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Grape Holidays 2025
There are holidays, and then there are grape holidays.
Not that we need an extra reason to open a bottle of wine, but hey – life is worth celebrating, so if we don’t need a reason and nevertheless, we have a reason – there is nothing wrong with it, isn’t?
Every year, I celebrate a few of the grape holidays and miss most of them. For 2025, I decided to add the grape holidays list on this blog so there will always be an easy reference to the important events 🙂 Yes, I’m well aware that 1/3 of the year 2025 is already gone, but still, here is the Grape Holidays list starting from the beginning of 2025, just for the sake of completeness:
February 1 - International Furmint Day
February 16 - International Syrah Day
March 3 - International Mulled Wine Day
March 13 - International Riesling Day
March 21 - World Vermouth Day
April 14 - Tannat Day
April 17 - World Malbec Day
April 27 - World Marselan Day
May 2 - International Sauvignon Blanc Day. Celebrated on the first Friday of May
May 3 - International Baga Day. Celebrated every 1st Saturday of May.
May 9 - World Moscato Day
May 17 - Pinot Grigio Day
May 22 - International Chardonnay Day - Celebrated on the Thursday before Memorial Day (US) at the end of May
June 13 - World Verdejo Day. Celebrated on the second Friday of June
June 14 - Drink Chenin Blanc Day
June 21 - World Lambrusco Day
July 12 - International Cava Day
August 1 – World Albariño Day
August 13 - International Prosecco Day
August 18 - International Pinot Noir Day
September 4- International Cabernet Sauvignon Day – Celebrated on the first Thursday of September
September 5 - National Chianti Day – Celebrated on the first Friday of September
September 10 - National Port Wine Day
September 19 - International Grenache Day - Celebrated on the third Friday of September
October 5 – World Vranec Day
October 6 – Orange Wine Day
October 11 - International Pinotage Day
October 14 – Prokupac Day
October 24 - World Champagne Day - Celebrated on the fourth Friday of October
October 26 - International Mavrud Day
October 30 - International Carignan Day - Celebrated on the last Thursday in October
November 1 - International Xinomavro Day
November 7 - International Merlot Day
November 13 - International Tempranillo Day - Celebrated on the second Thursday of November
November 15 – Amphora Wine Day
November 20 - Beaujolais Nouveau Day - Celebrated on the third Thursday of November
November 24 - International Carménère Day
December 1 – International Maratheftiko Day
December 4 - International Cabernet Franc Day
December 10 - World Aszú Day
December 16 - Pinot Meunier Day
Here you go, my friends. Now you know, and now you have to celebrate grape holidays or else.
And if I’m missing any of the grape holidays, please leave a comment so I can add them.
Next up – International Sauvignon Blanc celebration! Get ready!
Celebrate Marselan!
Source: Wikipedia
Have you heard of Marselan?
There is a good chance you never have, and nobody can blame you.
Marselan is a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache, created by Professor Peter Truel in Languedoc near the French coastal town of Marseillan, which gave Marselan its name. Marselan is a blue-skinned late-ripening variety that produces large clusters of small berries, leading to a high skin-to-juice ratio in winemaking. Marselan prefers dry soil and a hot climate, and it has strong disease resistance to botrytis bunch rot, powdery mildew, and other grape maladies.
The grape was created in 1961, but its real fame came to the grape only in the 21st century. In 2001, the grape made it to China as an experiment. From the initial planting of less than 7 acres, as of 2024, Marcelan occupied more than 10,000 acres, second only to Languedoc, and it became one of the most important grape varieties in China. Maselan in China is often compared to Malbec in Argentina and Carmenere in Chile, having a real chance to become a signature country grape.
Marselan today grows and is used in winemaking in France, China, Israel, Bolivia, Uruguay, Italy, Spain, and other countries. Marselan is typically used as a blending grape, but since 2002, single-varietal Marselan wine has been produced, first in France and now around the world. 259 Marselan wines from 18 regions in 11 countries competed in the first Marselan competition in 2023 in China.
Today, April 27th, on the birthday of Professor Truel, we are celebrating Marselan Day. It is a given that I can’t show a collage of Marselan wines I tried, as I only have 2 wines with Marselan mentioned on the blog. Nevertheless, I would like to share a few interesting tidbits with you.
First, a detailed write up about a delicious Marselan discovery of this year – Gran Marselan wine I had an opportunity to play with. Next is an article from Decanter magazine, profiling some of the latest Marselan wines well worth your attention. And here is a good article about Marselan’s success in China.
Marselan has a bright future ahead of it, and not just as a blending grape, but as a star of its own.
Marselan wines are still difficult to find, but do yourself a favor and see if you can find and experience one, it will be worth the effort.
Until the next grape holiday (Sauvignon Blanc Day is coming up on May 2nd) – cheers!
Latest Wine News and Updates
There is something always happening in the world of wine. When we hear the word “wine”, of course, we get an instant image of the liquid in the glass. But before and after that liquid in the glass, the world of wine is a business world, and as with any other business, something is always happening in the wine business. Let’s take a look at some of the latest, “hot off the press” developments in the wine world.
Tariffs can’t stop the wine
It is nice to think of wine as something divine and poetic, but at the end of the day, wine has to be paid for, just like cars, TVs, and steaks. For things we pay for, the scary word of the day is “tariff” – we can’t just escape the reality of our lives. The US government floated the idea of setting the tariffs for all European wines at 200%, and that is a scary thought for winemakers and wine consumers alike. Some of the winemakers want to face this challenge head-on – and thus, venerable Champagne houses Dom Pérignon and Krug just announced that they will start production of their famed Champagnes in the US, which will allow them to avoid tariffs altogether. The information is scarce and protected by strong NDAs, but based on anonymous social media leaks, both houses entered into agreements with undisclosed wineries in Oregon to source the fruit and assist in the production of the sparkling wines. Would they be able to call them Champagne? This is the question of the year, of course. I’m sure we will learn more as the story unfolds. Currently, it is expected that both houses will be able to proudly offer “made in USA” Krug and Dom Perignon as early as the 2027 vintage.
