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!

Château de Beaucastel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc ‘Roussanne Vielles Vignes’ 2017

We spent one week in Châteauneuf-du-Pape for the Les Printemps de Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2018. Our week was filled with the festival, judging a competition, and a few producer visits. The last winery on our agenda was the legendary Château de Beaucastel.

This estate produces some of the most sought after wines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It took a little bit of persistence but we finally got an appointment at the estate. The property sits in the northeast corner of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC. The interior is impeccably clean and reminds us of a Portuguese Quinta.

After the short tour, we sat down to taste several vintages of the Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape reds and the whites. Charine is a huge fan of the white grape Roussanne, which is why we were excited taste the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc (80% Roussanne) and the Châteauneuf-du-Pape ‘Roussanne Vielles Vignes’ (100% Roussanne from old vines). Both wines lived up to their billing. After tasting the latter, Charine has been hellbent on trying to find another top-notch Roussanne but I doubt we will be able to top the Château de Beaucastel ‘Roussanne Vielles Vignes’.

You know the Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc ‘Roussanne Vielles Vignes’ 2017  is the real deal on first smell. The nose is complex and serious. The wine has a deep, golden color. The flavors are bold and explode on the palate, consisting of yellow peach, flint, vanilla, honey. This is a full-bodied white wine with a rich, gritty texture and a long, mineral finish. This classic from Château de Beaucastel is highly structured, masterfully crafted, and is built to last.

This is a wine for connoisseurs who have a cellar, patience, and cash on hand. It’s a white that can stand toe-to-toe with great whites around the world.

The post Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc ‘Roussanne Vielles Vignes’ 2017 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. There was so much to share about Istria that we ended up shooting four episodes there. This is part 3 of 4 about Istria.

Istrian Gastronomy

In part 1 of Cracking Croatian Wine in Istria, we offer an overview of the wine grape-growing condition and a peek at what Istrian cuisine has to offer. In part 2, we shift the focus to Malvazija Istarska, the most widely planted grape in the region. In this episode, we continue to explore the wines of Istria, but what’s slightly different from our usual videos is the focus on gastronomy.

Istria is a wine region full of culinary delights. The red wines of Istria are generally more acidic and juicier compared to its counterparts from the rest of Croatia. This style of wine goes exceptionally well with food. The white wines of Istria range from the comfortably aromatic and summery fresh style to oaked and age-worthy, both of which can be paired well with seafood, pasta, and cheese.

Istrian Truffles

What visitors shouldn’t miss is the Istarski Tartuf, which means “Istrian Truffle”. It is usually shaved and sprinkled over pasta, steak, scrambled egg, and seafood. White truffles grow in only a few places in the world, including small pockets of Slovenia, Italy, France, and Croatia. Unlike their black counterparts, white truffles grow during specific times of the year. In Istria, the white truffle season is October to February. It is not uncommon to see this white rarity sell for over €2,000 per kilogram.

Istria is arguably the only wine region in Croatia that has managed to marry—in a sustainable, happily-ever-after way—its gastronomic and viticulture traditions and package this marriage in a modern and accessible way to create the ultimate gastronomy experience.

Watch “Cracking Croatian Wine in Istria, Part 3 of 4” on Exotic Wine Travel YouTube:

Timestamps: Cracking Croatian Wine in Istria, Part 3/4

(0:57) Explore a medieval hilltop town called Grožnjan.

(1:22) Meet Ivan Damjanić of Damjanić Winery (Poreč town). Ivan makes one of our favorite Croatian red wines: the Damjanić Clemente.

(2:40) Check out the wine bar ItIstria in the town of Umag. It’s a one-stop place owned by several restaurant owners and wineries like Coronica, Cuj, Degrassi, and Kozlović.

(2:53) Meet Moreno Coronica of Coronica Winery (Umag town). He produces some of Croatia’s greatest white and red wines.

(3:20) Meet Moreno Degrassi of Degrassi Winery (in the coastal town Savudrija). He produces juicy, Italian-style wines that always offer great value for money.

(4:08) We head to the picturesque town of Rovinj and pop by Villa Dobravac for a wine-and-tapas pairing lunch.

(6:08) Come with us to the hilltop town of Buzet. The Prodan Tartufi family helps us hunt for some delicious Istrian truffles for dinner.

(9:04) Check out the different dishes that can be made with Istrian truffles.

(10:22) At the gala dinner of the 25th annual VinIstra, we meet with renowned wine personality Steven Spurrier, Decanter Magazine‘s consultant editor and the organizer of the 1976 Judgment of Paris. We also get a chance to taste his English sparkling wine, the Bride Valley’s Blanc de Blancs 2014.

(10:48) More Istrian culinary delights and a sweet ending from Benvenuti Winery.

(11:36) Preview of the next episode, Cracking Croatian Wine in Istria (Part 4 of 4).

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

The finest selection of

Croatian wines available at:

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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!

