Sharing wines stories from the vineyards to the table is what inspires me to celebrate when I return home. Fortunately, last April through June, my wine travels took me back to Australia, Greece, and Hungary. Of course I brought back wines. For me after being introduced to the wines, and then later exploring them further around the table with friends, results in enrichment at its best. This post will share wines stories from the vineyards/tasting rooms that found their way to our table.
Recently, when John and I planned a dinner at home with friends, we choose the following four wines:
Dinner with Wines from Greece, Hungary and Australia
Our dinner began with a sparkling Savatiano wine from Greece. My May travels with my sister, Georgia took us to Athens. There we met up with my #sistersinwines, Anna Aga (Oenologist) and Evangelie Tseliou (Co-owner Cinque Winebars) who took us to nearby wine country, Attica (Attiki). Attica is known for producing Greek varieties, such as Assyrtiko, Athiri, Agiorgitiko, Malagouzia and Savatiano. The international varieties produced here include Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. They took us to Nikolou Winery located in the cradle of the Savatiano variety. While Savatiano, Attica's pre-dominant grape variety, is well-known for its use in the making of Retsina. Nikolou Winery also uses Savatiano in the making of white wine, sparkling wines, and of course Retsina. During our visit we tasted these styles of Savatiano.
A Nikolou Winery Welcome © SpaswinefoodThe wine I selected for dinner was:
Some of the pairing suggestions for Savatinao included foods such as: smoked vegetables, fired zucchini, feta, honey tar, etc. So we decided to create appetizer platters: Dolma vine leaves, greek olives, with baked feta dishes. These platters were also inspired by earlier visits to Cinque Wine Bars in Athens.
Second wine was a dry white wine from Hungary. Last May I attended 2nd FICB (Federation International of Wine Brotherhoods) Wine Tasting and Rating Challenge's main program in Budapest, Hungary May 23-May 26, 2024, and then off we went to Tokaj for extension program, May 26-May 28, 2024. Upon arrival in Tokaj we check into Andassy Manor and Spa in Tarcal. From there we walked to Wine Research Institute where we received an introduction to the Tokaj Wine Region. While the region is best known for its Tokaji Aszú, a noble sweet wine, in recent years it is also receiving attention for its dry white, and sparkling wines.
A Három Grácia, Tokaj, Hungary 2022 © Spaswinefood
The 2022 A Három Grácia wine was made by Judit Bott, Sarolta Bárdos and Stéphanie Berecz. They have been described as:
... excellent women winemakers with similar philosophies but different styles and flavours. Their wines complement each other nicely.
Last spring we a quick return trip to the Hunter Valley. After an early morning drive from Sydney and two winery stops we were ready for lunch.
As we left Cypress Lakes Golf and Country Club, I took in the views of nearby Brokenwood, where we first introduced to Hunter Valley wines in 2019.
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| Arriving at Brokenwood, 2019 © Spaswinefood |
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| Cellar Doors & Sponsors of Welcome Event, Brokenwood 2019 © Spaswinefood |
Yes, when we met in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales (NSW), Australia October 10-12, 2019 for Wine Media Conference (#wmc19), this was the first time the conference was held outside North America. Brokenwood, the 2019 Hunter Valley Cellar Door of the Year, hosted the opening event. That evening while we sipped Hunter Valley premium wines and enjoyed fine food, we met some Living Legends of the Hunter Valley’s Wine Industry. There I first sipped some of the world's best Semillon.
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| Brokenwood, Semillon, Hunter Valley 2015 © Spaswinefood |
I still remember being introduced to Hunter Valley Semillon at Brokenwood. Obviously, Australian Semillon has become a favorite, and so it is not surprising that we managed to pickup later at a Sydney wineshop a few 2023 Brokenwood Semillon wines.
Food pairing suggestions for Hunter Valley Semillon includes: Oysters, especially with an Asian dressing, being the best match bar none, fresh crab, clams, sashimi, seafood salads, lightly cooked fish dishes such as seabass and razor clams, fried soft shell crab, and salt and pepper squid.
Other food pairing suggestions: Spring veggies such as asparagus and peas, a pasta primavera would work well. Dishes with fennel, a touch of citrus, young goats’ cheese, or salads with goats' cheese (pasta w goat cheese & peas). We decided on bow tie pasta with goat cheese and green peas.
While in Sydney we stopped by Château Tanunda Cellar Door located in 1860 cottage in the Rocks. It was a pleasant walk, about 30 minutes, from our hotel in the Central Business District.
Off to Château Tanunda Cellar Door © Spaswinefood
Château Tanunda Cellar Door © Spaswinefood
Our wine tasting included fine wines for their collection. We tasted Semillon from 100 year old vines, Shiraz from 50, 100 and 150 year old vines,150 Year Old Vines, their iconic Everst Shiraz, and 150 Year Old Vines 1858 Field Blend was a special pour. These Château Tanunda 100 Year Old Vines Semillon wines are very special. While Hunter Valley lays claim to being Australia’s Semillon heartland, and YES, I have tasted excellent Hunter Valley Semillon, this South Australian, Château Tanunda Semillon is amazing. Given that we selected Hunter Valley Semillon for dinner for our Australian Shiraz we selected a Château Tanunda 100 Year Old Vines Shiraz 2019.
Château Tanunda, 100 Year Old Vines Shiraz, Barossa Valley 2019
Château Tanunda, 100 Year Old Vines Shiraz 2019 is worthy of high praise, and with a drinking window of 2023-2043 it was well worth buying. Needless to say we love this Château Tanunda, 100 Year Old Vines Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia 2019. It certainly brings back the best of memories from our Barossa Valley wine country travels.
Dessert Suggestion: Mousse made with semi-sweet or bitter chocolate (70% cacao). Shiraz wines pair well with chocolate or fruit-based desserts
These stories from the vineyards/tasting rooms( Nikolo Winery,Tokaj's Female Winemakers, Hunter Valley, and Chateau Tanunda) to the table is wine travel at its best. For sure bringing back wines from our travels to enjoy with friends is Icing on the Cake. I invite you to join me in my wine adventures around the world at Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon and at Spaswinefood on Twitter and Facebook.
CHEERS!
Tyrrell's Old Hut Vineyard, Hunter Valley © Spaswinefood
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| Barossa Valley, Australia © Spaswinefood |
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