Chateau Latour 1982 without alcohol? You got it
It seems that alcohol-free wine is a big trend (not for me, but hey, it is a free world, right?). Until now, the choices of alcohol-free wines had been limited to specifically produced non-vintage wines of unknown pedigree. This is about to change, all thanks to the company that already once revolutionized fine wine consumption. Coravin just announced a new wine preservation system, which not only lets you sip your prized First Growth over many years, but also allows you to remove the alcohol from the wine while it’s been poured! Think about your underage kids being able to enjoy the legendary wines together with the adults at the dinner table. Or even oneself, now being able to consume an unlimited amount of the elixir and then drive with no problems at all. This new Coravin wine preservation system, called Drink Freely, is priced at $899, and it is expected to hit the store shelves before Christmas of 2025. You can visit the Coravin website to sign up for the email updates for the early availability of Drink Freely.
Wine and health
I’m sure you noticed that wine has been assaulted as of late with all the baseless claims about the dangers of wine consumption to your health. Despite all the wealth of the previous research, talking about the benefits of moderate wine consumption, it seems that beating wine down became a favorite pastime of many medical “scholars.” The World Health Organization (WHO) has been one of the staunch critics of wine consumption and alcohol in general. In a stunning reversal of events, the WHO published the results of a 10-year-long lifestyle study, concluding that moderate wine consumption, up to 2 glasses of wine per day, had shown improved mental capacity, reduced stress, and boosted immune system defences among experiement’s subjects, compared with the control group. The findings were so profound that the WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, called the wine “an elixir of life” in his quote. Again, this was quite an unexpected endorsement, but who can argue with success?!
Vines under water
Rising sea levels are definitely a concern for many wineries, especially those located in the coastal areas around the world. What will happen if the vineyards go underwater? What if it is possible to successfully grow grapes in the vineyards at least partially, or potentially, completely submerged in water? The University of the Basque Country in Spain teamed up with famed UC Davis in California and several wineries in the Rias Baixas area to research the ability of vines to thrive under water. The first vineyards had been planted in the sea basin near Vigo in Rías Baixas, taking care of protecting young vines from the sea currents and fish. Obviously, Albariño was the first choice of the grape variety to plant, but a number of other Mediterranean grape varieties are also in the play. It is too early to talk about the results, as the project has been going for only 3 years, with the first mentions just leaking into the press, but the chief project scientist, Dr. Maximilian Grape-Seedling, says the early results are encouraging. We are still 3-4 years away from any commercial availability, but we can definitely share the hope for the future of the wine industry.
The wine crypto
Last but not least – we just learned of the first ever wine foray into the world of cryptocurrency. Loïc Pasquet, the winemaker behind the most expensive Bordeaux wine, Liber Pater ($30,000 per bottle upon release), just announced his brand new crypto, $Liber. $Liber will be based on the Ethereum blockchain and will be released at $10,000 a piece, with only 10,000 coins total planned for circulation. The new crypto will be backed by the 2020 vintage of Liber Pater, with 5,000 bottles set aside as collateral for the new cryptocurrency. It will be first available for sale on May 1st, and the demand for the hotly anticipated coin already exceeds 3 times the expected total supply. Each new $Liber owner will receive a 50 ml bottle of 2015 Liber Pater and the certificate of ownership signed by Loïc Pasquet himself. $Liber will be available on all major crypto exchanges such as Coinbase, Robinhood, and others.
And we are done here – all the latest wine news and updates.
Until the next time – cheers!
Top 24 of 2024
See how well this rhymes?
Top 24 of 2024.
When I posted my list of top wines of the year for the first time in 2010, the desire was to create a list of the top 10 wines. This was almost successful, as the list included 12 wines, so I decided that “my thing” would be Top Dozen. I managed to maintain that limit of a dozen wines in 2010 and 2011. But then in 2012, I failed miserably, and that list included 26 wines. And ever since, all the top wine lists have had about two dozen wines or so.
I’m glad that in 2024, I don’t need to even look for any excuses as to why the top list contains so many wines. 24 wines is perfectly suitable for 2024, so that’s what we are going to do.
The selection process for the wines to be included in the Top Wines of the Year is very simple – the wine has to be memorable. These are the wines that solicited emotion, and thus became memorable. They don’t have to be the highest rated wines, even though they often are, but they have to be memorable.
I never try to calculate how many wines I taste during the year. Including all the tasting events and wine dinners I’m lucky enough to attend, I would guess this number is close to a thousand, so I believe selecting two dozen wines out of a thousand is reasonable. And please believe me when I say that decision is never easy, especially when it comes to deciding on the top spot – 2024 was no exception, and you will see why as you follow along.
Without further ado, let me present to you Talk-a-Vino Top Wines of 2024:
25. 2021 Bodegas El Nido El Nido Jumilla Do Spain ($150) – very much last-second addition to the list, but I would be upset if I did not include this wine. El Nido is generally a massive wine – pop and pour drinkability of this 2021 flagship of Gil Estates wines was very surprising and definitely memorable. Voluptuous, generous, yet perfectly balanced – one memorable wine – which is the main criterion for the inclusion into this list.
24. 2021 Le Clos du Caillou Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Unique Vieilles Vignes ($19, Last Bottle) – I’m generally a bit concerned about Cotes du Rhone wines, as I had many underwhelming specimens over the years. Not this wine though – beautiful, round, supple without being overbearing, very easy to drink.
23. 2021 FIOL Rosé Prosecco DOC Millesimato ($22) – everyday bubbles. Can I say just that? Okay, fine, if you insist – it was delicious, with a lot of energy and the fizz more reminiscent of a good champagne. Strawberries, anyone?
22. 2023 MAIA Winery Mare White Israel ($25) – Was looking for an Israeli wine to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, and came across this wine at the local Total Wine. Somehow this wine spoke to me, and I’m glad it did – it was all-around delicious with a structure that would make a good Chardonnay proud.
21. 2017 Campochiarenti San Nicola Riserva Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG (€19) – There is something special about Italian wines, like they can speak directly to your wine lover’s soul. Cherries galore, beautifully and tightly packaged to put a smile on your face. Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself.
