I have dabbled little (meaning few than a few dozen wines tasted) in New Jersey wines, so maybe I shouldn't have been as surprised as I was to receive an invitation to taste a selection of the Garden State's Blaufränkisch (aka Lemberger, Limberger, Kékfrankos, Frankovka). A fan of Austrian Blaufränkisch, I couldn't miss the chance to taste these wines! The virtual presentation was moderated by the distinguished José Vouillamoz, co-author of Wine Grapes. The entire experience was fascinating, and two wines in particular were stars: the Beneduce Vineyards and the Sharrott Winery bottlings.
Read MoreI first noticed the Respekt logo on wine labels in late 2011 at an Austrian wine tasting. Established in 2006 and requiring a three year conversion process, the first vintage for which this designation could appear on labels was 2009. The philosophy of Respekt BIODYN is to mentor fellow and aspiring members by establishing a practical and detailed conversion program for each, then to help the converted vinegrower outline a plan for the continuing the practice of biodynamic principles. Overall, the group eschews dogmatism.
Read MoreAustria makes some of the most precise wines in the world, and there is nothing like tasting single vineyard wines to understand the soil's impact on the grape variety. That's true even when the wines are field blends, like the Gemischter Satz.
Read More