Plešivica is located in the western part of Central Croatia, less than 30 kilometers southwest of Zagreb. The A1 highway approaches Plešivica on a flat plain, but once you turn off the road and head north, the hills start to climb. The change in elevation and scenery is abrupt and dramatic. The steep hills provide panoramic views of the flatlands. The tiny villages are linked by small roads, and the overall outlook is reminiscent of Barolo in Piedmont, Italy.

Plešivica is number 6 on the map.

The vineyards lie on the rolling hills of the Samobor range, between 200 and 600 meters in elevation, and experience a true continental climate. Most of the vineyards face south, which allows for sufficient sunshine to ripen the grapes while the elevation and early morning fog help to retain acidity.

Plešivica Grapes and Styles

One downside of Plešivica is the lack of autochthonous varieties that can be considered trademarks of the region. Istria has Teran and Malvazija. Dalmatia has dozens of obscure names, along with headliners Plavac Mali and Pošip. But here, the plantings are dominated by international varieties, with only a small portion of obscure native grapes that are being used for commercial production.

There are wonderful wines being made here, from the white grapes Graševina (Welschriesling), Chardonnay, Rhine Riesling, Neuburger, Pinot Gris, Pinot blanc, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Zeleni Silvanac (Müller-Thurgeau), and the native Žuti Plavec. A few producers have Portugizer, Pinot Noir, and one producer has a vineyard of Syrah.

This is becoming the area in Croatia for sparkling wine. All of the vineyards are on the south facing slopes which allow for adequate sun, but the elevation and early morning fog help retain acidity. Sparkling producers like Tomac say that the carbonate soils here mimic those of Champagne. This region has also been suggested as the best area in Croatia for Pinot Noir. Several producers make some very commendable and fruity Pinot Noir wines that show great elegance.

Plešivica vines in December 2016 photo by Krešimir Ivančič

Despite the attention Plešivica receives for its sparklers and Pinot Noirs, we feel like the dry white wines are overlooked and very exciting. They are taut and spring loaded with energy and acidity. Several examples of wines we tasted from Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling displayed these exact characteristics.

Standout Plešivica Wineries

There are anywhere from 30 commercial wineries in Plešivica depending on the source. Of these wineries, four have a large market presence and reputation of high-quality winemaking. Thanks to the help of our friends, we visited Plešivica three separate occasions over a three-week period. We have a separate article about our long and exciting visit with Tomac, these other three wineries were also impressive.

Korak

Just under the village of Plešivica sits the cellar of Korak. It has a fantastic, panoramic view over the rolling hills. Velimir Korak is the proprietor and is bright, jovial, and full of energy. He learned winemaking from his grandfather but is also schooled in modern winemaking techniques. He makes wine from Riesling, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. Velimir labels his wines with the name of the micro-location under the grape variety.

We spent several hours with him on a cold December afternoon. All of us sipped, talked, and laughed while looking out over the wine hills. Velimir has a wonderful sparkle in his eye and his warm personality made us feel at ease.

“It is not who you learn (winemaking) from, but who gives you the passion.” – Velimir Korak

Velimir’s annual production depends on the year but recently has reached 50,000 bottles. His cellar is immaculately clean and well organized. All of Korak’s high-quality wines are fermented in traditional, large oak casks. Some of his wines are barrel fermented, like his well-renowned Chardonnay Sur-Lie. The wines are pure, clean, and vivid expressions of the grapes.

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks

• Korak Pinot Sivi 2011

Amber (orange) wine made from Pinot Gris. This is macerated one month on the skins and looks like a rosé in the glass. Flavors include rose, orange peel, red cherry, and lychee. There is a touch of earthiness and it tastes like a light red wine. The body is medium and there are no tannins which make this an easy amber wine to drink. 

• Korak Syrah 2013

Strong nose and a very elegant mouthfeel on this red wine that seems out of place in the area. This is from a half-hectare of Syrah that doesn’t fully ripen every year. It has black pepper, blackberry jam, caramel, and violets. This is medium bodied and soft tannins. A very nice interpretation of the grape, fruity and earthy.

• Korak Chardonnay Sur Lie 2013

This wine has the reputation of being the best Chardonnay and one of the best white wines in all of Croatia. It tastes like a Mâconnais, White Burgundy. Very elegant and graceful effort. Flavors of melon, banana, pineapple, and crushed rocks with a touch of hazelnut. The body is full, and the wine has intense flavors with a long finish.

Find Korak wines on wineandmore.com

Šember

This cellar is down the hill from the village of Plešivica. It is a humble, family-owned cellar with a stellar reputation for making delicious, high-value for money wines. Their production hovers at around 45,000 bottles per year with half of that being sparkling wines. The family has seven hectares of Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Noir.

Zdenko Šember and his son Nikola head up the winemaking which goes back six generations in the Šember family. They also have a wine made in amphora, like Tomac, but we did not get a chance to taste it. The tasting room doesn’t have the sweeping views that Korak’s possesses but it feels homely, like a mountain chalet.

We reached the cellar after sunset. The entire family was busy bottling and packaging wine. Zdenko’s daughter Lucija, who speaks excellent English, led us through the tasting. Later in the evening Zdenko and Nikola joined us and soon we were tasting through several tank samples. Their wines are well made and are very easy drinking and one of the tank samples knocked our socks off (noted below).

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks 

• Šember Rosé Pjenušac NV

Méthode Traditionelle from Pinot Noir. Full of raspberry, strawberry, apple, and biscuit flavors. The palate is a little bit angular but it is still delicious. The acidity is high and the bubbles are really fine. This may be the best value in Croatian sparkling wine. 

• Šember Rajnski Rizling MMXI (2011)

Every vintage we tasted of Šember’s Rieslings were made differently and came with varying levels of sugar. This 2011 vintage is macerated for 25 days and aged for 2-years in large oak casks, it is a dry wine. A full-bodied white wine that has flavors of pumpkin, apricot, peach, and leaves. Rich with a long finish. 

• Šember Pinot Crni 2015

We tasted the 2011, 2013 and 2015 vintages of Pinot Noir from Šember. This 2015 was tasted from a barrel sample. This has the goods to be excellent. Chocolate, cherry, and hazelnut. This is rich and fruity with high acidity and smooth tannins. The finished product should be excellent. 

Find Šember wines on wineandmore.com

Ivančič

Krešimir Ivančič has the highest vineyards among these three producers. His cellar is above the village of Plešivica and it affords panoramic views of the wine hills below. Krešimir showed us numerous smartphone photos, looking downward at the fog just before sunrise. “This is the view I have every morning and it never gets old” he told us. We spent the entire evening sampling his wines, hearing his stories, and eating marvelous blood-sausage prepared by his family.