20. 2021 Keeler Estate White Wine Blend Eola-Amity Hills AVA ($20, Last Bottle) – as you peruse this Top wines list, you will see many finds courtesy of Last Bottle. Yes, Last Bottle knows how to present their wines in a very appealing way – but Last Bottle can’t force the wine to appear in this list, this would be my doing. So this wine was delicious – light, citrusy, with just the right amount of complexity.
19. 1997 Chateau Haut-Piquat Lussac Saint-Emilion AOC ($19.99, Wine Exchange) – I don’t drink a lot of Bordeaux, so I’m glad I had at least one wine worthy of inclusion in this Top list. I found this wine a few years back with the help of Wine Exchange, and it was an excellent find – a classic old-world Claret, still youthful and delightfully drinkable.
18. 2014 Le Casalte Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG ($N/A) – another “first of” wine on this list – first of the great wine finds we experienced during our family European trip earlier this year. Not only was this wine tasty, but it was also very memorable as I ordered this Vino Nobile wine at a restaurant at the very heart of the Brunello land – in Montalcino. Well, good Sangiovese is a good Sangiovese, what can I say. This one was delicious.
17. 2022 Gran Bousquet Organic Cabernet Sauvignon Uco Valley ($25) – Cabernet Sauvignon of this quality for this price is simply unreal. And it is organic. If you like Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a must-try.
16. 2017 Saxum Heart Stone Vineyard Paso Robles Adelaida District ($110) – this wine could probably wait for another 3-4 years (or much longer) – still, it delivered enough pleasure as it was. Powerful, concentrated, delicious.
15. 2017 Royal Tokaji Borászat Mad Royal Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos ($N/A) – One of the highlights of the trip to Hungary. Seductively sweet and refreshingly acidic – a dessert wine to seek.
14. 2022 Petit Sauvage Rouge Vin de France ($17.99, Wine.com) – This wine forced a deep search in my wine lover’s vocabulary to find the words to describe it properly. I rather failed with the search, but I enjoyed the process – you can read more in the post. A rare grape and a very memorable experience.
13. 2018 Anaperenna by Ben Glaetzer Barossa Valley Australia ($49, Last Bottle) – I need to drink more Australian wine, as this one was delicious on all levels.
12. NV Champagne Camille Jacquet Brut Grand Cru Chardonnay A Le Mesnil-sur-Oger ($35, Last Bottle) – yes, another Last Bottle, and an absolute steal of Champagne for the money. Toasted notes on the nose and the palate, lots of energy and finesse. Also comes with regrets – why did I only buy 3 bottles?
11. 2021 Banfi Poggio Alle Mura Rosso di Montalcino DOC ($25) – another Sangiovese, another wine associated with our family’s European trip and a first wine from Banfi (spoilers: there will be more). We had this wine during our lunch at Castello Banfi, and it stopped everyone in their tracks – even kids who are not really into the wines.
10. 2018 Ramos Pinto ‘Urtiga’ Terracos Pre-Filoxericos Douro DOC ($300) – talk about unique wines – this one will be hard to beat. It comes from the vineyard where each vine has its own GPS and sensors, and can be tracked. Made from 63 unique varieties. Delicious, elegant wine, as memorable as they ever get…
9. 2012 No Girls Tempranillo La Paciencia Vineyard Walla Walla Valley ($90) – liquid rock, tamed. End of the description. Seriously, smokey and brooding wine, full of granite and iodine, mature enough to let the fruit show through. Definitely an experience.
8. 2020 Avignonesi Desiderio Toscana IGT Merlot ($60) – What is it with Italian Merlot? It is as good as Sangiovese gets. Unmistakably Italian, round, classic, delicious.
7. 2009 Sauvella Luscinia Canta Costers del Segre DO ($30) – when my friend said ” you will love this wine” it didn’t register with me. Then I opened the bottle, and the next thought was “oh my god, this is so good, what is it???”. A Spanish wine of an unusual pedigree (Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon in leading roles), smooth, well-structured, scrumptious. And I don’t even want to mention the price…
6. 2022 Terra Alpina Chardonnay Vigneti Delle Dolomiti IGT ($20) – I’ve had Terra Alpina wines before, I guess this is what convinced me to get this bottle at Whole Foods in Florida. I’m a sucker for a good Chardonnay, and this high-altitude, Alpine-climate-driven rendition was just spectacular, round and succulent. A delightful wine all the way.
5. 2021 Juan Gil Red Blend Jumilla DO ($15) – Another surprising business trip Whole Foods find. I grabbed this wine strictly based on price. Once I poured it into the glass, I was blown away by both the aromatics and the bouquet of ripe fresh berries, sweet oak, chewy but elegant tannins, the whole package for mere $15.
4. 2018 Smith-Madrone Cook’s Flat Reserve Spring Mountain District Napa Valley ($225) – Textbook Cabernet Sauvignon. Precise flavor, immaculate delivery, the wine to experience.
3. 2019 Ramos Pinto Quinta de Ervamoira Douro DOC ($100+) – here we go – the second wine from Ramos Pinto. This is a single-vineyard wine, coming from a single vineyard designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Dark fruit, earthy, powerful, and precise.
2. 2019 Field Recordings The Armory Paso Robles ($85) – This wine was really something else. I poured this wine for our guests on Thanksgiving, while continuing to drink whatever I had before. Judging by the facial expressions and overall reaction of our guests, I decided that it might be a big mistake if I will not try it. I don’t know what kind of dark voodoo magic was used to make this wine, but it was unique. This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, and while the wine had all the traits of a classic cab, every taste element had its own amplified energy, it was vibrant and alive. A truly unique experience.
1. 2020 Mariasy Tokaji Furmint Hungary ($N/A) – yes, I did it again. Two #1 wines. In my mind, this was the only way. Chardonnay-like and Chardonnay. This Furmint wine was full-bodied, succulent, offering hints of vanilla and toasted notes and even imaginary butter, while being bright and energetic.
1. 2022 Banfi Fontanelle Chardonnay Toscana IGT ($30) – And now, the Chardonnay. Vanilla, apples, honey, bright, zingy, refreshing, and dangerous. Really dangerous – I would drink a bottle by myself.
This completes the presentation of the Top 24 (actually, 26, but who would count) Wines of 2024. Lots of well-worthy wines didn’t make it to the list, but I think I got a good representation here.
What was your wine(s) of the year 2024?
