German: means "bottled by", related terms: Erzeugerabfuellung (bottled by owner)

or Gutsabfuellung (buttled at estate)

small half moon shaped ravioli

German wine region

The red wine hiking

trail is definitely an experience. On a length of 35 kilometres

the trail winds from

Altenahr to Bad

Bodendorf through

the steep vineyard

terraces.

The red wine-region Ahr is one of the smallest

of Germany's wine-growing regions, with vineyards

extending along the steep hillsides that line the Ahr

River as it flows into the Rhine south of Bonn.

Most of the vineyards grow red grapes - Spätburgunder

(Pinot noir) and Portugieser - producing red wines

of light charm and racy fruitiness.
Lively, fresh Riesling and Müller- Thurgau are the white wines

grown here. Nearly all of the region's wine is consumed locally.
Wine: velvety to fiery Spätburgunder;

light, pleasant Portugieser; fresh white wines.

Alsace (French): Alsatian and German: Elsass, is one of the 26 regions of France, located on the eastern border of France, on the west bank of the Upper Rhine, adjacent to Germany and Switzerland. Its capital and largest city is Strasbourg.

Alsace, previously a part of the Holy Roman Empire, changed hands between France and Germany several times between the 17th and 20th centuries.

Although it was a German dialect-speaking region for several periods in its history, all Alsatians today speak French. About 25% of the local population is fluent in Alsatian (as a mother tongue) or German (as a second language).

Sheltered from oceanic influence by the Vosges mountains, the Alsace wine region enjoys practically the lowest rainfall in France (only 400-500mm per year) and is blessed with a semi-continental climate, sunny, hot and dry. Situated on the sub-Vosgian foothills, at an altitude of from 200 and 400 metres, the vineyards take maximum advantage of their exposure to the sun, particularly as the vines are trained along high wires. These specific advantages of the Alsace vineyards favourise the slow, extended ripening of the grapes, giving wines with very elegant, complex aromas.The geology of Alsace is a real mosaic of soils, made up of granite, limestone, gneiss, schist, sandstone… Such a wide variety of soils, covering about 15 000 hectares, helps to bring out the finest characteristics of each grape variety, while the imprint of a particular terroir gives each Alsace wine its individuality, complexity and own unique hallmark.

GRAPE VARIETIES: Sylvaner, Pinot blanc, Riesling, Muscat d"Alsace, Pinot gris, Gewurtztraminer, Edelzwicker

and red: Pinot Noir

Strasbourg has existed since the Bronze age due to its excellent geographical position at the crossroads of waterways and overland routes. In 12 BC, this settlement became the main outpost of the Roman empire in its defence against the Germanic tribes of Northern Europe and it was named Argentoratum.

Following the fall of the Roman Empire the town began a resurgance under the new name of Stratisburgum and its political and economic growth started in ernest.

Germany has 13 wine growing regions, namely Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Nahe, Pfalz, Mittelrhein, Ahr, Baden, Franken, Hessische Bergstrasse, Wuerttemberg and in the East: Saale-Unstrut and Sachsen.

New Orleans:

a spicy smoked pork sausage, in Cajun or Creole dishes such as gumbo or jambalaya

France:

Andouillette is a classic French culinary specialty composed of intestines originally stuffed with pork or veal. The taste is acquired, as is all offal, but can be compared to strong pork sausages. The texture is somewhat rougher than sausages, as the content is roughly cut.

French gov. designation regulating wine growing regions,

can be also used in dsignating cheeses and food from specific regions.

AOC is the highest legal classification for French wine, then follows Vin delimite de qualite,

Vin de Pays and Vin de Table

Argentina is one of the world’s largest wine-producing countries. The climate of Argentina is similar to the Andes and it is this similarity that supports the Argentinean wine industry. Argentina is mainly an arid landscape that profits from irrigating waters off the mountains. Argentina’s warmer inland region encourages vine growth down the entire length of the country. In the north, the vineyards lie at the same latitude as Morocco; and in the south, vineyards share latitude with New Zealand. One of the vital aspects to growing quality wine grapes here is altitude, with vineyards planted at 2,000 and 3,000 feet to take advantage of the cooler temperatures. Argentine wines are made from grapes such as traditional Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and also varieties like Tempranillo, Bonarda, Barbera, Torrontés and Malbec.