Ivančič is the rebel in Plešivica and it is evident in his wines. Krešimir does things his own way and is unwavering in his tastes. His production is small, about 25,000 bottles per year and finding the wines on the Croatian market can be difficult. He works with Rizvanac (Müller-Thurgau), Chardonnay, and Portugizer. The latter grape is known for making young, quaffing wines but Krešimir makes a still version aged in oak and a sparkling wine out of it.

Krešimir’s production revolves around sparkling wine made in méthode traditionelle. What sets him apart is what he looks for in sparkling wine. He doesn’t enjoy the biscuit flavors in Champagne. “I like to make sparkling wine with fine bubbles that display the pure flavors from the grape,” he told us.

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks

• Ivančič Griffin Rizvanac 2014 – 100% Müller-Thurgau

This is a very surprising white wine made from this German grape that is cross betwen Riesling and Madeleine Royale. It is oily, smoky, and spicy with nice notes of ripe apple and Asian pear. The mouthfeel is rich and it coats the mouth with being obtrusive. 

• Ivančič Griffin Dark Side Barrique 2013

Portugizer is known for making simple, fresh wines to be consumed young. They are the “Beaujolais Noveau” wines of Croatia. This is a more serious take on this unheralded grape and has an impressive layer of oak that is not overbearing. It has sour cherry, pepper, and cedar flavors that are accompanied by soft tannins. Fans of Central Italian Sangiovese will really enjoy this wine. 

• Ivančič Griffin Zero Brut Nature NV – 100% Chardonnay

This was made with méthode traditionelle and no dosage (sugar) was added after disgorgement. This is the most biscuit flavored white wine in Ivančić lineup. Full of lemon, pear, sweet tart candy, and bread. Bigger in body, with creamy mousse and a long finish.

Ivančić Griffin Wines can be found at wineandmore.com

If You Love Wine…

If you are a wine lover and in Croatia, don’t miss out on Plešivica. It offers stunning scenery and some delicious wines. Maybe if you are in luck, some kick-ass blood sausage too.

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.

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Disclosure: 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. 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. 

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There was a time when sweet Liebfraumilch and cheap, bulk wine symbolized the Rheinhessen.

Today things are different. The Rheinhessen may be Germany’s most dynamic wine region. It’s home to some of the most prestigious German wines, like the Keller G-Max Riesling. It is also home to some of the country’s most experimental wines and its most well-regarded sparkling wine house.

Biodynamic Rheinhessen

The Rheinhessen is Germany’s largest wine region, with close to 27,000 hectares of vineyards. Thanks to the dryer and relatively warm (by German standards) climate, this is one of the regions in the country where Biodynamic farming is possible. We visited three producers taking advantage of this Wittmann, Alexander Gysler, and Bianka & Daniel Schmitt.

Wittmann produces classically styled wines while the latter two focus on more boundary-pushing wines. The most extreme examples are Bianka & Daniel Schmitt’s Voodoo Doll and Wild Pony wines. They pay homage to dry Szamorodni from Tokaj, Hungary – Bianka’s native country. Both of these wines have enough gumption to please the geekiest of palates.

The journey to produce extreme biodynamic wines wasn’t easy for Bianka & Daniel Schmitt. The Schmitt estate produced classic German wines before Daniel took over and met Bianka, who is Hungarian. “At first the family wasn’t accepting of our new direction,” she says.

The couple has persevered and the 16-hectare estate is now one of the 80 Demeter certified wineries in Germany. With new plantings of Blaufränkisch and Furmint, the production is set to increase. They regularly sell out and can be found in fairs around the world like RAW.

Rheinhessen Sekt

Of all the sparkling wines we tasted in Germany, the most exciting examples were from two producers in the Rheinhessen. Sekthaus Raumland is considered to be the premier sparkling wine house in all of Germany. They are so well regarded by their peers that many send their wines to Sekthaus Raumland for disgorgement.

The estate is owned by Heide-Rose and Volker Raumland, who both share a passion for Champagne. Volker studied winemaking at the University of Geisenheim and his talents started to shine immediately. “As a student, I made a barrel of sparkling wine and it beat out several Champagnes in a blind tasting,” Volkers says. “It shocked my professors and soon everyone in the class wanted to make sparkling wine.”

Sekthaus Raumland produces only sparkling wine, made by the traditional method. All of their wines stay on the lees for years and see extended bottle aging. They are considered the reference for German sekt.

The sparklers from Raumland and nearby Alexander Gysler are yeasty and finessed. They are dare-we-say, Champagne-like both in texture and flavor. There is a rise in demand for sparkling wine both locally and worldwide, which should continue to push the quality in the Rheinhessen.

Wine Recommendations:

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

• Alexander Gysler, Pet-Nat 2018

Alexander Gysler farms biodynamically in the heart of Rheinhessen. He produces both conventional and quirky wines, like this Pet-Nat made from 100% Pinot Noir. It has a red raspberry color with notes of raspberry, fruit gum, cherry, and yeast. Fine bubbles hold together the refreshing and crisp mouthfeel. A well made Pet-Nat that is easy to drink. Score: 90/100

• Alexander Gysler, Riesling Brut 2015

The Alexandre Gysler Riesling Brut 2015 is a sparkler that spent three years on the lees. There are notes of biscuit, lemon, white peach, and a touch of slate. It has a biscuity finish. The bready notes and fine bead of bubbles make it very Champagne-like. Score: 92/100

• Bianka & Daniel Schmitt, Voodoo Doll 2017

The Bianka & Daniel Schmitt Voodoo Doll is made from 100% Riesling that spent four weeks on the skin aged under the flor. The wine is inspired by dry Tokaji Szamorodni. The wine is aged in 600 L oak and has notes of pumpkin spice, orange peel, and apricot. Round and spicy on the palate, this has chewiness with high acidity and a long finish. Score: 91/100

• Bianka & Daniel Schmitt, Wild Pony 2017

The Bianka & Daniel Schmitt Wild Pony is aged in 600 L oak. It’s a blend of Riesling, Sylvaner, and Muskateller on the skins for six weeks under the flor. Like the Voodoo Doll, this wine is also inspired by dry Tokaji Szamorodini. It’s full-bodied with notes of orange peel, marigold, white pepper, and tomato leaf. The wine isn’t expressive at first but the intensity and complexities build momentum all the way through the finish. Chewy tannins. Score: 92/100