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

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

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 3/4) 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.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Apr 22, 2018 at 10:58am PDT

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.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Apr 16, 2018 at 4:08am PDT

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.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Apr 21, 2018 at 5:43pm PDT

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. 🤷🏻‍♀️

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Apr 22, 2018 at 10:37am PDT

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.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Apr 18, 2018 at 11:37am PDT

1. 1. Mas Zenitude (Languedoc, France)

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

@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.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Apr 30, 2018 at 6:25am PDT

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.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Apr 24, 2018 at 7:15am PDT

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.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Apr 16, 2018 at 8:02am PDT

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.

You May Also Enjoy

• Amber Revolution: Orange Wine Now Gets A Voice
• Fruška Gora: The Innovative Serbian Wine Region
• Krauthaker Kuvlakhe: Amber Wine from Slavonia

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

It seems apt to introduce Winery Jerković (pronounce yer-koh-vich) on this day as the Croatia national football team takes on France at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final in a few hours. Why is that? What do Winery Jerković and football have in common?

First: Winery Jerković is located in Imotski, and that’s where striker Ante Rebić is originally from.

Second: Winemaker Mate Jerković was on the path to becoming a professional football player when his father Ivan Jerković passed away, and it was necessary for Mate to return to his hometown and take over the operations of the winery.

Jerković Winery (Runović, Imotski, Dalmatia Wine Region)

Founded in 1998, Jerković winery works with two indigenous wine grapes, Kujundžuša and Rudežuša. The winery is located in the village of Runović, tucked between the Imotski Valley of Croatia and the Mračaj Hill of Bosnia-Herzegovina. This area has been known for growing wine grapes since the Ancient Roman period. Relating back to the context of football, Runović is home to two former captains of the Croatian and Yugoslavian national football teams in addition to a handful of other outstanding players.

“My family has practically been in wine production forever, and my late father began more serious production in 1998. Living in Runović means constant contact with vines, as we are surrounded by vineyards, so without exaggeration we can all say we were born in the vineyard. And with a football.”
– Mate Jerković (pictured above), as quoted in Dalmatia Wine Story 

EXOTIC WINE TRAVEL RECOMMENDS:

Jerković Kujundžuša 2016

Wine Grape: Kujundžuša (pronounce Kew-yund-zhew-shah)

Kujundžuša occupies nearly 90 percent of the vineyard area in Imotski valley and 240 hectares in the country. However, there are only a few producers making varietal wine from it. Mate’s late father was known as the steward of this grape and helped to elevate the image of it.

The Jerković Kujundžuša 2016 has a fresh and breezy nose, with definite aromas of lemon and pear. On the palate, the wine tastes more ripe with characteristics of stone fruit. The acidity is appropriate and the saline undertone makes this wine interesting. At 11.5 ABV, this easy-to-drink white delivers quite a lot of sensory merits. A crowd-pleaser that would go great with young cheese.

Buy Jerković Kujundžuša 2016 from Wine&more (EU-wide and UK delivery).

[1:50 to 5:22] Watch us taste this wine (2015 vintage) for the first time in February 2017.

Jerković Mračaj 2013

Wine grape: Rudežuša (pronounce Roo-deh-zhoo-shah)

Rudežuša is considered native to Imotski and also western Herzegovina. Called “Trnjak” in Herzegovina, it is typically planted alongside Blatina to promote pollination. Today, it has around 16 hectares of planting in Croatia.

Rudežuša tends to produce high content of sugar and average acidity. Thanks to its high level of polyphenols, Rudežuša offers good weight and structure when vinified properly. There are only a few Croatian wine producers working with this variety, and the limited results have shown great promise. However, it seems the full potential of this grape is not understood yet.

The Jerković Mračaj 2013 (“Mračaj” is the name of the vineyard location) has a bouquet marked by ripe dark fruit, raisin, desiccated herb, and cocoa powder—very Primitivo di Manduria-like. On the palate, it feels rather dense at first with supple tannins that hit the mid-plalate. However, the taste takes a refreshing twist as it shows a good level of acidity and red fruit flavors. It would be hard to guess that this wine contains less than 12% alcohol. This is an enigma of a wine that would appeal to wine geeks. Pair this wine with a sweet and slightly greasy meat, perhaps a lamb shawarma.

Buy Jerković Mračaj 2013 from Wine&more (EU-wide and UK delivery).

[0:23 to 4:10] Watch us taste this wine (2012 vintage) for the first time in February 2017.

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!

Featured image by fifa.com.

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 Go Cro, Drink Cro: Croatian Wines for FIFA World Cup 2018 appeared first on Wine Travel.

“I wonder if I can say that ‘One of the best Pinot Gris I’ve had is from Somló,’ without sounding pretentious.”

Eva engages in a moment of thoughtful silence. “There’s very little Pinot Gris grown in Somló.”

Yup, I can’t.

 Watch our Somló Trip Recap.

A Fruitful Detour

Our initial plan was to drive from Szekszárd to Zagreb. But Matt suggests that we make a stop in Somló because “It’s kind of on the way.” No, it’s not—it’s a detour but one that I’m happy to take.