Beautiful Hungarian Wines, a Deep Immersion
Hungarian wines need no introduction to the wine lovers.
Or they actually might.
Hungary is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world, going back to the Roman times (also the Hungarian language is one of only three European languages outside of Latin that have wine terms in the language). It is not for nothing one of the better-known wine brands in Hungary is called Royal Tokaji. Tokaji, the dessert wine produced from the local white grape called Furmint, can give the run for money to the best BA and TBA Rieslings and best Sauternes. It used to be a treat suitable and available only for the royalty, with its official appellation classification predating Port by a few decades.
Then it all came to an abrupt halt. First, the Phylloxera epidemic which destroyed literally all vineyards in Hungary at the end of the 19th century. Then, as the wine industry started to recover, came two world wars, and the communist regime right after. Thus while we can say that Hungary has very old wine traditions, the Hungarian wine industry is very young, with its modern history not exceeding even 40 years.
I just came back after spending 4 days in Budapest, the capital city of Hungary. And while working 9-5 all 4 days, I still managed to get a good taste of the Hungarian wines, and I have to say that it was one delicious and very impressive experience. And even as most of these wines would be hard to find outside of Hungary (okay, that should be reasonably not difficult for the people in Europe, but very difficult in the US for sure), I still believe the experience is well worth sharing.
I will simply recount my experience in chronological order, as I was tasting the wines. And by the way, I made my inner grape geek very happy, by adding 5 new rare grapes to the collection.
I started my “deep immersion” on Monday night at a dinner. The restaurant had a few interesting (read: made from rare grapes) wines which I was happy to order by the glass.
2022 Bussay Pince Csörnyeföldi Csókaszőlő Zala (11.5% ABV, certified organic, rare grape: Csókaszőlő)
Fresh herbal nose
Fresh acidity, Beaujolais-like mouthfeel, sour cherries, gamey, nice, food friendly
2021/2022 Bóka Birtok Jakab Kadarka Tolna (12.5% ABV, Jakab Kadarka, a.k.a. Jab Kadarka a.k.a. Italian Kadarka, rare grape: Jakab Kadarka)
Red fruit on the nose
Bigger and more round body than a previous one, dark fruit, good balance, good acidity, thoroughly pleasant
Upon returning to the hotel after dinner, I didn’t feel like going to sleep yet, so I decided to get a glass of wine, and the Tokaji looked very attractive – and at about $11 for a glass, a pure steal.
2017 Royal Tokaji Borászat Mad Royal Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyous (11% ABV)
Delicious nose of sweet, ripe fruit – white peach, pear, a touch of honey.
A symphony of flavor on the palate – beautiful ripe fruit, layers of flavor, perfect acidity, perfect balance, pure delight.
Superb.
On Tuesday, we had a short bus tour of Budapest, and our tour guide mentioned that if someone likes wine, he highly recommends visiting a wine bar called Vinlkli. The name was easy to remember – a cross between Vino and Bicycle, and the bar was also conveniently located about 2 minutes walking distance from the hotel where I was staying, so it was a no-brainer decision to visit the place. Boy, what a right decision that was…
When I came over, there was literally no space to sit at this tiny bar. Not speaking the language, I got rather a cold shoulder from both bartenders, so I was intimidated, but determined. A space in the corner opened up so I was able to take it, and then I just pointed to the wine I wanted to taste strictly based on the label (there was no printed wine list of any sort, and I couldn’t understand anything written on the board hanging on the wall).
I happened to choose skin contact wine, and it was excellent:
2023 Turay Családi Pincészet Borsementa (11% ABV, 4 days with skin contact, natural wine, rare grape: Borsementa)
You can assume skin contact once you smell the wine – a touch of herbal notes on the nose with a hint of the freshly fermented fruit, following by lemon/apple/peppermint medley on the palate. Fresh, energetic, delicious.
As a few more people left the bar, the bartender finally got a bit more time, and he understood that I was actually at the bar on purpose, so now he started suggesting wines to taste. Next wine white wine was literally out of this world:
2020 Mariasy Tokaji Furmint Hungary (13% ABV)
Wow. Is “blown away” is sufficient wine descriptor?
This wine was truly something else. A hint of honey on the nose, white fruit, fresh and inviting. The palate was mind-blowing – generous, plump, supple, crisp honey and lemon notes, layers and layers of pleasure. This will be easily a “wine of the year” contender. Just superb.
I’m literally salivating as I’m writing this post – I would love to have a glass of this wine right now. Just now.
From here on, the new wines were arriving without interruption:
2022 Szentezi Prince Fekete Muskotály (12.5% ABV, rare grape: Fekete Muskotály)
This wine was light and fruity. Somewhat similar to Beaujolais Nouveau but with a bit more substance, loaded with fresh wild berries. Good acidity. Refreshing. Should be great with food.
2022 Sziegl Pince Kadarka Bisztró Hajós-Bahai Hungary (11% ABV)
Yet another light and fruity red, red fruit, simple, clean, light. Well balanced, good acidity.
2020 Nyolcas és Fia Borház Turán (13% ABV, rare grape: Turán)
Dark fruit on the nose, dark fruit on the palate, good mid-palate weight, good structure, excellent wine.
2016 Heumann Syrah Villányi Védett Eredetú Prémium (14% ABV)
Really was not expecting Syrah, but this was an excellent choice. Dark, concentrated, brooding, cherries, a hint of pepper, round, good balance, perfectly well drinkable.
Truth be told, I didn’t have much luck with the food at the restaurants. Yelp is unavailable in Hungary, and I find that TripAdvisor restaurant information is subpar, so the only option left is Google.
Through my search, I found a restaurant called Parisi 6. I almost skipped it at first, as I thought that based on the name it would be a French restaurant. But the menu suggested that this would be a traditional Hungarian restaurant, so I decided to give it a try on the last evening.
The food was excellent (finally had a goulash soup that I enjoyed), and the service was even better than the food if this is possible – ultra-friendly, attentive, and helpful.
Here are the wines we had at a restaurant:
2022 Skrabski Furmint (13% ABV, low histamine (!) wine due to a special strain of yeast used for fermentation)
Whitestone fruit on the nose, Chardonnay-like appearance on the palate, vanilla, fresh apples and hint of apples, fresh acidity. Food friendly.