• Sekthaus Raumland, X. Triumvirat Grande Cuvée Brut 2010

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

A fine cuvée from Germany’s highly regarded sparkling wine producer. The Sekthaus Raumland X. Triumvirat Grande Cuvée Brut 2010 is a blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay aged on the lees for eight years. There are notes of biscuit, lemon, stone, white pear, and a touch of barrel. Fine bubbles with a creamy mouthfeel and a long finish. Score: 92+/100

• Sekthaus Raumland, Chardonnay Prestige Brut 2011

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Sekthaus Raumland Chardonnay Prestige Brut 2011 spent almost six years on the lees. There are notes of mushroom, biscuit, lemon, and green apple with a creamy bead of bubbles. The biscuit and brioche notes really stand out on this wine. Intense citrus notes accompany the tight and steely finish. Score: 93/100

• Sekthaus Raumland, Blanc de Noirs Brut 2008 

The Sekthaus Raumland Blanc de Noirs Brut 2008 is one of the estate’s reserve wines. It’s made from Pinot Noir. This has 3 g/L RS dosage and is aged on the lees for ten years. There are notes of sour strawberry, lemon, pear drop, biscuit, and mushroom. For an aged wine this is still very fresh ad lively. The wine spreads out on the palate wide and then comes back to a tight and long finish. Score: 93+/100

You Might Also Enjoy:

German Pinot Noir: Is It Worth The Hype?

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We covered our own accommodation, transportation, and visits for this article. 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.

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The Loire is the third-largest wine-producing region by volume in France. The river is over 1000 kilometers (600 miles) in length and there are over 50 appellations in the region. The variety of wines produced here are staggering, everything from still to sparkling to sweet. It would take a lifetime to really understand the region and we attempted to do it in under a week.

Cru Muscadet

To improve the image and quality of Muscadet, a Cru system has been put into place. They are supposed to represent the finest wines produced around Nantes. There are currently ten Crus: Clisson, Gorges, Le Pallet, Goulaine, Château Thébaud, Mouzillon-Tillières, Monnières-Saint Fiacre, La Haye Fouassière, Vallet, and Champtoceaux.

During one afternoon and evening with the producers of Cru Muscadet, we sampled all ten Crus side by side. While there are subtle differences in the Crus, the real power in these wines is the long lees contact and aging potential. There are several producers bottling wines after three to five years on the lees. This adds body and complexity to the neutrally flavored and highly acidic grape Melon de Bourgogne. We also tasted a number of vintage Muscadet wines going back to the 1970s, which showed very little signs of age. Some of these wines could pass for a high-end Chablis. Better yet, a lot of these wines Muscadet Sur Lie and Cru Muscadet can be had at low prices.

Savennières

Chenin Blanc is one of the world’s great yet unheralded grapes. It can flourish as many different styles of wine. One of the great areas for Chenin Blanc is the Savennières AOC.

The Savennières AOC is located near the city of Angers. It’s a small appellation that produces less than 500,000 bottles per year from 30 producers (according to the Loire Valley Wines website). We spent one afternoon at the famous estate Coulée de Serrant owned by Nicolas Joly and tasted through a wide range of Savennières wines.

In general, these are barrel fermented whites made from Chenin Blanc. The wines have intense mineral notes with high acidity and ripe peach flavors. They are complex and thought-provoking wines. While many people chase White Burgundy, Savennières can be a great alternative. These are wines that Charine and I plan to seek out in the future.

Saumur-Champigny

Cabernet Franc is one of the blending grapes used in Bordeaux but its spiritual home may be the Loire Valley. In the regions of Chinon, Bourgueil, Saumur-Champigny, and many others, the grape stands alone in varietal wines. The wines of Chinon and Bourgueil may be a tad bigger bodied but Charine has long appreciated the perfume and floral notes from Saumur-Champigny.

We spent one evening with the producers of Saumur-Champigny and tasted through dozens of wines, everything from fresh to barrel matured Cabernet Franc. While there were stunning aged examples, we found the fresh wines of Saumur-Champigny to be surprisingly enjoyable. The fresh vintages are aged in stainless steel for a few months after fermentation before being bottled. They offer attractive black olive, cherry, and violet notes with mouthwatering acidity. The reds from Saumur-Champigny are medium-bodied and food-friendly. They are easy to drink and again, can be found at fair prices (a theme in the Loire).

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks:

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

Muscadet

• Gaec Luneau Michel & Fils, ‘Tradition Stanislas’ Mouzillon-Tillières 2010

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Gaec Luneau Michel & Fils Tradition Stanislas is an impressive Cru Muscadet. Notes of lime, lemon, white peach, and salty notes. The wine has multiple layers of texture. It’s round on the palate at first and finishes with a gritty, acidic finish. Score: 92/100

• Domaine du Moulin Camus, Vallet 2012

The Domaine du Moulin Camus is a from the Vallet Cru. Its shows dried yellow fruit with almonds and lemon peel. It’s a round wine and shows lots of nuttiness on the finish. Medium level of acidity for the Melon grape. The wine spends 30 months on the lees. Score: 91/100

Savennières

• Domaine aux Moines, Savennières la Roche aux Moines 2016

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Domaine aux Moines Savennières la Roche aux Moines is aged in the barrel for 13 months. This is a stellar white wine with notes of lemon, oak, yellow peach, and flint. It has intense fruit on the mid-palate and lots of texture. There is a long and spicy finish that leaves you wanting glass after glass of this wine. Score: 93/100

• Vignobles de la Coulée de Serrant, Clos de la Coulée de Serrant 2007

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

This wine is a masterpiece. The Coulée de Serrant is a one property AOC-like Romanée-Conti in Burgundy. This beauty from Nicolas Joly is nutty with notes of caramel, tangerine peel, dried apricots, and lemony acidity. Round and long with a perfect balance of age, oxidation, and freshness. This is a wine to experience, not to drink. Score: 95/100

Saumur-Champigny

• Domaine Ratron – Clos des Cordeliers, Cuvée Tradition Saumur-Champigny 2017

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Domaine Ratron – Clos des Cordeliers Cuvée Tradition Saumur-Champigny is a fresh red aged in stainless steel. There are notes of red cherry, earth, and fall leaves. It’s medium bodied with an acidic backbone and a long finish. It’s tart and Tuscan like on the finish. Score: 90/100

• La Source du Ruault, Le Clos de la Côte Saumur-Champigny 2010

The La Source du Ruault Le Close de la Côte 201 was the finest example of Saumur-Champigny we had during our time in the Loire. It is a barrel-aged & developed wine with notes of black olive, cherry, pepper, and capsicum. It is full-bodied, yet elegant, with a subtle chocolate note that accompanies the fruit. Long finish with developed tannins wraps up the finish. Score: 92/100