Matt has been enamored of Somlói wines since he had his first sip of Somlói Vándor Olaszrizling 2014 five months ago. Me? No. Where is the fruit? Where is the thrust of youthful fruit or that promising whiff of mild-mannered citrus? I have to rummage through layers of debatable mineral-related terms and still struggle to find a drip of pome. Granted, I’ve certainly had a few commendable Juhfarks, but they were interesting at best. So interesting that a sip turned into a few, and then a whole bottle all to myself. Every sip left me a little more baffled; I just couldn’t find the appropriate words to describe the wine.

But I’m excited about this detour. I imagine the tiny hill of Somló, the smallest wine region of Hungary, to look something like Hermitage in the northern Rhône.

We drive for awhile on dirt tracks that are wide enough for one car. There are no paved roads leading to Somló, the nearly symmetrical, cone-shaped and dormant volcano in northwestern Hungary. The surrounding plain of Kisalföld offers a magnificent frame to the 432-meter hill of Somló as it emerges like a born champion.

We begin tasting with the usual suspects:  Furmint, Hárslevelű, and Juhfark. My impression of Somlói wines begins to falter. No more repetitive tasting notes about something fiery, smoky or minerally. There’s fruit. Actually, gobs of fruit.

Then, the tasting gets more interesting with Syrah and Szürkebarát. Szürkebarát? It’s the name for Pinot Gris in Hungary. Eva offers us two examples: one from a small producer called Joós Pince and another from Tornai Pincészet, one of the biggest producers in the region. These wines taste untypical of the variety but that doesn’t concern me—these Somlói wines intrigue me.

After an hour and 30 wines later, we are ready to go. Matt asks which bottles I’d like to purchase.

“The Szürkebarát for sure.”

Connecting Moments

With a four-year-old Szürkebarát from Tornai Pincészet in mind, I embark on a journey back to my childhood.

To work with the limitations of being in Zagreb, I have to prepare my own rempah (spice paste) from scratch and turn a store-bought dark soy sauce into kecap manis (dark sweet sauce) by adding coconut sugar. The main ingredient for this dish, besides the chicken, is the soy sauce; thankfully, I’m able to find a high-quality one that is naturally brewed with a good amount of fermented and roasted flavors. Even though the sambal kemiri (candlenut chili) and bawang goreng (fried shallot) are missing, I reckon the dish can still hold up without them.

The Tornai Pincészet’s Szürkebarát 2013 is moderately aromatic with ripe fruit flavors complicated by a hint of spiciness, a floral undertone, and a slightly nutty finish. On the palate, it’s creamy and compact, held together by a good level of acidity. For a white wine with 14% alcohol, it’s balanced and enjoyable on its own and with food.

This quirky volcanic wine is an excellent match for this rich (we say such a dish is “jelak”) dish. The acidity and salinity of the wine cut through the sweet, salty, and spicy chicken stew. The food offers a sense of fullness to the wine. Neither the ayam semur nor the Tornai Pincésze Szürkebarát has to fight for attention.

Here’s a recipe for ayam semur, which looks close to my own. Unfortunately, I still haven’t learned to cook in a more measured and scientific manner, hence unable to document the amount of each ingredient I use.

Trying to Praise Well

What if you have the opportunity to meet your favorite author? What would you say to her or him? I love your work? You’re awesome? I wonder how many compliments of that sort they’ve received? Would those words make a difference to them?

I imagine if I ever meet Margaret Atwood, I’d tell her how her work has impacted my life.

So to the team at Tornai Pincészet, thank you for giving me the inspiration to recreate one of my favorite childhood dishes in a place far away from home (and from my mom who—obviously—makes the best ayam semur) and finding a partner for it in the form of a Hungarian wine. Thank you for this wondrous marriage of two cultures on the table.

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 The Unlikely Partners: Somlói Wine and Indonesian Stew 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:

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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.

2017 marked the third year of our location-independent lifestyle and the second year of our wine career. It was a momentous year for us—in the span of 12 months, we authored and published our second and third wine book Sipping Santa Barbara and Cracking Croatian Wine, traveled to seven countries, and tasted over 2,000 wines. For professional development reasons, we usually aim to taste at least 3,000 wines every year. However, because of our publishing deadlines, we were relatively sedentary in 2017 as we spent more than half of the year in Croatia and Serbia while finishing the production of our books; the other six months, we were traveling in the wine regions of Austria, Cyprus, Italy (Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Sardinia), Hungary, Slovakia, and Slovenia. In all the countries that we visited, we managed to find outstanding wines in every one of them. We mean… magnificent… unforgettable… outstanding… knockouts.

All in all, it was a rewarding year if we measure it out in wine glasses.

So here we go again: our favorite wines of the year. As advocates for diversity in wine and “Drink Adventurously” (our tagline), we hope our list reveals the ever-expanding choices that are available to wine lovers. While these 17 wines have been chosen based on, first and foremost, their sensory merits, other aspects are also taken into consideration. Did the wine teach us something new? Did it make us re-examine our assumptions? Did it spark curiosity or inspire conversations? Did it have a story or human element that mean something special to us? Ultimately, these are wines that we would highly recommend you, our wine-loving reader, to seek out.