2022 Szemes Villányi Cabernet Sauvignon Villányi Védett Eredetú Száraz Classicus Vörösbor (14% ABV)
I actually thought asked for a different red wine on the list (Kadarka), but somehow this wine appeared at our table, and the very first sip suggested that mistake or not, this was an excellent choice.
Beautiful core of dark berries, cassis, cassis, and a hint of bell pepper on the palate, round, medium to full body, delicious.
2023 Tokaj Nobilis Szôlôbirtok Kövérszölö Edes Fehérbor
I asked for the dessert wine to have at the end of the dinner. Our waiter suggested that Tokaji would be very expensive, and suggested that this wine would be a more reasonable but still a good choice. Wow. This wine literally delivered an experience. The wine was all into a sweet apple profile – ripe apple on the nose, ripe sweet apples on the palate, perfect sweetness balanced with perfect acidity. And the best part? Our dessert choice was apple strudel, and my oh my, was this a heavenly combination…
That’s my deep dive into Hungarian wines in a good amount of detail. If you have an opportunity, definitely look for the Hungarian wines, I’m sure you will not regret it.
And before we part, two more little tidbits of my experience in Budapest.
I walked a few times to the river, going past this building:
and thinking that this was a museum or some sort of historical building. On my last day, I was looking for a place to get some specialty Hungarian foods, such as Pick salami for example (when fresh, might be the best salami in the world). Somehow, google suggested that there is a supermarket inside that “historic building”. Surprised but obedient, I crossed the road and read the “Central Market” sign above the entrance! The building might be historic, but inside I found lots of small shops offering all types of Hungarian specialty food. The place was somewhat similar to Chelsey Markets in New York – if you ever visited you would get the idea. I was happy to find a pick salami to bring home and much more.
And last but not least, a few pictures of the beautiful Budapest town:
Budapest is a beautiful town, and Hungarian wines are delicious and evolving. Did I just set up your next travel itinerary or what? Cheers!
Guest Post: Want to Make Your 2024 Special Occasions Memorable? Consider these 10 Wines for Toasting
Today, I’m offering you a guest post by Kevin Fagan, a food & travel writer, based in New England with experience in the catering industry. Kevin is always on the lookout for the trendiest food spots and bars on his travels and also likes to keep his finger on the pulse of the latest news in the world of catering & restaurants.
Whether it’s a Thanksgiving party or a wedding reception, giving a toast and having all your guests raise their glasses in unison is one of the most awaited moments of a celebration.
What matters most is not just any wine but the right wine, one that can elevate every sip and enhance the overall experience of the occasion. With the myriad of varieties in the market, selecting the perfect one for the toast may seem daunting.
This article is here to guide you through the top ten wines for a perfect toast. Consider the styles and flavors to ensure you make the right choice for your special occasion!
Prosecco
Originally from the Veneto region of Italy, this sparkling wine is a classic favorite for a joyful experience. Its light feel and refreshing bubbliness make it the perfect choice for toasting at a luxurious celebration. For example, a wedding reception at an elegant ballroom in Los Angeles certainly calls for a prosecco toast.
Prosecco to try: Bisol Jeio Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Cava
Magnificence meets excellence with this Catalan sparkling wine, made with Macabeo, Parellada, and Xarel-lo grape varieties. You don’t have to limit cava to toasting; you can use it for any occasion. Serve it with aperitifs and desserts or throughout a meal because it pairs well with almost anything.
Cava to try: Sigura Viudas Brut Reserva Heredad Cava DO
Port
With sweet notes and a luscious mouthfeel, this fortified wine is famous for its intensely rich flavor profile, which includes hints of dried fruits and spices. Apart from being a unique toasting choice, Port Wine pairs perfectly with desserts, especially chocolate-based ones and charcuterie platters, which is why it’s a great choice for savoring and sipping for your guests.
Port to try: Graham’s Six Grapes Reserve Port
Grenache
A blend of red berry flavors and mild spiciness makes Grenache a perfect match not just for giving a toast but also for serving with many dishes. Its Spanish and overall Mediterranean influences make it a perfect wine for holiday celebrations, especially those with dishes like roasted lamb, stews, and braised meats.
Grenache to try: Carlisle Grenache Rossi Ranch Sonoma Valley
Sauvignon Blanc
With crispy acidity and hints of soft herbs, jasmine, and honeysuckle aromas that lead to and reveal layers of citrus and melon, this complex wine will make for a great toast. Plus, Sauvignon Blanc is a great choice to contrast the heavy richness of celebration meals. If you like the zestier varieties, look for French bottlings or ones from New Zealand’s Marlborough region.
Sauvignon Blanc to try: Montes Sauvignon Blanc Limited Selection Leyda Valley DO
Riesling
Riesling’s sweet, fruity notes make it a versatile choice for toasting and having your guests enjoy it with their meal. Its electric crackle of acidity and subtle sweetness give Rielsing a very distinct flavor profile, making it a highly cherished option among wine lovers. It is also a good alternative to the traditional varieties from France’s Alsace and New York’s Finger Lakes regions.
Reisling to try: Brooks Ara Riesling Willamette Valley
Chardonnay
Known to be among the most crowd-pleasing options, Chardonnay’s versatility and smooth finish make it one way to give an amazing toast while also pleasing your guests. This white wine also pairs well with many foods, including poultry, vegetables, and seafood, making it an excellent choice no matter what your palate desires.
Chardonnay to try: Balverne Chardonnay Russian River Valley AVA
Pinot Noir
Any holiday celebration means delicious meals. Whether it’s turkey with cranberry sauce or glazed ham, Pinot Noir’s bright acidity and red fruit flavors make it the perfect wine to enhance the flavors of a rich meal. So, it goes without saying that you can give a heartfelt toast while also leaving your guests’ tastebuds in awe.
Pinot Noir to try: Vino Vasai Pinot Noir Estate Reserve Chehalem Mountains
Beaujolais Nouveau
Made from the Gamay grape south of Burgundy, Beaujolais Nouveau is all things fresh, fruity, and festive. Since it was originally produced to toast the end of the harvest season, toasting couldn’t get any better than with this young and easy style of wine. This one, too, is a crowd favorite and pairs perfectly with a variety of dishes.
