Category Archives:  Gastronomy

I love Vinaria magazine and more about Austrian sweet wine

Vinaria is an Austrian wine magazine, that I’ve never seen in the States. Of course, it’s written in German which somewhat limits its appeal here. A one-year subscription to the paper copy would cost me 49Euro, a hefty price, but at least for the time being, it is available free electronically on the iPad platform. […]

Win a trip to Austria!

Wine Enthusiast Magazine and the Austrian Wine Marketing Board are sponsoring a free giveaway to Austria. If you’ve ever wanted to experience the timeless history of Vienna, the romance of the Danube river, or the many exciting wines of Burgenland, Niederösterreich, Kremstal, Kamptal, or the Wachau, this may be your big chance. If I were […]

Tasting at Bründlmayer and Bründlmayer Heurigenhof

Heurigenhof Bründlmayer was, without a doubt, one of the top restaurants in which we ate during a two week tour of Austria. Definitely in the top three, a group which includes Restaurant Steirereck,  which is consistently rated as one of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. When we arrived, the kitchen crew was taking a break as […]

Visit to Weingut Bründlmayer: top-tier modern producer with tradition

Our visit to Weingut Bründlmayer got off to an awkward start. At least for me. We were coming from another appointment, and as these things go, we were running late. There are few things I hate more than being late to an appointment in Austria or Germany. It’s just rude and I know it, and […]

Visit to Weingut Peter Schandl

Weingut Peter Schandl is a family run business since 1741. It is currently run by Paul Schandl and his wife Elle Schandl. Our visit with Paul Schandl began with a quick stop at the tasting room. Unfortunately his wife, Elle Schandl, wasn’t feeling too well that day so we didn’t get to meet her as […]

Weinlaubenhof Kracher: 50+ dessert wines, plus a few dry wines you will never taste

  Not many producers these days have older wines that are still on offer directly from the source. Their wines are either too popular, (selling out quickly each year), or the winery simply cannot afford to warehouse their inventory for years on end. Often this means that you will either end up with wine that […]

The great sweet wines of Austria

Under gloomy skies we set off from Vienna to Burgenland, one of the most important wine-growing regions in Austria. Burgenland is known for producing great red wines especially from Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt grapes, but our primary quest this day was to learn about some of the great sweet wines of the world, including those from […]

Wining and Dining at 40,000′ – On the way to Vienna

Eight hours, forty minutes flying at 580 mph in an aluminum spaceship.

Normally this would not be anyone’s idea of a good time. But once in a while, everything seems to work out and the universe smiles on us. In this case, it was hard work and not good fortune that was to thank.

Years of accumulating frequent flyer miles, and the need to escape the everyday, led us to splurge on a business class trip to Austria (more on that later). For those of you who have yet to fly in Business Class, let me tell you it truly is another world, and when you get there you will certainly feel as if you have earned it!

From Vancouver to Amsterdam we flew on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. We were greeted with a glass of Billecart-Salmon Brut Champagne (real Champagne, the stuff with a cork ;-).

KLM is understandably proud of their onboard culinary program. We were given a 60 page book, “From Holland – Delights of the Dutch” that describes some of their providers, producers of wine, cheese, beef, vegetables, fish and more. All items that are used in their business class service.

Then we came to the menu of the day, twelve pages printed specifically for this flight and this cabin.

Here is the wine list, all produced by Dutchmen:

whites
Villebois, Sauvignon Blanc Prestige 2011 (Loire, France). Joost van der Does de Willebois. Tasted.
De Kleine Schorre, Pinot Blanc/Auxerrois 2011 (Zeeland, Netherlands). Johan van de Velde. Tasted.
Breedeweelde, Chardonnay Private Collection 2012 (Slanghoek, South Africa). Rob van Weelde, Pieter Carstens.

dessert
Breedeweelde, Special Late Harvest (Muscat of Alexandria) 2012 (Slanghoek, South Africa). Tasted

reds
Pagos del Mancayo 2010 (Campo de Borja, Spain). Louis Geirnaerdt. Tasted
Château Beaulieu 2010 (Côtes de Bourg, Bordeaux, France). Jodocus Boomsma. Tasted

ports
Niepoort DEE Tawny (Portugal). Dirk Niepoort. Tasted
Croft Pink Port (Portugal). Adrian Bridge.

If only every plane ride could be like this!

Best meals ever – remembering El Celler de Can Roca

Restaurant Steirereck im Stadtpark, Vienna. Have you heard of this restaurant yet? Read my upcoming report before you visit Vienna! I haven’t eaten here yet, but with TWO Michelin stars, expectations are running high. And this restaurant is also on Pellegrino’s list of Top 50 Restaurants in the World. The most memorable meal I’ve ever […]