Habánské sklepy 1614 Zweigeltrebe

 In Prague, I picked up an absolutely delicious Zweigelt (similar in flavor to a Pinot Noir) at a Billa.

I was, in fact, quite lucky to get a good wine...not because the Czech Republic is rife with bad wine, or anything, but my Czech abilities are - how shall I put this? - nonexistent. Which makes it difficult to pick out a wine you'll like, if you can't exactly read the bottle.

I was biting my nails all the way home, wondering if I had bought by mistake a sweet red wine (they are somewhat more popular in eastern Europe than in the Mediterranean...except for Greece, inexplicably). But, because of my German abilities, and having tasted a Zweigelt before, I thought I'd be pretty safe. Zweigelts are an Austrian grape, and known to be spicy and rich in tannins, but not as heavy as the Blaufränkisch, another popular eastern European grape variety.

At around 100 Czech Korúny, or €4, this was an especially good choice for the connoisseur on a budget...moi! I accompanied my wine with a nice Austrian cheese (Bergkäse - similar to a Gruyère) and stuffed mushrooms...DEEEE-LISH! The wine's color was ruby red, with raspberry notes and a woodsy flavor which paired excellently with the mushrooms.

I only wish now I had bought more bottles. Though I doubt that they would have fit in my backpack. This can be another excuse to go back to Prague - not that one needs excuses...

Prague's famous Astronomical Clock

Reasons to Love Wine

OK, so, for anyone interested, I will now delineate why I love wine:

1) It gets you drunk.

2) Good wine is sooooooo yummy, I have no idea how to explain the sensation to someone who doesn't like wine. If you don't like wine, sorry, we can't be friends.

3) Grapes. I love grapes. I love raisins. I love wine. 'Nuff said. Ask my mom.

4) You can be a total snob about wine and be completely justified. Name one other aspect of life where this is appropriate. Can you?

5) Wine is grown in many wonderful regions of the world. Including Austria. I want to visit them all.

6) Food and wine go well together. I am a total foodie.

7) Wine is fine by itself. I love wine.

8) See my Facebook profile.

Weingut - Or, How Austrians Buy Their Wine

NB: As V.C. is currently living in Austria, and has plenty of wine stories to share...consider this overlap, the intersection of two blogs with the intention to educate distinct groups of followers...rather than pure laziness on our parts.

The Weinviertel is one of Austria's loveliest areas, a region to be proud of. On the border with the Czech Republic, it is rather hilly (certainly not mountainous when compared to the Alps) and known for white wines. For red wine, one must go to Burgenland...on the border with Hungary. 

During the, excursion, partaken with Austrians who really know their wines, I sampled some typical Austrian wines (mostly Grüner Veltliner) but also some Rieslings, a Traminer...etc., went to three different Weinguts, that is, wineries...or wine-growing estates...all family-run and charming! 

Each was different and offered different specialties, which I enjoyed. I tried to keep them all straight, but by the end of the afternoon (it must be said) I just had had too much wine! Each place is family-run and -owned, so there is a real homey atmosphere. My hosts told me that they had been going to one of the wine farms for over 20 years, and knew the whole family. I found that kind of amazing.

Another interesting aspect of Austrian wine culture is the Heurige, which means both "new wine" and the place where the vintners showcase their new wines once they come out -- which should be pretty soon! Exciting stuff. Depending on whether the Heurige is owned by the vintners, or by a local Gasthaus (Pension), they open between mid-October and early November. 

Here are some photos of the last place we went.

Unfortunately, there are no photos of the other 2 places. One was in a dungeon (OK. Wine cellar) which did not make for a photographic scene.

The second place was actually in the home of the Weinbauer and, yes, I was introduced as the American teaching assistant (probably a precaution against my sitting there looking stupid) but I still feel uncomfortable taking pictures in people's homes uninvited. I don't want to get a reputation as one of those Americans, you know.

Below are the grapes they gave us at the second place. I've eaten them all ready and they were super yummy! The one downside is that they had seeds. Which makes for a messy snack, but even better, you know they didn't put disgusting chemicals on the grapes to make them "seedless" i.e. infertile.

AND...the piece de resistance: 

This is all of the wine my Austrian hosts bought...over 300 Euros' worth!!! My kind of people :)

Ouf alors! Matayac Cahors

This delicious wine was brought back from Paris in V.C.'s luggage. You can tell it's a good one because the bottle is sealed with wax...rather than aluminum foil or a screw top. Either that, or the vintner wants to give the illusion of something special.

In the case of the Matayac Cahors, the "something special" is not a veneer...

We saved this wine in our dorm room, expecting to drink it upon graduation...and then didn't. So I brought it home with me, waiting for a special occasion to drink it. We finally decided that, since I would be headed back to Europe on a Fulbright teaching assistantship, and C.B. made it down for a rare appearance in Green Bay, this was occasion enough...otherwise, when would we drink it? 

I certainly was not going to lug it back across the Atlantic...nor was I comfortable leaving it in my parents' house (Mom would probably put it in the refrigerator, drink it without me, or do something equally sacrilegious to red wine consumption...)

Thus, we popped off the wax, decanted, and enjoyed! According to CB, it was "good even before decanting." Other comments? "Wow!" Stats include:

Year: 2005

Appearance: deep red/purple

Cost: 10-15 € (can't remember exact price)

Taste: smoky, with notes of blackberry and hibiscus; 

                      aged in oak barrels, which accounts for the smokiness

Bought: in 2008 at Carrefour, Boulogne, Paris, France 

Le Bâtonnier

view from top of Mont Royal

A Québec wine from the vintner Denis Paradis, bought from a vendor on the streets of Montréal  for the somewhat unaccustomed price of $20 CAD, Le Bâtonnier, or “president of the Bar” (i.e. lawyer) in French, is a depart from the usual. A tart North American wine, made from grapes grown in Québec, the fruits are young-tasting, with notes of cranberry, and fluffy…like the wine equivalent of angel food cake.

Normally, I prefer a more full-bodied red, but the cranberry tartness and the young sweetness make it a great summer wine. When you don’t want anything too dark. Goes well with goat cheese, a pear and nut salad, or other summery dishes.

The price was a bit steep for the quality – my one critique was that the “oak barreled finish” seemed like a cop out for not knowing what else to do with the wine. Then again, red wines are meant to be aged…thus, the problem if you are drinking a young one.

After a Hiatus

Many things have been happening in the lives of the Budget Wine Snobs since our last post...some of which can be explained here or here. Also, here.

This blog is, and will remain, about wine. Thus, visit the links if you need to know more.

One point of news: C.B. and V.C. will be headed to Montreal, Canada, this month...Of course, as always, this trip will include wine, candid opinions on wine, and tips for getting the best bang for your buck...at least as far as wine is concerned.

En garde!