Beaujolais Nouveau to try: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau AOP
Champagne
We saved the best for last because Champagne is perhaps the most widely used sparkling wine for toasts. Filled with luxe and elegance, Champagne is a drink you would have to use for celebrations like lavish wedding receptions in a beach club, castle, theater, etc. Plus, it’s amazingly compatible with fish, poultry, red meats, shellfish, desserts, and more.
Champagne to try: Bruno Paillard Premiere Cuvée Champagne
Parting Thoughts
We hope this article has enlightened you about the various options available for giving the perfect toast. You don’t have to do what everyone else does and stick to champagne, although a classic will always remain a classic. Here’s to creating unforgettable memories while sipping on an exquisite selection of wines!
Latest Wine News and Updates
There is never a dull moment in the world of wine – and there is not enough time in the day to track all the latest happenings. Here is a collection of recent and most notable wine news and updates.
Mars – wine’s next frontier
Yes, it is Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun. What Mars has to do with wine? If you ask Elon Musk, a lot. A relentless entrepreneur now has his sights on the world of wine, and apparently, he found a way to connect wine with another one of his passions – space. It appears that the 4 years long study conducted at UC Davis demonstrated that grown in space, the grapes had shown great potential for developing unparalleled taste profile while offering a substantial yield per vine, enabling the production of top-level wines at somewhat reasonable prices. Elon Musk teamed up with Paul Hobbs who was a consulting winemaker on the UC Davis project, and now he is building a fully enclosed vineyard set that will be delivered to Mars using a Space XM rocket. The vineyard will be installed and managed by the robotic staff, and the first harvest is expected to take place in 2030. The wine will be fully processed on Mars up to the bottling stage and will be delivered to Earth by the same Space XM rocket. No other details are available at the moment.
Screaming Eagle is going to produce what?
Screaming Eagle, the most iconic of all California wineries is secretly working on a new project, and it is not wine. Starting in 2028, the top 10% of the Screaming Eagle mailing list customers will have an opportunity to purchase the Marijuana extract, dissolved in neutral spirit and packaged into 175 ml bottles. The Marijuana plants are growing right between the Cabernet Sauvignon vines at Screaming Eagle vineyards. The plants are harvested by hand and processed within 3 hours of arrival to the winery, to retain absolute freshness. By growing in such symbiotic conditions with grape vines, marijuana plants acquire unique tasting characteristics and the elixir earned lots of praise from the focus group involved in the testing of this new product. The availability will be extremely limited. The pricing had not been publicly disclosed yet.
Coravin + AI =
Coravin, the utmost innovator and maker of wine tech gadgets teamed up with Google and Nvidia to add AI technology to the new top-tier A+W wine preservation systems. Each A+W device will be equipped with a Nvidia chip and connected to the Google AI cloud. The A+W device will be conducting real-time organoleptic analysis of the wine and the results will be further processed by the AI cloud to be able to assess the aging of the wine and drinking habits of the Coravin customers. All collected data will be also shared with the producers. It is expected that the next model of A+W will be able to detect non-ideal serving conditions of the wine and heat, cool, or filter the wine as needed for the optimum taste while the wine is being poured. Coravin’s chief scientist also predicts that at some point the Coravin devices will become smart enough to talk to each other and share their owner’s stories.
Amazon wine
Amazon finally decided to join the wine fray and start producing its own wines. Well, it is too early to talk about Amazon vineyards – for now, Amazon teamed up with Washington’s hallmark producer, Chateau St. Michelle to produce wine under Amazon labels. Amazon decided to use creative names for their wines, so the inaugural release will see “Mine is Better” Merlot, “Mine is Bigger” Cabernet Sauvignon, “Bottoms Up” Chardonnay, and “Sugar Rush” dessert wine.
Also taking the wine story even further, all the wine mentions in the Kindle books will become clickable in the text and readers will be able to order wines mentioned in the books with one click directly from their Kindle device. Inadvertent orders might be a concern here, so 007 readers, beware – Bollinger Champagne recently increased in price…
Wine G to Z
A concern about Gen Z not being interested in wine had been widely circulated throughout wine industry publications. E & J Gallo Winery, the biggest wine producer in the US, decided not to leave the wine story of Gen Z to a chance. E&J Gallo developed a special application called WineGZ to allow Gen Zs to fully customize their wine experience. As project director, Lotta Drinkin, explained “Gen Zs of the verified drinking age based on their country of residence will be able to fully customize their wine experience by selecting grapes, type, material and shape of the bottles, and many other characteristics to their exact liking”. For example, the grapes can be chosen strictly based on the carbon footprint of the vineyards, the ESG rating of the country of origin, and the social score of the winemaker. There is a choice of material for the bottle from glass to plastic to cardboard to metal to clay, and the shape of the bottle can be round, rectangular, or even “upload your own design” shapes. Based on the initial raving feedback, this project is expected to revolutionize the relationship between Gen Zs and the wine industry.
That’s all I have for you for today, but more news is coming. Cheers to the wine news and updates!
When in Nashville…
I love visiting new places.
Never been to Nashville before, so I was happy that the work event offered an opportunity to visit.
I had no idea what I will find – I only knew that Nashville was typically used as a synonym for American music, but this was more or less the extent of my knowledge. That and the fact that Tennessee (the state where Nashville is located) is often a synonym for American whiskey. Ahh, and of course, the famous Nashville Hot Chicken…
Okay, so where do we start? As I was visiting Nashville for the work event, with a limited time to explore anything, my observations and notes are strictly based on the little free time I had to explore around the convention hall, the Music City Center. Here is the summary of my basic observation:
- Nashville is a party city (Pedal Tavern, anyone?)