SPARKLING WINE

Charles Heidsieck, Blanc des Millenaires 1995 – Champagne, France

We tasted this at a Charles Heidsieck workshop organized by VinArt Grand Tasting in Zagreb, Croatia. The presenter Drazan Sunjic was also our WSET teacher. Drazan knows the Champagne region and Champagne Charlie inside out. So it was an honor to have him share his knowledge and passion with us. The Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires 1995 was the last wine of the tasting, and it wowed everyone in the room. Made from 100% Chardonnay, this bottle was disgorged in 2015. 19 years of lees aging, woohoo! Following 1983, 1985, and 1990, 1995 is only the fourth vintage of this tête de cuvée Champagne.

Why we love it: We had a hard time choosing between this and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2006. We ended up picking Charles Heidsieck over Taittinger because it’s more developed at this point. The Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires 1995 is a wine that must be tasted, not described.

Learn More | Best Of Vinart Grand Tasting 2017: Part 2

WHITE WINE

Bott Frigyes, Super Granum 2015 – Južnoslovenská, Slovakia

Bott Frigyes is an ethnic Hungarian living in South Slovakia. We first heard about his wines from Ernő Sagmeister of Dukay-Sagmeister winery in Serbia. If one of our favorite wine producers suggests we try the wines of another producer, we will follow the recommendation dutifully.

And so we did. During our two-week press tour in Slovakia, we had the chance to spend a night at the guesthouse of Bott Frigyes. Thank you, Tibor Vittek and Peter Drotár for organizing. After an elaborate tasting and dinner, Bott and his family left the guesthouse but not before trying to make us feel the most welcome.

 

Spending the night at one of our favorite wineries in Slovakia. And guess what, it’s “open cellar” night!

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“Help yourself to the wines.” Bott had left all the bottles that we tasted in the dining room. It was a long work day; we were knackered, but nothing was going to stop us from enjoying a nightcap.

 Why we love it: Bott Frigyes Super Granum 2015 is a barrel-fermented cuvée of Furmint, Hárslevelü, and Juhfark. Exciting grapes? Check. The wine has a head-turning bouquet, vivid flavors, and an undeniable mineral characteristic. The quality level, irresistible refreshingness, subtle nuances, tension, and texture of this wine remind us of the best of Chablis.  

Nikolaihof, Vinothek Riesling 2000 – Wachau, Austria

We were fortunate to drink this wine twice in 2017: the first time was at a workshop in Zagreb, Croatia, and the second time was at Austrian winemaker Hartmut Aubell‘s birthday celebration. The 1995 vintage of Nikolaihof Vinothek Riesling was the first Austrian wine to receive 100 points from Robert Parker. Aged for 16 years in 3,500-liter oak cask and bottled in 2016, the 2000 vintage is the winery’s latest release of this wine.

Why we love it: It may be the greatest white wine that Matt has ever tasted. Also, this wine is a capsule of many fond memories—from our trip to Graz, Austria, to this…

A photo of our friend, Vjekoslav Stojišić, when he tasted this wine. Photo from: www.facebook.com/vinartgrandtasting

Learn More | Best Of Vinart Grand Tasting 2017: Part 1

RED WINE

Antinori, Solaia 2010 – Tuscany, Italy

One of the illustrious Aia’s of Tuscany… Ornellaia, Sassicaia, and Solaia. Antonio Galloni of Vinous wrote,” The 2010 is the greatest Solaia ever made.” We tend to agree with Galloni’s reviews, so when we found this 98-point wine—with an irresistible price tag to boot—in Belgrade, Serbia, it was a non-negotiable situation: let’s get it. Antinori Solaia is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Franc.

Why we love it: We opened this wine on May 22 to celebrate the second anniversary of our location-independent lifestyle. It was our first taste of Solaia, and it delivered more than we had imagined. Unfortunately, we did a disservice to this wine by drinking it at such a young age. Nevertheless, it showed a formidable marriage between finesse and power.

Concha y Toro, Don Melchor 2007 – Maipo Valley, Chile

 

A moment of truth: has it all been a misplaced love or is the Serbian Kremen Kamen by Matalj winery one of the greatest reds? We put the Kremen Kamen wines up to a taste test next to Don Melchor (listed 8 times on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list) and are glad to see that Kremen Kamen is indeed a wine of great substance. Now that our love and faith in Serbian wine are justified, we wish our dear friend from Matalj winery that Kremen Kamen will have the same impact on Serbian wine industry as Don Melchor has on the Chilean wine image.

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In May 2017, we were in the final production stage of two books and inching towards being burned out. Matt decided to purchase a few iconic wines as a form of encouragement and pick-me-up. The stash included Antinori Solaia 2010 (listed above), Antinori Tignanello 2011, Donnafugata Mille e una Notte 2012, Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve 2009, Fontodi Vigna del Sorbo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2011 (listed below), M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Bernardine 2010, and this—our good ol’ Don Melchor, a wine we used to drink a fair bit back in Singapore. Three out of those seven wines ended up being our “wine of the year”, so it was a perceptive splurge by Matt.