Côt & Cremant de Loire

• La Grange Tiphaine, Côt Vieilles Vignes Touraine-Amboise 2016

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

This wine is made from 100% Côt (aka Malbec) and is biodynamically farmed. The La Grange Tiphaine Côte Vielles Vignes Touraine-Amboise 2016 is full of fresh violets, perfume, and blueberry with grape flavors. It’s full in body with intense fruit on the finish. This wine is highly structured and worth cellaring. This half of the cuvée is aged in concrete eggs and the other half in barriques. It’s made from vines over 100 years in age. Score: 90/100

• Domaine Pierre Chauvin, Cremant de Loire 2016

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Sparkling wine is a big part of the production in the Loire and this is a fine example. The Domaine Pierre Chauvin Cremant de Loire has notes of crisp white pear, white peach, and a touch of unripe pineapple. The palate tastes more tropical fruit than the nose. A fine bead of creamy bubbles and fantastic acidity. The autolytic notes aren’t high but the finish is long. Spends 18 months on the lees. Score: 91/100

Loire Valley Wines provided our transportation and accommodation for the trip. 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 The Loire: Muscadet, Savennières, Saumur-Champigny, and More appeared first on Wine Travel.

While Charine is crazy about Champagne, I’ve always been slow to the party. Over the years I’ve attempted to become knowledgeable about sparkling wines, especially Champagne. The Taste Champagne Hong Kong by Tyson Stelzer was a great opportunity to sharpen my palate further.

There were 30 houses pouring over 130 cuvées at the Taste Champagne Hong Kong event. Both vintage and non-vintage Champagnes were poured. During the course of three hours, we tasted our way through the entire offering.

Vintage Champagne – I Get It!

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always enjoyed Champagne. When it comes to sparkling wines, Champagne is the benchmark and for good reason. It’s hard to duplicate the balance of toast and flint notes that Champagne offers. The struggle for me had always been detecting the subtle differences between house styles. That all changed once I started tasting more vintage Champagne – which offers more complexity and differentiation between houses and harvests.

Nearly every house present at Taste Champagne Hong Kong poured at least one of their vintage Champagnes. It was exciting to taste such a large selection in one setting. There were classics like Dom Pérignon and Bollinger in addition to lesser known houses like Beaumont des Crayères.

It was hard to pick my favorites among so many excellent wines but I widdled the list down to ten Champagnes worth checking out.

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks

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

• Bollinger, La Grande Année 2007

The Bollinger La Grande Année 2007 Champagne has a complex and developed nose. Flavors of biscuit, golden apple, flint, and Asian pear. It’s full-bodied with a creamy mousse. The bubbles are fine. Long and complex finish. Score: 94/100

• Deutz, Cuvée William Deutz 2007

This is a big ripe Champagne without the sharp acidity. The Deutz Cuvée William Deutz 2007 Champagne is full of peach, apple, pineapple, and mineral notes. It’s full and plush on the palate with a good amount of complexity. Long finish. Score: 91/100

• Dom Pérignon, Vintage 2008

The Dom Pérignon 2008 is a fantastic Champagne. It is big and concentrated. Notes of toast, yogurt, apple, white peach, and flint. It’s full in body with a creamy, silky mouthfeel. Long, concentrated, and stellar finish. This vintage hits it out of the park, what a wine. Score: 96/100

• Krug, Grande Cuvée Edition 166 NV

The Kruge Grande Cuvée Edition 166 is ripe and extremely full on the nose and palate. It’s a non-vintage Champagne but one worth noting. There are notes of tropical fruit, orange peel, lemon, and yogurt. The palate has lots of texture and depth. The finish on this Champagne is flinty, long, and citrusy. Score: 94/100

• Gosset, Grand Blanc de Meunier Extra Brut NV

The Gosset Grand Blanc de Meunier is a Blanc de Noirs with a twist – it’s made from 100% Pinot Meunier. It is another NV Champagne worth mentioning because it’s distinctive and delicious. Notes of strawberry, rhubarb, yogurt, and flinty notes. Full bodied with a phenolic bite and a slight tannic tug. Long and complex finish. Score: 92/100

• Le Brun de Neuville, Lady De N. Clovis NV

Le Brun de Neuville was one of the surprises from the Taste Champagne Hong Kong. We enjoyed all three Champagnes they had on offer. The Le Brun de Neuville Lady De N. Clovis is mostly Pinot Noir (80%) that spent over ten years on the lees. It’s toasty with notes of lemon, pear, and yogurt. It’s full and complex. Sharp acidity with a long finish. Score: 92/100

• Louis Roederer, Brut Blanc de Blancs 2010

The Louis Roederer Brut Blanc de Blancs 2010 has bright and ripe fruit combined with the sharp acidity that makes Champagne special. Notes of tropical fruit, melon, yogurt, and lemon peel. The Chardonnay really comes through here. Sharp and long finish. Score: 93/100

• G.H. Mumm, RSRV Cuvée Lalou 2006

Many people scoff at G.H Mumm Champagne but their RSRV lineup is a strong set of wines. The base wine is from Grand Cru vineyards. This Champagne has notes of lemon, pear, peach, brioche, and flint. It’s full on the palate with sharp acidity. Score: 92/100

• Perrier-Jouët, Belle Époque Rosé 2006

Of all the houses, Perrier-Jouët has the most recognizable house style to me. The Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque Rosé 2006 is an elegant rosé Champagne. It has notes of strawberry, cream, lemon, flint, and white flower. It’s full-bodied and silky. The bubbles are fine without being overly aggressive. Long finish. Score: 93/100

• Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2007

The Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2007 isn’t as great as the 2006 but it’s still stellar. It spent 11 years on the lees. There are notes of lemon, mineral, apple, pear, and brioche. It’s full in body and concentrated with a long and tight finish. Score: 95/100

The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 by Tyson Stelzer

Tyson Stelzer travels regularly to Champagne and his Taste Champagne Events are some of the largest outside of Champagne, France. If you want an in-depth guide to the region, check out Tyson’s The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 on his 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 Taste Champagne Hong Kong By Tyson Stelzer appeared first on Wine Travel.

Tasmania has always piqued my interest. Perhaps it was my interest in zoology as a kid. Learning about the extinct Tasmanian Wolf and extant Tasmanian Devil made the island seem so exotic. Fast forward to the present day and it’s an exciting region for my current interest – wine. It’s currently a hot spot in the world of wine. Tasmanian wine producers are making a name for themselves with their sparklers and Pinot Noir.

