appropriate because each bar is typically known to have two or three signature dishes, and you might be disappointed if you venture beyond that perimeter. The point is to make a night out of pintxo-hopping and a participant of the pintxo-hopping sport should feel satiated and decently tipsy by the end of the evening.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR SAN SEBASTIÁN PINTXO TRAIL 

All the dishes below are served pintxo style and priced between €2 and €4. In terms of portion, you should be full by the fourth to sixth order. So go with a friend or in a group in order to check off all the recommendations below.

Borda Berri – Calle Fermin Calbeton, 12

English menu is available upon request.

• Puntalette risotto with Basque sheep cheese
• Ravioli with leeks, sweetbread and lemongrass
• Veal cheek with red wine sauce
• For the adventurous foodies: Crispy pig’s ear with tximitxurri (Basque sauce)

Puntalette risotto with Basque sheep cheese – from Borda Berri.

Crispy pig’s ear with tximitxurri, from Borda Berri.

La Cuchara de San Telmo – Calle 31 de Agosto, 28

English menu is available upon request. The menu changes according to season.

• Cod ravioli with tomato confit and Aragon black olive oil
• Foie gras monfort sautéed with honey, mustard and orange peel
• Veal cheeks stewed in red wine with chickpea hummus
• If you can stomach more: Roasted sea scallop with Guijuelo bacon, cauliflower puree and curry of roots and herbs.

Foie gras Monfort sauteed with honey, mustard and orange peel – from La Cuchara de San Telmo.

Veal cheeks stewed in red wine with chickpea hummus – from La Cuchara de San Telmo.

A Fuego Negro – 31 de Agosto, 31

The menu changes according to season. This bar was highly recommended by Bruce Palling, Wall Street Journal’s travel & food writer. A Fuego Negro specializes in contemporary-style pintxos so feel free to be adventurous with your order. The menu—in English, Spanish and Basque—is displayed on a large blackboard behind the bar.

• Crab salad with crab ice cream

Crab salad with crab ice cream – from A Fuego Negro.

Bar Txepetxa – Calle Pescaderia 5

Well loved by Sir Ian Mckellen/Gandalf, Txepetxa is a temple for anchovies. Just order any dish with anchovy in it. I  mean… plump, juicy anchovies from the Cantabrian Sea.

• The “anchoa a la jardinera” is a popular fave.

Bar Txepetxa is an anchovy temple.

Bar Zeruko Donostia – Calle Pescaderia 10

Another great place for a different gastronomic pintxo experience. Like A Fuego Negro, Bar Zeruko serves modern, creative pintxos that you can’t find at other bars.

• Pistachio crusted blood sausage 

Pistachio crusted blood sausage — at Bar Zeruko.

Bar Nestor – Calle Pescaderia, 11

• Bar Nestor is most known for its steak and tomato salad, but it also serves one of the best tortillas in Spain.

Bar Txalupa – Fermin Calbeton Kalea, 3

I didn’t appreciate a specific pintxo from here but the spread of over 70 dishes across the bar (see featured image) was intriguing.

FOR DESSERTS

Gelateria Boulevard – Alameda Boulevard 20

One of the best ice cream places in the world, and by that I mean it’s better than many of the gelato places I’ve visited in Italy.

Pasteleria Oiartzun – Igentea, 2

A pastry and cake paradise. The trufa (Spanish word for truffle) here is amazing.

Pasteleria Oiartzun

Trufa from Pasteleria Oiartzun, which tasted like a chocolate rum ball.

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The ideas expressed in this article are personal opinions and are not associated with any sponsors or business promotions.

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