Cabernet Sauvignon with a bit of Merlot, this wine has been listed eight times on the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list, and the 2007 vintage scored 94+ points from The Wine Advocate by Robert Parker. We were in Serbia at that time so we thought we’d make a fun tasting out of this bottle. After all, it’s not often that one can find a 10-year-old Don Melchor on the shelf. We met up with Nikola Mladenović Matalj, the owner and winemaker of Matalj winery, and arranged a vertical tasting of his Matalj Kremen Kamen (which was in our Top 16 of 2016 list) along this wine.

Why we love it: We were fortunate to catch Don Melchor 2007 at its prime drinking window: the wine was showing the perfect balance between primary and tertiary notes. This remains to be the best bottle/vintage of Don Melchor we’ve tasted.

Learn More | Matalj Kremen Kamen: A Vertical Tasting

Fontodi, Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo 2011 – Tuscany, Italy

 

2011 Fontodi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo. A burly Chianti with 15% abv, fruit flavors so intense that they are redolent of berry strips, and 6% acidity that disciplines the many layers into a harmonious unity. This wine is approaching the window of great drinkability but clearly has many more years of evolvement ahead before unveiling its peak. Flavors of sour cherry, black plum, tobacco, licorice, sweet cedar, cinnamon stick, and leather. Chewy tannins lead to a lengthy, strikingly tart yet sweet finish. This is a divisive wine as we’ve just drunk a bottle of 2011 Tignanello. Matt prefers the Tignanello because he thinks it has higher drinkability now. Charine prefers this wine for its powerful attack.

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We had a bottle of Fontodi Chianti Classico on our first date. That wine turned out to be a favorable choice for us in more than one way. So five years later, it was time to step up and give this Gran Selezione version a try.

Why we love it: It was a tough choice between this and its preeminent sibling, the Fontodi Flaccianello Della Pieve. In the end, this burly Chianti took the spot because of its current accessibility. And, to us, it’s simply more distinctive and more memorable than Flaccianello 2009. This wine is so good that it may even make your burp smell good.

Francuska Vinarija, Obećanje 2009 – Negotin, Serbia

 

I guess it’s no surprise that the Serbian winery Francuska Vinarija’s headliner is this Gamay bottling, since the proprietors are from Burgundy. Bouquet of predominantly redcurrant, maraschino cherry, and chalk, with lingering notes of white pepper, lilac, and leather in the background. Structured with juicy acidity and ripe fruit sweetness on the palate. For a 2009 wine, it’s incredible that I feel a tad sad for drinking it too early. In 2 to 3 years, the leather character will probably become more pronounced, and I expect a bit more tobacco leaf and earthy notes that can make this wine more nuanced than it already is. I was going to say it is more Fleurie in style but later decided that a reference to an aged Saint-Armour might be more accurate.

A post shared by Charine Tan (@charinetan) on Sep 25, 2017 at 11:26am PDT

Located in East Serbia, Francuska Vinarija, which translates to “French Winery”, is owned and operated by a Burgundian couple. These wines are not available in Serbia as the entire production is exported, mostly to France. It took us nearly two years to track these wines down: our friend had some bottles in his cellar, and he offered a case for us to taste. We were impressed with all the Francuska Vinarija’s wines that we tried. However, this Gamay bottling called Obećanje was a cut above the rest. The name Obećanje means “the promise”.

Why we love it: It’s the best non-Cru Beaujolais Gamay we’ve tasted.

Learn More | Serbian Grand Cru on the Slopes of Danube

Jakončič, Carolina Select 2006 – Brda, Slovenia

Prior to our 2017 trip to Brda, Slovenia, we knew nothing about Jakončič winery. We only found out about them when we arrived in Slovenia and Matjaž Zagradišnik from the winery reached out to us with a cellar invitation. Throughout the tasting, we were happy with the wines. Then, we got to the Grand Vin—Carolina Select, a blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon—and it was an epic slam dunk. A wine that is built to age for decades, Jakončič Carolina Select is a wine with a waiting list and rightfully so.

Why we love it: Jakončič Carolina Select 2006 is a superlative Merlot. When we tasted this wine, it was immediately clear to us that it would be a highlight of the year. It has an opulent bouquet, full and luscious texture, intense fruit attack on the palate, and a persistent, focused finish. 

Learn More | Marjan Simčič and Jakončič: Classically Styled Slovenian Wine

Kozlović, Santa Lucia Noir 2012 – Istria, Croatia

Another tough selection. We shortlisted Clai Brombonero Refošk 2011, Clai Sv. Jakov Malvazija, 2011, Coronica Gran Teran 2011, Trapan The One 2012, and this wine for the article. All of them are from Istria, Croatia. We ended up choosing Kozlović Santa Lucia Noir 2012 because of its current appeal balanced with future potential. It’s a wine that will undoubtedly appeal to many.