Tasmanian Wine

Tasmania is establishing itself as a leader of cool-climate winemaking in Australia. Wine Tasmania reports that there are just over 2,000 hectares of vineyards in Tasmania, with nearly half of the plantings being Pinot Noir. On top of that, nearly a quarter of the harvest is dedicated to the production of sparkling wine.

Charine and I spent time in Singapore during the winter of 2018 and the start of 2019. Unfortunately, Tasmania didn’t make our itinerary. Hopefully, we make it there soon. In the meantime, we were able to familiarize ourselves with the wines and producers thanks to a number of tastings including the Pinot Palooza and the Tasmanian Pinot Noir & Sparkling Showcase – both took place in Hong Kong.

Australian wine critic Tyson Stelzer assembled a collection of 32 wines from 18 producers for the Tasmanian Pinot Noir & Sparkling Showcase. The tasting featured non-vintage and vintage Tasmanian sparkling wines in addition to both current and back vintages of Tasmanian Pinot Noir. It was eye-opening for us to taste through a large selection of Tasmanian wine over a few hours.

The Good

• The sparkling wines were really well made all with fine beads of bubbles. Tyson said that tirage, second fermentation, and bottling are done on the main island of Australia, not on Tasmania.
• The non-vintage sparklers showed good levels of complexity.
• All the sparkling wines had a generous amount of fruit –  making them more similar to Franciacorta than Champagne.
• Most of the Pinot Noirs were fruity and enjoyable to drink.

The Not-So-Good

• We don’t see the distinctive identity of Tasmanian sparkling wine and Pinot Noir, this could very well be due to our educational shortcomings.
• Some of the Pinot Noirs suffered from green undertones and heavy-handed extraction, resulting in harsh tannins.
• Because of the cost of grapes and production costs, the wines are not cheap.

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks

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

Tasmanian Sparkling Wine

• Clover Hill, Cuvée NV

The Clover Hill Cuvée NV is a blend of Chardonnay (65%), Pinot Noir (31%), and Pinot Meunier (4%) aged for two years on the lees. Notes of golden apple, biscuit, and lemon notes. It has lots of fruit up front with a medium level of complexity. The wine is easy to drink with a long finish. Score: 90/100

• Josef Chromy, Tasmanian Sparkling Cuvée NV

The Josef Chromy Tasmanian Sparkling Cuvée NV is a blend of Pinot Noir (58%), Chardonnay (41.5%), and Pinot Meunier (0.5%). Notes of golden delicious apple, flint, mineral, and biscuit. It’s very Champagne-like in flavor. The acidity is sharp and the finish is long. For a non-vintage sparkler, this is very well done. Score: 91/100

• Frogmore Creek, Sparkling Cuvée 2016

The Frogmore Creek Sparking Cuvée is a blend of Pinot Noir (64%), Chardonnay (32%), and Pinot Meunier (4%) aged in oak for four months. This is sharp, linear, and highly structured. Flavors include strawberry, lemon, pear, and a touch of yogurt. The wine has a long finish and should age well. Score: 91/100

• Bellebonne, Vintage Cuvée 2015

The Bellebonne Vintage Cuvée is a blend of Chardonnay (57%) and Pinot Noir (43%). Most of this cuvée was barrel fermented and aged. This is well done and offers a good level of complexity. It has notes of apple pear, lemon peel, and brioche. The creamy layer of bubbles is mouth-filling and the wine has a long finish. Score: 91/100

• Jansz Tasmania Premium Rosé NV

The Jansz Tasmania Premium Rosé NV is a blend of Pinot Noir (72%) and Chardonnay (22%). It has notes of sweet candied cherry, strawberry, and rhubarb. There is a pronounced layer of brioche which accompanies the fine bubbles. It’s not complex but it is very delicious. Score: 89/100

Tasmanian Pinot Noir

• Spring Vale, Melrose Pinot Noir 2018

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Spring Vale Melrose Pinot Noir 2018 is an interesting wine with 3% Pinot Meunier added to the blend. It smells wild like a natural wine with lots of yeast on the nose. Notes of raspberry, rhubarb, and green herbs make up the flavor profile. Earthy notes emerge on the palate and the tannins are soft. This is a particular wine and that hipster natural wine bars would go gaga over. Score: 91/100

• Frogmore Creek, Pinot Noir 2017

The Frogmore Creek Pinot Noir 2017 is darker and dense for the grape. It has notes of cherry, oak, and fall leaves. It’s fuller in body, like a Sonoma County Pinot Noir. Chewy tannins guide the tight structure and long finish. This is a wine to put in the cellar for another ten years. Score: 91/100

• Holm Oak, Pinot Noir 2017

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Holm Oak Pinot Noir 2017 was a big hit among most of the tasters. This has lots of flinty notes to accompany the cherry, strawberry, and vanilla notes. It has a round mouthfeel and the grippy tannins hit you at the end. Long finish. Score: 91/100

• Dawson James, Pinot Noir 2014

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Dawson James Pinot Noir 2014 is aged in a combination of new and used French oak. This stands out above all the wines in the tasting thanks to its concentration. Flavors include red fruit, forest floor, and white pepper. The mid-palate is loaded with fruit and the lively acidity keeps it from feeling flabby. The mouthfeel is creamy and the finish is long. The tannins offer a slight tug which suggests this wine should do fine with more bottle age. Score: 92/100

• Pressing Matters, Pinot Noir 2014

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Pressing MAtters Pinot Noir 2014 is aged in both new and used French oak. It’s darker in color for a Pinot Noir. There are notes of black cherry, raspberry, and fall leaves. The tangy mid-palate and a round mouthfeel make this very easy to drink. Score: 89/100

Please note that the opinions expressed are our own 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. 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 Tasmanian Wine: Pinot Noir & Sparkling Wine appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. 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!

Hacaj Cuvée De Prestige Brut Nature 2014

The city of Pezinok is nestled in the heart of the Malokarpatská (Little Carpathian) wine region. The town is surrounded by rolling hills and prime vineyard space. There are dozens of producers in the village, making wines ranging from old-school and traditional to modern and clean.