The sizable spans of Argentina’s vineyards are located along the country’s western border. They extend for over 2,000 kilometres, from the Cafayate Valley, high up in Salta, in the north, through Mendoza, in the center, right down to the lower-level and down to the protected Rio Negro Valley, to the south east, in Patagonia. The most notable wine regions of Argentina are Mendoza, where nearly all the major wineries are concentrated. With its continental climate favoring grape growing, the Mendoza region is responsible for producing over 80% of total wine production in Argentina. The Salta region, nestled in the very far north of the country is a region of high quality Cabernets Sauvignons and, Torrontés wines. The Rio Negro region lies at the southern end of wine production. It is known by many as an upcoming wine region, not only for cool-climate varieties like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir wines, but also high quality sparkling wines. The San Juan and La Rioja regions are long-standing regions that continue to produce a wealth of wine created from simple grapes for local consumption

(www.wineweb.com)

French Toast

was created by medieval European house wives who needed to use every bit of food they could find to feed their families. They knew old, stale bread (French term *pain perdu* literally means *lost bread*) could be revived when moistened and heated. Cooks would have added eggs for additional moisture and protein. Medieval recipes for "french toast" also suggest this meal was enjoyed by the wealthy.

Hungary: grapes with nobly rotten (very sweet) are collectd in 25 kg puttonyes (baskets)

in the Tokaj region.One crushed, the pulp is added to normal wine

Australian wine production, mutually in quantity and quality, continues to be a primary feature of Australian history. The first vineyards were established in the 1830's in areas and by names that are still known today.

Australia has some well established wine styles that are uniquely its own, guided by the splendid fortified Muscat wines. Australia is also well known for its Shiraz (known as Syrah in the Rhône Valley in France) and Cabernet Sauvignon based red wines.

Lindeman

South Australia is the wine industry’s powerhouse State, producing most of the nation’s wine and boasting some of the oldest individual vines in the world.  The venerable old vines found in South Australia’s Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills, through their isolation, survived the great phylloxera plagues that wiped out the vines of North America and Europe, and somewhat later, devastated Australia’s eastern vineyard.

Jacobs Creek is one of the best known wineries in the Barossa Valley.

In South Wales the Hunter Valley range of wines enjoy a reputation as some of Australia's most distinctive wines, Lindeman is one of the most known wineries there.

Brown Brothers winery in the South has alone 190 acres around Milawa, and is one of the most renown wineries in the small Victoria region.

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Like most European countries, Austria looks back on a very eventful history. Yet there are some elements of the Austrian character that haven’t changed much over the centuries: the partiality for indulgence, beauty, and cultivation have always been driving forces in the country’s past and present...

Due to the topographical diversity and the relatively large West-East expanse, there are three differentiating climatic regions:

East: Pannonian climate with a continental influence – low precipitation, hot summers but only moderately cold winters.

Alpine Regions: Alpine climate - high precipitation ( except inner alpine valley regions such as the upper Inntal), short summers, long winters.

Remainder of the country: transient climate influenced by the Atlantic (in the West) and a continental influence in the South-east

Burgenland

Carinthia

Lower Austria

Upper Austria

Salzburg

Styria

Tyrol

Vorarlberg

Vienna

The fertile Danube Valley and the Alpine valleys were already settled in the Paleolithic Age (until approx. 8000 BC). Around 400 BC, Celtic peoples from Western Europe settled in the eastern Alps. A Celtic state, Noricum, developed around the region's ironworks in the second century BC. From the 7th century BC onwards one of the main regions of Celtic occupation was in modern-day Austria, centered around Hallstatt, a large prehistoric salt-mining area. The Hallstatt period, 750 - c.450 BC, is named after this region.
The Romans arrived 200 BC and by 15 BC they dominated the entire area

Around 800 Charlemagne, the king of Franks and eventually Holy Roman Emperor, established a territory in the Danube valley known as the Ostmark (Eastern March).