Made only in exceptionally great years, Kozlović Santa Lucia Noir 2012 is a 50-30-20 blend of Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon-Teran from the Santa Lucia Vineyard, an area that is best known for its mineral-driven whites. We were so glad that we managed to taste this wine right before finalizing our manuscript of Cracking Croatian Wine.

Why we love it: It’s a “Super Istrian”, so to speak.  This wine retains Teran’s tingling acidity and ferrous aroma while putting on some luxurious, Bordeaux-esque contours.

Learn More | 10 Istrian Wines to Try

Miani, Merlot Buri 2013 – Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

In January, we spent a week in Friuli-Venezia Giulia. The winery that left the deepest impression was Miani, a recommendation that came from Antonio Galloni’s Vinous forum. When we posted on the forum seeking suggestions for “only the best wineries in Friuli”, one member replied, “There can only be one… Miani.”

Why we love it: The finest essence in a bottle. Want to know what soaring intensity feels like? This is your bottle. It’s one of the greatest Merlots we’ve tasted.

Learn More |  Miani: What Wine Dreams are Made of

Vylyan Duennium 2006 – Villány, Hungary

We first tasted Vylyan’s wine at a Villányi Franc workshop in February 2017. It was one of the two Villányi Cabernet Francs that stood out to us. A few months later, we had the chance to visit the winery. And as you might expect, we went with high expectations. By the end of our one-month stay in Hungary, we concluded that Vylyan remains as our top 10 favorite wineries in the country. Vylyan Duennium is a Cabernet Franc-based wine. For 2006 Duennium, some Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon were also added to the cuvée.

Why we love this: It was our favorite wine during our three-day tasting trip in Villány. Exceptionally youthful for its age, this is a wine that shows a sense of place. We would love to share a bottle with our collector friends in the future.

SKIN CONTACT WINE

Dario Prinčič, Bianco Trebež 2012 – Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Charine spotted the Dario Prinčič Bianco Trebež 2012 at an inconspicuous wine bar in Belgrade, Serbia. It was tucked clumsily in a corner of the wine fridge. Every time we see Dario Prinčič’s wine, it would be a done deal. We requested to purchase the wine, but as it turned out, the wine was not for sale;  it belonged to the bar’s owner. When the owner heard about our request and saw our enthusiasm, he decided to open a bottle and shared it with us. Dario Prinčič Bianco Trebežis is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Grigio.

Why we love it: It’s a poised and complete amber wine with an allure that keeps us coming back for more. We were introduced to Dario Prinčič by our friend, John Wurdeman of Pheasant’s Tears Winery (Georgia). Since our first bottle with John, we’ve shared many bottles of Bianco Trebež with various people. In a way, this wine is like a torque to us: centralizing and generalizing friendships through the vinous power.

Movia, Lunar 8 2008 – Brda, Slovenia

This wine was tied with Movia Puro 2010 in terms of sensory merits. We ended up choosing Movia Lunar 8 because of the context in which we drank it. On Matt’s 35th birthday, we shared a magnum of this wine with a group of winemakers, wine writers, and wine enthusiasts in Zagreb, Croatia. We tasted more than 10 wines that night, and this was the “Wine of the Night” with nearly full consensus. Movia Lunar 8 is made from 100% Rebula.

Why we love it: Charine said, “This wine is so good that it makes me feel like I’m drinking above my station.” It’s a wine that can arouse much pride, desire, delight, curiosity, and awareness.

Learn More | Kabaj and Movia: Slovenian Wines with Big Personalities

Radikon, Fuori dal Tempo 2001 -Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Radikon was on our “Do Not Miss” list when we traveled to Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Our visit came less than five months after Stanko Radikon’s passing in the fall of 2016, and the family was missing Stanko dearly. Fuori dal Tempo means “outside of time”. This is a blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Sauvignon Blanc. 

Why we love it: At the time of our visit in January 2017, this was the second vintage confirmed for this bottling. Charine teared up when she tasted this wine. Radikon Fuori dal Tempo 2001 hovers on the palate with exquisite grace. It’s a sublime masterpiece that was personally crafted by Stanko Radikon.

Learn More | Gravner and Radikon: Italian Wines Without Compromise

SWEET WINE

The Anama Concept, Anama Vintage 2012 – Commandaria, Cyprus

In February 2017, we were on a two-week press tour in Cyprus. The Anama Concept wasn’t included in our official itinerary. But thanks to our friend George Gkenos, we found our way to the home of Lefteris Mohianakis and Kristina Apostolou Mohianakis—the husband-and-wife team behind this designer-chic producer.

The Anama Concept’s Anama Vintage cannot be officially called “Commandaria” because it’s made outside of the 14 designated Commandaria villages. But it’s still that time-tested, familiar taste of Cyprus’s most famous sweet wine made from the raisined grapes of Mavro and Xinisteri—both indigenous to Cyprus. This is the only wine that The Anama Concept produces, and the production is around 2,000 bottles per year.

