In this episode of IntoWineTV, host Lisa Kolenda and wine experts Bartholomew Broadbent, Laely Heron, and Mulan Chan convene at one of San Francisco's finest restaurants, Incanto, to taste and discuss wines from regions not typically associated with wine, including Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Hungary, and Andalusia, Spain.
Theme: Wines from Strange Places
Region: Austria
Alcohol content: 13.5%
Varietal: Riesling
Producer Notes:
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His name is Friedrich Rieder, but he calls himself Weinrieder. "I want to distinguish myself from all the dozens of Rieders around here", he says. Fritz, as he is called by his friends is proud that he has established the name Weinrieder not only in the neighboring villages and towns but that this name has become an internationally recognized brand. Fritz Rieders' wines are of a breathtaking intensity: an unbelievable fruitiness paired with a racy, almost electric acid are characteristics of his style.
Located in Kleinhadersdorf near the wine town of Poysdorf in the Weinviertel, the largest Austrian appellation, he grows almost exclusively white grapes. This region is renowned for supplying most of Austria's Champagne-style sparkling wines. The area between Vienna and the second largest city in the Czech Republic, Brno (Brünn) is also sometimes referred to as "Veltliner Land" since the Grüner Veltliner is the most common grape in this region.
Already in 1987 the Falstaff Magazine awarded Weinrieder the prestigious title of Wine Maker of the Year. His reputation has continued to grow ever since. At the highly regarded Hamburg Wine Salon 2001, organized by eminent German wine critic Mario Scheuermann, Weinrieder received the Grand Prix d'Excellence for the Collection of the Year and won the top award for his ice wine against contenders such as his fellow Austrian sweet wine super star Alois Kracher.
The Weinrieder winery aims to produce white wines with charisma. "It is known for its assortment of light and dry white wines, powerful premium quality whites with aging potential, and above all, sweet wines of international class that stand out for their fantastic interplay between sweetness and acidity. Emphasis is placed on traditional varieties like the peppery Grüner Veltliner, racy Rieslings, elegant Chardonnays and solid Pinot Blancs.
Producer notes courtesy of the Blue Danube Wine Company
Wine Notes: "Crisp and perfumed, this shows white berries, crisp white stone fruit and a great twist of lemon zest. It's light, floating, the acidity like a whisper within the fresh flavors. The final acidity stays forever." 92 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast
Experts:
Bartholomew Broadbent, CEO of Broadbent Selections. Bartholomew was named as one of the "fifty most influential people in the wine world" by Decanter Magazine. He is also widely considered to be one of the world's foremost authorities on Port and Madeira. Learn more about Bartholomew Broadbent.
Laely Heron, Owner and Winemaker at Heron Wines. Laely's unconventional upbringing in Africa, Asia Europe and the US may explain the wanderlust which has led her passion for international wine studies and winemaking. She began at the Institute of Enology in Bordeaux, and worked in the US, Australia and Scandinavia before starting Heron Wine 13 years ago. Today she makes wine in France, Spain and the US. Learn More about Laely Heron.
Mulan Chan, Rhône and French Regional Buyer, K&L Wine Merchants, San Francisco. Learn more about Mulan Chan.
Location: Incanto Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar, Situated in the heart of one of San Francisco's most charming residential neighborhoods, Incanto's rustic Italian setting, with its handcrafted stone, antique brick and woodwork, 16th century Latin parchments, and private dining room dedicated to poet Dante Alighieri, provides a uniquely warm and inviting dining environment.
Incanto's daily-changing menu honors old-world traditions including house-cured meats, unusual regional pastas, fresh local seafood and a commitment to sustainably grown and harvested produce. Incanto's award-winning wine program features one of the most diverse Italian wine lists in the United States and an ever-changing lineup of more than twenty wines by the glass, half-glass, half-liter, and flight.