Hacaj is the only producer in #Slovakia that focuses on #sparklingwine—that’s interesting and perhaps a tad weird to me since Slovakia offers excellent conditions for growing grapes with high acidity. Mr Ján Hacaj’s first commercial vintage was 2000. Today, he works with 5 hectares of #vineyards in the Small Carpathian #WineRegion and makes around 15,000 bottles of traditional-method sparkling wines each year. All riddling is done by hand by Mr Hacaj. I am particularly fond of his top bottling called the “Cuvée de Prestige 2014 Brut Nature”. Tasting notes will be posted on Facebook.com/exowinetravel. #slovakwine #winetrip #drinkadventurously #wino #winestagram

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Our one week stint through this region yielded many gems. We found one of those in a small cellar in downtown Pezinok. In this humble cellar, Jan Hacaj produces around 15,000 bottles of sparkling wine. annually. Mr. Hacaj produces all his sparklers with the Champagne Methode. He does nearly everything by hand. There aren’t any fancy riddling machines here and his disgorgement equipment is small and unremarkable.

We’re usually not satisfied with Champagne Methode sparklers in emerging wine countries. There’s a good reason why Champagne is the benchmark for sparklers. For some reason, I trusted Mr. Hacaj would make good wine from the moment I met him. There was something calm and confident about the way he walked around his cellar.

Mr. Hacaj started the tasting with his top wine, which was an interesting choice. As we sipped on the wine, he told us about his latest trip to Champagne and how he was inspired by the small producers. In the future, he’s confident that his sparklers can reach even higher levels of quality. From the lineup we tasted, he’s already doing a fine job.

This is Hacaj Cuvée De Prestige Brut Nature 2014 is made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir aged on the lees for three years. By Slovak law, this wine is a Pestovateľský Sekt, which translates to Winegrower’s Sekt – the highest class of sparkling wine in the country. The wine has notes of white pear, melon, brioche, and oak. The flavors have a Champagne-like quality without the flintiness, fine bubbles, and searing acidity. It isn’t as rich and complex as vintage Champagne but it doesn’t have to be, it is delicious in its own right. The Cuvée De Prestige is very balanced for a brut nature and never feels too dry on the palate. 

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

You might also enjoy: 

Video: Exotic Wine Travel In The Small Carpathians, Slovakia

Notes:
– Thank you ivan Záleský of www.kamzavinom.sk for organizing the visit to Hacaj Winery.
– 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.

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The Adriatic-Powered Wine and Seafood from Istria

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

Timestamps: Cracking Croatian Wine in Istria, Part 4/4

(0:58) Introduction to the seaside town of Poreč. (1:30) Meet Milan Budinski, winemaker of Vina Laguna Winery and former national spearfishing champion. He catches some fresh shellfish from the Adriatic Sea for us to taste. (2:39) Milan Budinski and his wife Ivana Budinski prepare an Adriatic seafood feast from our morning catch. The meal is paired well with a Malvazija Istarska wine from Vina Laguna Winery. (4:35) Learn about the terra rossa (Italian for “red earth”) soil of western Istria. Terra rossa is a red, clay-like soil with good drainage characteristics. (6:17) Meet Dimitri Brečević of Piquentum Winery. He takes us up to the remote village of Vrh and shows us some vineyards. (7:27) Meet Adriano Grbac of Grbac Winery, one of the first wineries in Croatia to make traditional-method sparkling wine. He doesn’t sell his wines in retail shops, so these wines can only be bought at the cellar. (9:12) Discover one of the most famous restaurants in Istria, Konoba Stari Podrum. (10:12) Meet Marino Markežić and Ana Markežić of Kabola Winery, a certified organic wine producer. Kabola is best known for its Malvazija and Teran wines, including a few examples made in amphora (Georgian qvevri). (12:18) We wrap up our time in Istria and offer a preview of the upcoming episodes about Dalmatia.

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

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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

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 4/4) appeared first on Wine Travel.

“You’re a really good agriculturist but you’re a bad winemaker.”

Angiolino Maule, La Biancara‘s winemaker and founder, thinks this statement from oenologist Franco Giacosa might have changed the course of his life as a winemaker.

“In the past, I would say a good wine is 90% vineyard and 10% winery. Today, I would say that wine is made in the vineyard, that’s the base. But wine is not fully made in the vineyard.”

Whether it’s made in the vineyard or winery, the point of it all, as Angiolino explains, “It’s about making natural wine without defects. That’s the first goal.”

What is VinNatur?

Founded by Angiolino Maule in 2006, VinNatur is a wine association that unites and supports small producers of natural wines. In 12 years, the association has grown from its original 65 founding members to now representing 190 producers from nine countries: Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

Going Beyond Organic and Biodynamic

“Natural wine” is an interesting and attractive concept but an ambiguous term in the present-day wine world. The definition of natural wine remains subjective with no official accreditation to support producers who claim to make natural wine, which in turn leads to abuse and criticism—especially around the semantic properties of “natural wine”.

As natural wine continues to rise in popularity, VinNatur plays a paramount role in defining its premises. Going beyond ideological and philosophical ideas, the association has specified a list of permitted and forbidden practices—both in the vineyard and cellar—for its members.

You can take a look at VinNatur’s procedure guideline here, which was put in place in July 2016. All VinNatur wines are officially certified by external laboratories verifying that no pesticides, no herbicides, and no chemical fertilizers have been used in the process of making the wines. Checks are done every year and are mandatory for each producer. The prime objectives are threefold:

• To align members of the association and improve the quality of natural wines through scientific research, lab analysis, and innovative natural winemaking techniques.
• To communicate explicitly to VinNatur’s consumers about how the wines of VinNatur are made.
• To offer VinNatur’s consumers more than self-declarations but guarantees of quality and reliability.

And Moving Forward

Currently, VinNatur is the only natural wine association in Italy that collaborates with universities and research centers. Besides the regular checks and inspections, VinNatur is also delving deeper into the sustainable ecological development of vineyards. The research subjects that VinNatur is working on include soil vitality, entomological and botanical biodiversity of vineyards, and reduction of copper and sulphur usage.

“Our research is based on both observations and scientific data,” says Angiolino.

He continues, “We are focusing on how to replace copper and sulphur with vegetable extracts that help vines to build up resistance. But our most major project is on biodiversity.”

“But if your mind is not mature enough, no methodology is going to work.”

I’m sitting in a Villa Favorita 2018 class, called “Natural Wine Making – The Role of the Cellar”, and I am particularly intrigued by the dialogue’s focus on personal well-being and ethical living. It resonates with me since I only began to appreciate natural wine because it aligns with my lifestyle choices.

The speakers are the aforementioned Franco Giacosa and Angiolino Maule.

The speakers discuss how natural winemakers can take conventional wisdom in life and apply it to minimal-intervention winemaking—from committing to a healthy diet to developing an inner compass of personal values. Following the rules of nature and life, Angiolino says, “But if your mind and philosophy are not mature enough, no methodology is going to work.”

Ultimately, being a VinNatur wine producer requires unwavering commitment built upon personal conviction.