- 90% of the women wear boots (never mind 105F outside)
- Food is very expensive (possibly more expensive than in New York City) – at least where the tourists are
- Nashville Hot Chicken and waffles is delicious
- The number of bars with live music exceeds anything I ever seen in my life
- Surprise: Moonshine can be tasty
Here are a few pictures to share:
As a foodie, I have to talk about Nashville Hot Chicken first. Nashville Hot is a specific type of preparation of spicy chicken which was originated in Nashville in the 1930s, and attained popularity way outside of Nashville, Tennessee – you can read about the origins of the dish in this Wikipedia article. Tasting Nashville Hot Chicken was one of my top priorities for the trip 🙂 – and the mission was successfully accomplished. First, I stopped for lunch at the place called The Diner. Hot Chicken was on the menu in the chicken and waffle form. There were hot and mild options for the dish, so I had to ask for an explanation of how spicy the “hot” is. I was told that it should be 7 out of 10, which seemed palatable. The result was delicious, and I thoroughly enjoyed hot chicken served on top of the Belgium waffle with a side of maple syrup, washing it down with a local beer.
I also had Nashville Hot Chicken on another occasion – this time at a place called Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, famous for its – you guessed it – Hot Chicken. I’m assuming this was the location where Hattie B’s Hot Chicken journey started (they now operate multiple locations in the South) and it was worth enduring the 40-minute wait even in the 95+ weather. The chicken was tasty – keep in mind though that their “small” chicken portion is actually small, and if you are hungry, definitely go for the large size. My chicken had a spiciness level of “Hot!” and it was hot enough for me. My colleague went for the top “Shut The Cluck Up!!!” and interestingly enough he was not impressed.
I had one more highlight to my dining experience – a Mexican place close to the hotel called Calacas, and it was an excellent case of the “elevated Mexican” cuisine. I had ceviche which was delicious, and also a very unusual version of taco – crispy cauliflower tacos. I ordered it based on the waiter’s recommendation, and it was absolutely delicious, crispy, crunchy, and perfectly seasoned dish.
My next unexpected experience highlight was a visit to Ole Smokey Distillery. I was looking for a place for an early dinner, and this place had good ratings on Yelp. The place is large and consists of a distillery and a food court. In order to eat there you had to order at the counter, find a place to sit and so on – both the concept and the menu didn’t look too attractive, so I decided just to go do the tasting on the distillery side, especially after admiring the shelves.
For $10, you get an opportunity to taste 7 moonshine and whiskeys and a beer of your choice (you also get a credit of $10 for whatever you decide to buy at the store). I have to honestly say that moonshines fared much better than I expected (really tasty fruit), and grilled pineapple whiskey was just a riot – close your eyes, take a sip, and imagine yourself on a tropical island – yep, it was that good. After being really impressed with the tasting, I left the store with Mango Habanero whiskey (the bottle was very much appreciated back at home – the combination of sweet mango with a powerful kick from Habanero was very well received).
And now last but not least – Tennessee wine.
If you have followed this blog for a while, you know how much I love collecting experiences. One such experience is tasting wines made in different states in the US. Every time I visit a new state I’m looking for an opportunity to taste the local wine and ideally, visit the winery.
This was my first time visiting Tennessee, and of course, finding the local wine was high on my agenda. I tried a few of the wine stores, but being in the tourist area didn’t help much. At one of the wine stores I was told that they don’t have any wines from Tennessee, but I continued looking and I found this wine – Amber Falls Winery Madame Muscadine Tennessee (12.5% ABV).
This wine is made from the grape called Carlos Muscadine, which is one of the most standard cultivars of the Muscadine grape. It appears that Muscadine was one of the first native grapes discovered by colonists in America, and it is a popular grape in the Southeast of the USA. Muscadine grape belongs to the Vitis Rotundifolia family – something new for me, as I am primarily familiar with Vitis Vinifera (all major winemaking grapes) and Vitis Labrusca (grapes from this family are native to the Eastern US). Well, live and learn, right?
To be honest, this wine was a waste of $22 – if you ever had Concord or Isabella wines (both are Vitis Labrusca grapes), this wine had a similar profile, but the lack of acidity was making this wine not enjoyable. But – it let me accomplish the mission of adding one more state to the collection. I will also give myself a break and will consider visiting the distillery the same as visiting the winery – so two checkmarks for the table.
Here you are, my friends – a quick report on a few days in Nashville. Cheers!
Latest Wine News and Updates
While wine production is one of the oldest industries in the world, the amount of new, innovative products and scientific breakthroughs in the wine world is nothing short of breathtaking. Let’s take a look at some of the latest news from the field.
Everyone agrees that fake wine is a big problem for the wine industry. There are many tools employed by winemakers to protect the identity of their wines, but the quest for the perfect solution is still ongoing. After 15 years of intensive research, the French INAO (The National Institute of origin and quality), together with the College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University in the US announced the successful results of the initial trials of dogs being able to sniff fake wines. As part of the Canine Performance Sciences program, dogs had been trained to identify wines that don’t match the original wine. The training is a very involved process requiring the dog to spend about 2 years at the winery memorizing the original flavor profile of the wines. Once trained, the dogs can easily distinguish the original bottles from the fakes, the same as working dogs who identify illegal substances at customs in airports. The training process is intense and costs about $50K per dog, so this solution is not for every winery. Nevertheless, according to INAO, it will take about 7 years to satisfy all the requests for the dogs received to date.
There are plenty of wine lovers who crave massive, tannin-loaded wines. Such wines are often quite expensive as they require a long aging time in the oak barrels which are costly. What if the oak flavor can be concentrated in the grape itself while it is growing? Impossible, you say? Scientists from UC Davis in California think otherwise. Instead of using the traditional rootstock, UC Davis scientists managed to graft Cabernet Sauvignon vines onto the french Limousin oak rootstock, and after about 7 years of experimentation it seems that resulting wines demonstrate much higher tannin concentration than the wines obtained from the same clone of Cabernet Sauvignon but not grafted on the oak rootstock. Obtaining the same level of tannins would require about 6 months of age for the wines in the control group. Once the research is complete, it will result in significant savings for the wine producers which [hopefully] will be passed on to wine lovers. We should expect to find the first wines based on the results of this research by approximately 2028.
