Posted by Paula Maia under Wine
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Breakfast in Italy, lunch in Austria, dinner in Germany, oh the good life I have! Besides the natural anatomy of those countries, and the fact that if you drive from Germany to Italy you must cross Austria, it still sounds utterly decadent to be in three countries in one day.
Also in the Alps and surrounded by three very high mountains, Innsbruck is an international winter sports destination. In 1964 and in 1976, Innsbruck hosted the Winter Olympics and the First Winter Youth Olympics of 2012 is being held in Innsbruck as well.
Believe it or not, the day we were there they were having a festival that happens only every 20 years. We beat the odds of this all-weekend drink and dance fest that had most residents celebrating in traditional costumes. After checking out the altstadt we stopped at Stiftskeller for a Wiener Schnitzel and a Gruner Veltliner. By 10 o’clock we were back in Munich having- you guessed- another Schnitzel, this time with an Augustiner-Braeu.
Tags: 1964, 1976, 2012, Alps, altstadt, Augustiner-Braeu, Austria, Germany, Gruner Veltliner, Innsbruck, Italy, Munich, Stiftskeller, Trentino Alto-Adige, Wiener Schnitzel, winter Olympics
Posted by Paula Maia under Wine
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Wow, I just finished the Advanced Sommelier course of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, level 3. It was quite a challenge for me, giving the fact that I chose the one week intensive format. Each day we tasted about 18 wines from pretty much every corner of the world. Of course I loved, and always have, the Chablis, the Saint Emilion, the Margaux, but what really caught my attention were the wines from Eastern Europe.
When was the last time you walked into a wine store and thought to yourself; uh, how about a Romanian Pinot Noir tonight? Or should I go for an Agiorgitiko or for an Assyrtiko? I never really had this dilemma. While I was fully enjoying the course, I must say that I was freaking out about the exam. Now I’m pretty confident that I did well and most likely passed, however I still need to wait another 8 weeks for the official result, which can be a surprise. Did I really do well?
But, why wait? I celebrated it already buying myself a ticket to Europe! I haven’t figured out which wine region or regions I will visit this time, but Alsace, Austria and Italy is in the works. I’d be happy with any, since all I care for is the amazing wines that the old world continue to produce. Pictures to tell will follow.
Tags: Agiorgitiko, Alsace, Assyrtiko, Austria, Chablis, Eastern Europe, Italy, Margaux, Pinot Noir, Romanian, Saint Emilion, Sommelier, Wine and Spirit Education Trust, wset, wset level 3