Why we love it: The Anama Concept has taken one of the oldest wine brands in the world, preserved the tenets of Commandaria’s story, revitalized its image, refined its taste, and given it a time-relevant makeover. This wasn’t the only Commandaria-style wine that we loved during our Cyprus trip, but it stood out the most because of its dried fruit and citrus qualities, meaning it was less oxidative-tasting than most Commandaria wines. We also respect the vision of The Anama Concept and cherish the intimate time spent with Lefteris and Kristina at their home.

Learn More | Cyprus Sweet Wines: Commandaria and More

Tokaj & Co., 5 Putñovy 1990 – Tokaj, Slovakia

Tokaj & Co. was a state-run winery during the communist era in Czechoslovakia. The winery is now privately owned. The Tokaj & Co., 5 Putñovy 1990 is part of a limited-edition, archive wine release, which means it is still readily available on the market. The 127g/l of residual sugar is supported by 11g of total acidity.

Why we love it: During our two-week trip through the wine regions of Slovakia, this was arguably the most compelling Slovak wine that we tasted. True to the sweet Tokaji of that era, this wine is oxidative in style and densely packed but without heaviness. The botanical bouquet draws us in and the sugar-acid balance gives it dominance and youth. The front load of dried sweet fruit flavors are contrasted by a tart and spicy finish. This is a living example that great sweet Tokaji can be found in Slovakia.

Video | Exotic Wine Travel in Slovak Tokaj

Vega Sicilia, Oremus, Tokaji Eszencia 2007 – Tokaj, Hungary

Tokaji Eszencia is the rarest and most expensive of all the wines made in Tokaj. Prior to our 2017 wine trip to Hungary, we didn’t care much for Tokaji Eszencia. The idea of an exceptionally viscous wine with at least 450g/l residual sugar and 1-5% ABV was odd-sounding. Would it still taste like wine? Do people really drink it from a spoon?

Our visit at Oremus was set up by our friends from Wine Elite. During the tasting, we had the chance to try some rare, aged Tokaji Aszú wines including a 1956 vintage and a 1972. 1956 is a significant year because of the Hungarian Revolution and 1972 is widely touted as “the best vintage of the last century in Tokaj”. Still, Tokaji Eszencia 2007 was the transcendent one.

Why we love it: When we visited Tokaj, Charine was searching for the ‘Chateau d’Yquem of Hungary’. She found it in this exquisite bottle. Like pure energy in a bottle, drinking this wine makes us feel… healed. Vega Sicilia Oremus Tokaji Eszencia 2007 has 515g/l residual sugar, 15g/l total acidity, and 3% ABV. Those are some enticing numbers tucked in an extraordinary wine.

Video | Exotic Wine Travel in Tokaj, Hungary

This list seems fundamentally incomplete without a rosé wine. So here’s the most exciting rosé we’ve tasted in 2017: Gut Oggau Brutal Rosé 2016

The finest selection of wines

available at:

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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!

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

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!

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 Exotic Wine Travel’s 17 Wines of 2017 appeared first on Wine Travel.

In June 2017, the inaugural Zagreb Bubbles festival was held in Croatia’s capital city. The Zagreb Bubbles is the first sparkling wine-themed event in Croatia. Over 100 sparkling wine producers, both domestic and international, participated in the event. The festival kicked off with a few days of peripheral programs and workshops, which led up to the main show on a Saturday afternoon.

Sparkling wine is becoming increasingly popular in Croatia. Croatian wine producers are utilizing both the Charmat method (think Prosecco) and classic method (think Champagne) to make their sparkling wines. For now, the Plešivica wine region is the king of Croatian sparkling wine with Ivančić, Korak, Šember, and Tomac leading the way. There are some solid examples coming out of Istria, Slavonia, and Dalmatia too. Teran from Istria shows a lot of promise as it is able to maintain searing acidity upon achieving great phenolic ripeness; this results in relatively intense, fuller sparkling rosé wines. Graševina from Slavonia and Pošip and Debit from Dalmatia are also capable of delivering unique sparkling wines. Overall, Croatian sparkling wines have shown capable of delighting wine lovers and at times deliver an entirely different sensory experience that thrills the wine geeks.

Here are a few of our favorite wines from Zagreb Bubbles. 

Croatian Sparkling Wine

Find out a wide selection of sparkling wine at wineandmore.com

 

The Croatian wine scene has a new star! The Korak sparkling wines are truly commendable. Creamy texture with just a hint of brioche note. The purity and health of its fruit sing through the nose and palate. The structure is defined and tight. The bubbles are ooohhh so soft, persistent, and fine! We’re in love with these new bottlings of Korak and will be stocking them up at home.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 4, 2017 at 2:05am PDT

 

Our favorite of the Misal’s portfolio of bubbles: Blanc de Blancs 2010. 12 hours of maceration that lends it a deeper color. 6 years on lees. Flavors are predominantly of brioche, peach, and tangerine. Bold expressions and round on the palate.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 4, 2017 at 2:55am PDT

 

First time tasting a sparkling rosé made from Teran grapes. I think we are on to something here!

