About a month ago I received an invitation through the Boston Sommelier Society to attend a tasting of Austrian wines. I immediately replied that I would love to be there since Austrian wines are some of my favorites and it's tough to find really good ones in retail shops because they are still considered obscure and come at a premium. Trade tasting are often tedious because of the amount of people in attendance and the dearth of quality wine shown, but I will hand it to Winebow and MS Walker for putting on a nicely orchestrated, organized and informative event with plenty of great wine to taste. The delicious free lunch from Eastern Standard didn't hurt either!For the most part, Austria produces its best wines from two grapes: Gruner Veltliner and Riesling. I love Riesling and Gruner has enjoyed a little bit of a cult wine status here in the Boston restaurant scene over the past ten years. There is a handful of red being produced from Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, St. Laurent, and Pinot Noir, but these are rare and typically very earthy and sometimes very tannic when compared to domestic wines at the same price point. The reds, though very good, are vastly unappreciated and misunderstood in the American market, therefore, it follows that I must like them.
The afternoon began with a lecture given by Fritz Miesbauer, Rudi Pichler, and Paul Achs. The three spoke about their wines and led a tasting of six wines that they felt best showcased their individual view points of the terroir and wines from their production. Their eloquence and candor charmed the audience and I think everyone in attendance enjoyed the wines put in front of us immensely. All three winemakers were clearly passionate about their wines and their home of Austria. I was particularly struck with the message they were delivering about wine and place, each speaking in detail about the soil content of their vineyard sites and the aspect of the hillsides.