Many wine lovers live with a simple motto – coffee in the morning, wine in the evening. The next news I would like to share with you will, in a way, be related to both beverages. How so? Everyone knows Nespresso, a French company that mastered the simplicity of the perfect cup of espresso at any time with the help of a tiny coffee capsule. Working on a special (very sizeable) grant from French LVMH conglomerate, Nespresso just announced a brand-new machine called – maybe you guessed it – Winepresso. Nespresso scientists found a way to convert the content of the wine bottle to the dry form which is encapsulated in the tiny wine capsule, literally identical to the coffee one. Now, with a push of a button, a perfect glass of your favorite beverage is in your hand at any moment. Based on the opinion of the expert panel, the Winepresso-produced wine is practically identical to the original wine, which is a pretty amazing achievement in itself. The initial set of capsules available upon commercial availability of Winepresso will include two Bordeaux reds, one red from Burgundy, and 3 whites from Loire. It is also known that Nespresso is actively involved in conversations with a few of the famous wineries in Napa Valley. The capsules will be sold in the 5-packs (to be identical to the standard 5 glasses in the bottle of wine). Winepresso machines are expected to appear at select retailers such as Williams-Sonoma and Bloomingdales in time for Christmas shopping. The prices for the capsules and the machines had not been disclosed yet. If successful, you can only imagine how successful this product will be from point of view of sustainability and reduction of the carbon footprint.
Open any news source today, and you are guaranteed to read about ChatGPT, artificial intelligence (AI) software. ChatGPT writes poems, articles, and marketing materials, conducts market research and lots more. It appears that the wine world is starting also to embrace ChatGPT in a variety of ways, many of them quite unexpected. Champagne Piper Heidsieck just announced that they will start a new line of non-vintage Champagne, called Piper Heidsiek AI, where ChatGPT will play the role of the Chef de Cave, responsible for blending the final wines. After the initial offering, both Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noirs will be produced. While it is an interesting announcement in itself, I’m concerned with the impact of the ChatGPT on all areas of human lives, now including even wine production. Well, we will see how this story will unfold.
That’s all the latest news I have for you, my friends. Until the next time – cheers!
Guest Post: How to Enjoy a Glass of Wine By Yourself
Today, I’m offering you a guest post by Darshan Somashekar, a serial entrepreneur. He previously founded Drop.io, which was sold to Facebook, and Imagine Easy Solutions which was sold to Chegg. He recently started Solitaired, to connect brain training to classic games.
Having drinks with your friends is great! But have you ever enjoyed a glass of wine by yourself?
People often see drinking alone as a cry for help or a way to escape life. Honestly, that’s the case most of the time.
But it doesn’t have to be – especially if the drink is sophisticated, like a bottle of wine. Wine is one of those things you can enjoy on your own without feeling weird about it – if you know what you’re doing.
Feeling inspired? Read on to learn some tips for enjoying wine by yourself like a pro.
1. Enjoy your glass of wine with some music
Source: Pixabay
The type of music I’m referring to here is not that record you’ve listened to over a thousand times. Find a playlist that speaks to you and play it in the background while you enjoy a glass of your favorite red or white varietals.
For example, while enjoying a Château Subercaseaux Bordeaux Rouge 2014, I’d play a classic like “The days of wine and roses” by Bobby Darin. Enjoying a glass of Casillero del Diablo Rosé? Then you’d listen to “Summer Wine” by Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood. “How does the wine taste” by Barbra Streisand is perfect for enjoying a Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon.
As you sip, feel the music and the flavors come together harmoniously, allowing the two to engulf your senses. You’d be surprised how doing this can improve the taste of the wine.
2. Savour the flavors
Source: Pixabay
This time, without the music, take tiny sips from your glass to really taste each flavor as it hits your taste buds. Don’t drink the wine out of the bottle before it’s had a chance to open up. Then, bring your glass to your nose and take a whiff, breathing in the smells that waft up from the glass. What aromas are you getting? Do you smell fruit? Earth? Citrus? Tropical Fruit? The smell can tell you a lot about what you’ll taste next. Now you’re ready to drink!
3. A special delicacy
Is there a recipe you’ve always wanted to try? Perhaps there is a dish that has been on your menu list, but you’ve been putting off ordering it.
A lovely time to satisfy your cravings for that special meal would be while sipping a glass of wine on your own – it’s the perfect way to treat yourself. Some awesome classic wine and food combos include champagne and Oysters, Cabernet Sauvignon & Steak, Sauternes & Foie Gras, Provence Rosé & Niçoise Salad, Chianti & Lasagna Bolognese.
Plus, a glass of wine can take away any unappetizing tastes that the dish may have left in your mouth. Yeah, a wine glass can really come in handy.
4. Play a game
I am definitely not talking about a drinking game like quarters on a pool table. Come on, a glass of wine is too sophisticated for that. Think chess, checkers, or even a classic game of cards like the Solitaire game, and now they even come with a customized deck featuring wine selections. How fun is that!
These games are entertaining and can occupy your mind while you sip a nice glass of red wine or a full-bodied white varietal.
5. Spend time in nature
Source: Pixabay
Imagine this…..you are on your patio in your backyard or at a park bench, sipping your favorite white wine and enjoying the sound of the birds chirping around you.
Everything is quiet except for the soft murmur of conversation from other people in the park nearby or the rustling of the leaves in the trees above you. You can’t beat that ambiance.
6. Giving yourself some TLC ( Tender Loving Care)
Source: Pixabay
Another brilliant idea for enjoying a glass of wine by yourself is to treat yourself to a period or two of self-love. Run a bath, light some candles, and pour yourself a glass of wine. Slip into the tub and feel yourself relax as the warm bubbles envelope your body.
Sip your wine as you soak in your bath. The wine will make you warm and fuzzy, while the bath will make you feel melty and soft.
Then, you can doze off to sleep after the bath cleanses your body of toxins and release all your stress. Enjoy!
7. Watch Netflix and Chill
Can you tell we love Netflix? We watch it all the time – with wine, of course! You get a certain satisfaction from watching a good TV series while sipping a glass of your favorite white or red wine. Why not do that – with yourself? We strongly suggest you watch episodes of Master of None or Aziz Ansari’s stand-up specials while sipping a glass of Pinot Gris or Pinot Noir!
One more tip for you: change the routine now and then! Drinking wine alone can get stale if you keep doing the same thing over and over.
So, switch it up! Add a new flavor to the mix, step into nature, listen to new music, play a game, or change venues. There is no end to the possibilities – enjoy!
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