Between 976, when Leopold von Babenberg became the margrave of the Ostmark, and 1246, the Duchy of Austria was one of extensive feudal possessions of the Babenberg family. In the 12th century Henry II moved his residence to Vienna which has remained the capital of the country ever since.

Some 100 years later Rudolf I emerged with the crown, beginning six centuries of Habsburg rule in Austria. The centerpiece of their realm was the Imperial Palace in Vienna.
The Habsburgs increased their influence and power through strategic alliances ratified by marriages. Owing to premature deaths and/or childless marriages within the Burgundian and Spanish dynasties into which his grandfather, Maximilian I (1493-1519), and his father had married, Emperor Charles V (1519-56) inherited not only the Hereditary Lands but also the Franche-Comté and the Netherlands (both of which were French fiefs) and Spain and its empire in the Americas.

The Turkish threat, which included unsuccessful sieges of Vienna in 1529 and in 1683, prompted Poland, Venice, and Russia to join the Habsburg Empire in repelling the Turks. In the late 1690s, command of the imperial forces was entrusted to Prince Eugene of Savoy. Under his leadership, Habsburg forces won control of all but a small portion of Hungary by 1699.
With the end of the Turkish threat, the arts and culture experienced a surge. Splendid edifices such as Schloss Schönbrunn (World Cultural Heritage) or the Salzburger Dom were built; Under the rule of Empress Maria Theresia (1717-1780) the Habsburg holdings were reformed and united.

The French revolution in 1789 and the rise of Napoleon, who secured French possession of many Austrian territories, proved to be a major threat to the Habsburgs. During the Congress of Vienna (1814/15), held with the purpose of redrawing the continent's political map after Napolen’s defeat, Austrian Chancellor Metternich tried to reconsolidate Austrian power

The Biedermeier period was marked by a growing urbanization and industrialization that lead to a new urban middle class. People started to meet again, and the arts were cherished. Artists of this time include painters like Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller and Friedrich Gauermann, the composer Franz Schubert, and the poets Adalbert Stifter, Ferdinand Raimund and Franz Grillparzer.

In the end the Emperor Franz I was eventually pressured to abdicate in favor of his nephew Emperor Franz Joseph I, whose 68-year reign was one of Austria’s longest. Together with his wife Elisabeth, the legendary "Sisi", he shaped the image of the Austrian imperial rule. Under his rule Vienna became of the Europe’s most important metropolises and the center of a multinational state extending from Hungary to North Italy and deep into southern Europe.

Johann Strauß, the King of Waltz, was celebrated all over the world for his wonderful musical compositions. Sigmund Freud was the founder of the psychoanalytic school of psychology, a movement that popularized the theory that unconscious motives control much behavior. Around 1900 the Vienna Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) peaked during which forward-looking artists and designers seceded from the mainstream salon exhibitions, to exhibit on their own in more congenial surroundings. Noted Jugendstil artists include the painters Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, and the architects Otto Wagner and Adolf Loos. Emperor

Franz Joseph dies in 1916 and after the end of the war in 1918 the first Republic of Austria was established, ending the 640-year old Habsburg dynasty. The young republic suffered massive inflation, unemployment, and near economic collapse.

On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria and the country was incorporated into the German Reich ruled by Adolf Hitler. After the end of World War II in 1945, Austria was restored to its 1937 frontiers and occupied by the victorious allies – the USA, the Soviet Union, the UK, and France – for a decade.

On May 15, 1955, the Austrian State Treaty was ratified, with Austria declaring its permanent neutrality. Thanks to its location near the “Iron Curtain”, Austria soon developed into a nerve center between the West and the East.

The Iron Curtain fell in 1989/90; in 1995 Austria becomes a member of the European Union.