“You have to work on the winemaker’s mindset and convince them that prevention is the way, not chemical treatment.”

Villa Favorita: VinNatur’s Annual Event

Villa Favorita is one of the biggest natural wine fairs in the world. Held at an 18th-century Venetian manor in Sarego (Vicenza, Italy), the three-day annual event serves as a meeting point for producers, distributors, and consumers. The event usually takes place in the same week as Vinitaly, and both event locations are about 50 kilometers apart.

158 producers participated in the 2018 edition where visitors got to taste and purchase the wines made by these VinNatur producers.

The 2018 program was thoughtfully designed to help people discover and learn about natural wines. Besides the walk-about tasting where visitors got to taste wines and speak with winemakers, there were also thematic tastings of volcanic wines and orange wines; masterclasses about minerality in wine and aging wines made without SO2; and dialogue classes like the abovementioned “Natural Wine Making – The Role of the Cellar”.

So let’s address the elephant in the room. Were there a lot of bad wines, funky wines, and wines with faults? The short answer is no. There is no bourgeois high horse to ride on; we’re drinking pretty well here, naturally! I spent two days at the event and tasted over 150 wines; less than 10 of those wines showed perceptible microbiological flaws. It was the first time that I attended VinNatur’s Villa Favorita. According to my more experienced colleagues, the wines of VinNatur have made a tremendous leap in quality over the past three years.

Recommended VinNatur Producers

As stated under “Statute” on the VinNatur’s website:

To produce wine in a natural manner means fully respecting the territory, the vines and nature’s cycle and, through experimentation, limiting the use of invasive and toxic chemical and technological agents both in the vineyard and in the wine cellar. It is the Association’s intent to preserve wine’s individuality from the standardization that chemistry, technology and industrialization have brought to the world of agriculture and particularly to wine related activities.

Viticulture and vinification make up a complex ecosystem where chaos reigns and the balance can so easily tip towards outcomes we don’t desire. I appreciate the VinNatur’s community for its concerted and informed effort to create an as-close-to-ideal-as-possible environment where nature can take its course and leaves us with something beautiful and real. What’s more: the association is doing its part to safeguard soil balance and the ecosystem.

Here are 12 VinNatur producers and wines to be on the lookout for.

1. 1. Barale (Piedmont, Italy)

Another winery that I can’t wait to taste more from: Barale Fratelli. I had a chance to try one wine from them at @vinnatur_org’s #VillaFavorita2018 and it’s this alluring Barolo. It seems outrageous that this Barolo Castellero 2014 Barolo is so drinkable right now. The essence of rose and fresh red cherry are built into its core. Dried savory herbs and a light hint of earthy characteristic penetrate the edges. A Barolo on the finesse side.

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1. 1. Éric Texier (Rhône, France)

Quite possibly my favorite red at @vinnatur_org’s #VillaFavorita2018. Éric Texier’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2015 captures the intense purity of precious old-vine fruit in a bag of finesse. Native-yeast, whole-cluster fermentation with one-week maceration without punchdown (that lightness!). Aged in old oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered wine. The early picking is quite apparent. No way, it’s not green at all. The phenolic ripeness is perfect. It’s the fresh acidity and splendid fresh fruit flavors that tell the details. This might be the most elegant and aromatic Châteauneuf-du-Pape I’ve ever tasted. It gives me the same emotions I got when I had my first taste of Tignanello (my bourgeois ghost never dies). Drink from 2020-2030.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Apr 22, 2018 at 10:11pm PDT

1. 1. Daniele Portinari (Veneto, Italy)

I gave myself the challenge of picking just one white grape wine and one red grape wine to take home from @vinnatur_org’s #villafavorita18. The @daniele_portinari’s Garganega was my final choice for the white. 📝 This wine underwent one day of maceration and was fermented in steel tanks. I appreciate the spicy nose which has a bit of red wine’s character. Soft in the mouth with floral nuances and a gentle tug of tannins. 👌🏼 I picked this because, well, I enjoy the wine and Garganega is an indigenous grape of Veneto. I also wanted to buy wine from a new producer or young winemaker with a small production size.

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1. 1. Fongoli (Umbria, Italy)

If it’s Montefalco, I want it. @cantina_fongoli’s “Serpullo” Montefalco Rosso Riservs is a blend of predominantly Sangiovese with some Sagrantino, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. The grapes were picked from 40-year-old vines. Spontaneous fermentation happened in open vats. Aging took place in large, neutral Slavonian casks for three years. No fining, no filtration. Good ol’ @vinnatur_org style. 🍷The 14.5% abv is very well-integrated. A big wine that should be served later in the night. I adore the massive load of plum flavor perked up by maraschino cherry. A little bit of leather. A little bit of candlewax. A balanced full-bodied wine that is neither too indulgent nor made up.

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1. 1. Gratavinum (Priorat, Spain)

(Click on the right arrow icon on the photo to view more images.)

Yay! I finally had a chance to taste the wines of @gratavinum, thanks to @vinnatur_org! Priorat + Demeter certified + working with amphora = totally my kind of deal. The Gratavinum’s Silvestris Priorat 2015 (4th photo) was selected by @decanter’s Andrew Jefford as the top 10 wines at a blind tasting of 122 natural wines. Interestingly, my best impression goes to the one and only white and a non-Priorat at that (5th photo): Amphora Roja 2017 (Xerel-lo). It’s spicy, minerally, and wonderfully distinct. All the reds are good too; and despite the price difference of nearly $70 between some, they belong to the same band of quality for me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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1. 1. Heinrich (Burgenland, Austria)

Spent the day in classes and conducting interviews. By the time I was ready for tasting, I had less than an hour left at @vinnatur_org’s #VillaFavorita2018. I thought the most effective way to spend the last hour would be in the media room, get some turbo-charged tasting going on and only note down the wines that really stop me in my tracks. And this Heinrich’s Blaufränkisch Leithaberg 2014 did exactly that. It wasn’t my first encounter with Heinrich’s wines, and now I’m completely baffled why I didn’t give them any attention in the past. This Blaufränkisch is structured and defined like a professional pumpkin carving. The flavors are packed seamlessly like a turducken—rich, complex, and utterly fascinating. A wine that I want poured into every glass at my thanksgiving dinner.

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1. 1. Mas Zenitude (Languedoc, France)

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@maszenitude was one of my favorite discoveries at @vinnatur_org’s #villafavorita2018. Located in the Herault wine region in Languedoc, Mas Zenitude practices biodynamic farming and never adds S02 in the cellar. The Mas Zenitude’s Carignan wines are interesting, and I think it would appeal to many people; but I find them to be too savory and earthy and not enough fruit for my palate. I am, however, incredibly fond of “Zenith” Syrah 2012, a stunning 100% Syrah wine that delivers a floral overtone, high flavor intensity, and precise structure—it was one of the three reds that I wanted to buy but didn’t have time to head back on the last day of the event.