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 3, 2017 at 9:32am PDT

 

Vina Jakob (Croatia) makes two sparklers– one from Chardonnay and Merlot and another from Chardonnay and Syrah. Both showed well at the Zagreb Bubbles show. We also tasted the reds by Vina Jakob at a different wine show and enjoyed them. This is a producer we’ll be watching with anticipation!

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 9, 2017 at 10:54pm PDT

 

Another compelling wine from Roxanich. This is a sparkling rosé made from Teran grapes. This spent four years on the lees! The Teran gives dark fruit flavors, broadness, and earthy tone to the sparkler and makes it quite unlike others. As Teran is naturally high in acidity, we find it to be an excellent variety for making sparkling wines. The Teran sparklers we’ve tried offer ripeness, flavor intensity, yet without compromising on the crispness.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 4, 2017 at 12:10am PDT

Champagne

 

Another cracking French find at Zagreb Bubbles: Champagne Larmandier-Bernier Terre de Vertus Premier Cru 2011. Zero dosage, single-cru wine of 100% Chardonnay from 100% single vintage–no blending. Biodynamic producer who relies on native yeast for first fermentation. At least four years on lees before disgorgement. This is a cool kid. Nutty, fresh green herb, white flower, pear, and peach. Extremely creamy. Only the slightest hint of yeast; purity of fruit takes center stage. Amazing value for a under €40 Champagne.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 10, 2017 at 12:42am PDT

 

One of the best wines served at Zagreb Bubbles event: Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2006. This is the top bottling of Taittinger. Whipped cream-like texture brings forth the weightless body of this wine. Coiled intensity of pure fruit notes–almond biscotti, nectarine, white chocolate, and lemon. Underlying floral tone. Amazing length. 2006 is tasting like it’ll eventually evolve and surpass other recent vintages.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 10, 2017 at 12:24am PDT

Franciacorta

 

Franciacorta always deserves more love. The Antinori Donna Cora Franciacorta Saten 2011 is ready for the world, after spending 5 quiet years resting on the lees.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 12, 2017 at 5:12am PDT

Still Wine

 

Not going to pretend or be a smart ass, a still Prosecco is completely new to us and this is a great start! We’re absolutely hooked and can’t wait to explore more.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 3, 2017 at 9:36am PDT

 

2015 marks the first vintage of Ivančić Griffin’s Single Vineyard. It’s a field blend of Müller-Thurgau and Chardonnay; co-fermented. A wonderfully integrated wine yet you can taste specific characteristics of each of the variety. A refreshing wine that’s easy to drink yet teases for your attention with subtle nuances. A wine of duality. Highly recommended.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 11, 2017 at 3:52am PDT

 

The Zagreb Bubbles program consists of several peripheral events, including a “Fine Wine Tasting” evening. At the fine wine event, we had the opportunity to sample several famous wines from around the world and also library selection from Croatian wine producers. We tasted a Korak Pinot Crni (Noir) from 2007 and the wine was showing incredible youthfulness and fruit-forwardness. A wine that could go on for another decade. While Korak is very much known as one of the grand masters of Croatian Pinot Noir, we say: don’t overlook Korak Syrah too!

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 11, 2017 at 2:18am PDT

 

Another interesting find at the Zagreb Bubbles’s fine wine event. Another fascinating wine imported by our friends at Hidden Wines! This causes split opinions–Charine adores this wine while Matt is indifferent. The 2011 Hartmann Dona Dona Noir comes from the Sudtirol area in Alto Adige. 100% Blauburgunder harvested from >20 year-old vines planted on steep slopes and at 500 meters above sea level. Spontaneous fermentation. Aged for 23 months in the barrel and 2 years in the bottle. This wine expresses exceptional drinkability and potential for long cellaring. Freshness, earth, spice, and intensity of fruit are expressed in complete harmony. If mellow happiness or quiet contentment has a taste, this should be it.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 12, 2017 at 4:06am PDT

 

2010 Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Imperiale. Among the people in our group, this is the star of the fine wine evening put together by Zagreb Bubbles. This wine should have been decanted for many hours before the show. But even when poured fresh from the bottle, the potential punches through the shy facade. 99 points by Robert Parker The Wine Advocate? No explanation required; every point flows towards every moment of the experience. Too young to drink, it’s all coiled up, yet nothing screams painful on the senses. No detailed tasting note. Just drink it to understand the meaning of a complete, fine wine.

A post shared by Exotic Wine Travel (@exoticwinetravel) on Jun 12, 2017 at 4:55am 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 can learn more about Zagreb Bubbles on their website.
Matthew also reviewed a wine that we tasted at the show: Nusserhof Südtirol Lagrein Riserva 2010
The opinions expressed in this article are not associated with any sponsors or business promotions.

The post Croatia’s Wine Tasting Event: Zagreb Bubbles in Pictures 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.

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You May Also Enjoy

• Santa Barbara Wine Country: Appellations and Region’s Layout
• Sipping Buellton: Wines and Other Gastronomic Delights
• Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail: Highlights & Tips
• 10 Wines to Try in Santa Barbara County

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

The post A Vinous Dream: Wine Tasting in Los Olivos appeared first on Wine Travel.