Eastern European wines are more widely enjoyed than ever these days! But with this infusion of amazing indigenous grape varietals comes a certain amount of confusion. What the heck does furmint taste like? If I'm a Pinot Noir lover, which Armenian grape will I like best? Great questions! Consider this post your entry point into lesser-known wines from Eastern Europe.
Enjoy the journey!
HUNGARY
Winemaking has been a part of Hungary's history dating back to the Romans. The country boasts 22 different wine regions and is most famous for the Tokaj region's aszú—a sweet and golden-hued wine made from the furmint grape—which was hugely popular among European royalty for centuries. Seasons of war, plague, and Communist rule have sent Hungary's wine industry on a rollercoaster of changes, but today, many Hungarian winemakers are once again turning toward small, low-intervention, family-run operations that value quality over quantity.
Hungarian wines can seem a bit tricky to navigate because...
Photo: Dale Gray via Unsplash
Hello, friend! I hope you're having a fantastic Friday! Make it even better by checking out this list of fun things we like this week:
FRIDAY FAVES - 6.25.21
- If you're looking for a new podcast for your commute, try the new Shattered Glass, hosted by Kristen Bell and Monica Padman. Each epsiode, Kristen and Monica interview a different woman who has played a part in cracking that dastardly glass ceiling.
- If you prefer a lighter listen, try Add To Cart, a podcast about the products and ideas that Kulap Vilaysack and SuChin Pak are putting in and taking out of their "carts" each week.
- This seems like the freshest spring side dish! Snap peas and burrata? I'm in.
- If you'd like a wine pairing for that snap pea delight (above), pop the cork on a bottle of Evolúció (dry) Furmint!
- Also, this stone fruit and burrata salad!
- Here are four books to broaden your persepective during Pride month.
- Start freezing your leftover wine! Great for sangria slushies or adding to a future sauce...
Photo: Nemanja O. via Unsplash
Hello, it's the weekend! Here's a list of goodies to prep you for relaxation.
FRIDAY FAVES - 3.26.21
- Lucy Laucht's photos of foreign beach scenes are just the thing to defrost your dreams of travel.
- Check out this sleek, reusable cutlery that would be perfect for a picnic basket!
- And OH MY GOSH, this cloudy and unfiltered sparkling Furmint from Slovenia would be such a great picnic companion this spring! Its citrusy, beer-like flavor profile shines alongside salty things like hard cheeses, potato chips and olives.
- If you have kids (or even if you don't!), check out Netflix's new show Waffles and Mochi. It's an adorable, food-focused show featuring a couple of cute puppets, lots of famous food folks, and Michelle Obama herself.
- Tasty tips for preventing soggy sandwiches on your next outdoor lunch!
See you next week!
Photo: Taylor Simpson via Unsplash
Good Friday morning! I hope you're gearing up for a warm and sunny weekend! Let's send you off in the right direction with these lovely things:
FRIDAY FAVES - 3.12.21
- If you want to really feel something, check out this fantastic musical collaboration between Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak and Silk Sonic. I am TELLING YOU, this retro-style jam session will have you swaying in your seat and fanning your face. These boys are true heartthrobs.
- Loving this long list of creative popcorn toppings. The salty and cheesy options would pair perfectly to this sparkling Furmint.
- This week I tried the non-alcoholic aperitif, Ghia. It's lovely, and makes a perfect mocktail mixer. Just the right combination of bitter, aromatic and complex.
- If you're looking to explore more unconventional beverages, check out our Sommelier's virtual wine class all about Ancient Grapes. This class will clue you in to some beautiful, old-school (but lesser known) styles of wine that'll delight your palate!
- This...
Photo: Netflix
October is the perfect time to binge watch (again) season three of Netflix’s Stranger Things. I mean, what could be more Halloween-adjacent than a little weird and retro romp through Demagorgon-infested Hawkins, Indiana? Exactly.
Season three of Stranger Things brings the advent of The Mall, that glorious beacon of the 1980s. It’s new, it’s flashy, it’s...strange! Everyone in Hawkins loves it and the Starcourt Mall is really the center of some of the juiciest, most climactic moments in the season.
In the final scenes of the season, the Stranger Things gang splits up into smaller groups to more effectively kick the Mind Flayer's butt. Each group gets a code name to communicate with the others over walkie talkie: The Griswold Family, The Scoops Troop, and Bald Eagle (of course!). So, in the spirit of trying new and strange things, I’m recommending a super off-the-beaten-path wine to pair with each of the Stranger Things factions that face the Mind Flayer in this spooky and totally rad...