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1. 1. Reyter (Alto Adige, Italy)

Alto Adige’s producer Reyter makes a “Rahm” Lagrein wine with grapes from 80-year-old vines, which are rooted in sandy clay porphyry alluvial soil with rocky sediments. The vineyards are farmed with ecological philosophy and the vinification is aligned with @vinnatur_org. Reyter’s Rahm is deep, dark, somber, and demands a drinker’s undivided attention. It’s quite an intellectually and sensually compelling wine, and oddly, I think some dubstep music would go well with it.

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1. 1. Rocco di Carpeneto (Piedmont, Italy)

Tasted three Barbera bottlings by Rocco di Carpento at @vinnatur_org’s #villafavorita2018, and they ranged from good to very good and outstanding. I was most fond of the amphora-fermented Barbera, which was the most structured and rounded up—a tad ‘un-Barbera’ in the most delightful way. The one in the photo, Reitemp, is an old-vine bottling; it showed a good balance of the fruity, earthy, and herbal parts. The structure was juicier and ‘messier’—exactly what a Barbera lover loves: a sense of rusticity like a simple, delicious and wholesome meal.

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1. 1. Tarlant (Champagne, Italy)

Yes yes yes! @tarlant’s Cuvée Louis had been on my wishlist for years. I finally had a chance to try it at @vinnatur_org last weekend. This wine is born from the vines planted by the late Louis Tarlant, who was the mayor of the Oeuilly village and a leader in the grower movement to regulate and protect Champagne production; his efforts resulted in the creation of the Champagne AOC in 1927. Louis Tarlant was also one of the early adopters of zero dosage. This Cuvée Louis is a 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from five vintages, 1996-2000. Primary fermentation was done in barriques, no malolactic fermentation, and 15 years in the bottle before disgorgement. It’s chiseled, chalky, light, creamy, and profoundly layered. I definitely need to put a few of this in my cellar.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Apr 16, 2018 at 7:03am PDT

1. 1. Terpin (Friuli, Italy)

(Click on the right arrow icon on the photo to view more images.)

Managed to check off a few wish-listed wines at @vinnatur_org’s #VillaFavorita including a well-aged Terpin’s Ribolla Gialla. Marvelous, just a marvelously detailed wine. Musky overtone, cinnamon, nutmeg, all the sweet brown spices, baked apple, then the savory green herbs hit, oregano for days, the flavors coat every inch of the mouth, structured with tannins striking at an almost perfect vantage point… oh my, I could go on but I shouldn’t so I wouldn’t. The Terpin Jakot is impressive as well. Jakot, don’t you love Jakot/Tocai Friulano? Such a juicy, orangey wine! The Terpin Jakot seems to capture Franco Terpin in a bottle: bright, bold, and rigorous. The surprise for me comes from Terpin’s Sauvignon Blanc—gently aromatic and throws more punches on the palate than on the nose.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Apr 21, 2018 at 2:44pm PDT

1. 1. Thomas  Niedermayr (Alto Adige, Italy)

Thomas Niedermayr from Alto Adige was one of the wineries that I marked out and wanted to taste from at @vinnatur_org’s #VillaFavorita2018. Unfortunately, my to-do list was still far too ambitious for the nature of time. Thankfully, at dinner on the last evening, the winemaker Thomas happened to sit next to me. That was when I had a chance to try his Souvignier Gris, a cross of Cabernet Sauvignon and Bronner. The wine left such a good impression that I’ll be sure to never miss another chance of tasting Thomas Niedermayr’s wine again. The winery works with PIWIs, which means fungus-resistant grape varieties—including Solaris and Bronner.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Apr 22, 2018 at 10:11am PDT

– Thank you Emma Bently for helping me with translation during the Villa Favorita 2018’s classes.
– Thank you Irene Graziotto, Studio Cru, and the VinNatur for hosting me.

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The post VinNatur: A Proponent of Checks and Balances appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. 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.

Sieur D’Arques, Toques et Clochers (Crémant de Limoux) 2013

The sparklers from Limoux are a big eye-opener for me. I came across them during a weeklong trip through Languedoc-Roussillon. The sparkling wines from Limoux have the longest history in France, dating back to 1531. These wines are heavily exported to all over the world. They are affordable, fun, and fruity bubbles.

There are three types of appellation level (AOC) for the sparklers of Limoux. The Blanquette de Limoux (which is made mostly from the local grape Mauzac), Blanquette Méthode Ancestrale (a slightly sweet wine made with only one fermentation), and Crémant de Limoux (which can contain Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Mauzac). The Blanquette de Limoux and Crémant de Limoux are both made with the Champagne méthode.

Most of the wines we tasted that evening were non-vintage sparklers. The vintage sparkler impressed nearly everyone at the table. The director of Sieur D’Arques saw my excitement and passed me a bottle to take with me and let Charine taste (She wasn’t on this trip as she was in Italy covering the VinNatur’s Villa Favorita event). She is a huge fan of sparkling wines and I knew this offering would fit her palate perfectly.

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When I brought the wine back to our temporary apartment (remember we travel full-time), Charine cracked it open immediately. It turns out that I was right. Here are Charine’s notes:

“Sieur d’Arques is a cooperative in Limoux, Languedoc-Roussillon. Its Crémant Toques et Clochers 2013 is a blend of 70% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin, and 10% Mauzac; traditional method with 30 months of aging before disgorgement.

The bouquet is a stunning breeze of ladyfinger biscuit, vanilla cream, pear, and lemon. The palate is driven by more acidic fruit flavors like pineapple and grapefruit. The treat here is the mouthfeel—it’s creamy with absolutely fine, soft bubbles that one can expect from the best of méthode champenoise. The finish is long and piquant enough to be noteworthy. Love it and can’t stop drinking it!

With such an attractive packaging and at €15+ local retail price, this is a perfect welcome drink at a house party.”

My (Matthew’s) score: 4.1/5 (You can find out more about our scoring system on the Wine Rating page.)

Find or buy this wine and other Sieur D’Arques wines at 8wines. Use the promo code EWT8WO7 and get €15 off your first purchase of €100 or more.

This wine was a gift from Sieur D’Arques. Please note that the opinions expressed are our own 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. 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 Sieur D’Arques, Toques et Clochers 2013 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.

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    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!

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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!

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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.