Niederoesterreich

Lower Austria :

Wachau (Wachovia)

Landhaus Bacher

Kremstal

Kamptal

Traisental

Donauland

Weinviertel

Thermenregion

Wien, Vienna

Burgenland:

Neusiedlersee

Mittelburgenland

Suedburgenland

Steiermark

Styria:

Suedsteiermark

Suedoststeiermark

Weststeiermark

Wachau
The 35 km gorge along the Danube river between the formidable Stift Melk and the outskirts of Krems is one of the most romantic vineyard landscapes in the world. The steep, terraced wine gardens, blooming apricot trees, and the Durnstein castle ruins can be admired from a ship excursion on the Danube in spring. The famous Smaragd Rieslings from this appellation can age up to 30 years and have their very own distinguished style, typically steely with more apricot and peach aromas than those from Alsace, drier and more powerful than their German counterparts. Other grape varieties here are Grüner Veltliner, Neuburger, Feinburgunder (Chardonnay), and Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc). The primary rock and slate soils together with the fjord-like climate give the wines a very special character, often with pleasant mineral notes and good acidic structure. Wachau has developed its own classifications: Steinfeder are the light, fresh wines to be drunk young, Federspiel are the medium bodied elegant wines, and Smaragd are the exquisite full bodied wines with tremendous aging potential.

Kremstal
The medieval character of the city of Krems has been beautifully reserved. The late gothic, renaissance and baroque architecture of the old town make a splendid back drop for wine tasting. The wines of this area have had to stand too long in the shadow of the more famous Wachau wines, but the excellent wineries in the area are now finally getting their share of the lime light. Grüner Veltliner and Riesling are the varieties to look for from towns like Gedersdorf and Rohrendorf where they thrive on primary rock and loess soils. Chardonnay also produces good results in Kremstal and Roter Veltliner is a rare specialty.

Kamptal
Langenlois is the main city in this appellation and offers great opportunities for wine tasting. At the Ursin Haus on the main square, Kornplatz, you can taste and buy more than 200 wines from the area and get information on tours and tasting hours at the neighboring wineries. Along with primary rock, slate, and loess soils, there is also clay which may be the explanation for the success of red wine grapes along with the nearly legendary Cru Grüner Veltliners, Rieslings and Chardonnays from Kamptal.

Traisental
This small appellation's main grape is Grüner Veltliner, but Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Blauburgunder (Pinot Noir) are also grown with some success. The soil varies from dry sandy types to gravel and clay.

Donauland
There is a new generation of wine makers setting high quality standards in Donauland. Look for Grüner Veltliner and Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc), "Wagramer Selektion" on the label.

Weinviertel
This is Austria's largest appellation and produces nearly a third of all the country's wine. Grüner Veltliner is the primary grape grown in Weinviertel, while Welschriesling is also important and often used for the production of sparkling wines. Nearly all soil types are found here and that is reflected in the wide spectrum of grape varieties cultivated. Weinviertel has many interesting destinations for wine tourists, but perhaps the 700 year old city of Retz would be the best starting point. The entire city is built above Austria's largest wine cellar. This underground labyrinth goes down several stories deep and tours are given daily.

Wien
Vienna is the only capital in the world with a wine region within city limits. Much of the wine produced here never leaves the city and is consumed in Heuriger (wine taverns). Grüner Veltliner is the main grape variety.

Carnuntum
The soil in Carnuntum seems to vary every half kilometer. Among the various regional and international grapes grown here Grüner Veltliner is the one primarily grown. Around the towns of Hainburg and Göttlesbrunn red wine grapes are gaining popularity. A specialty of the region is labeled "gemischter Satz" and comes from single vineyards planted with several different grape varieties. New consumer trends may help revive this old tradition.

Thermenregion
Specialties in this region are the autochthon grapes Neuburger, Zierfandler and Rotgipfler. The late harvest versions are well worth searching for and can often age quite well.

Neusiedlersee
There are excellent dry white wines made in this region from Welschriesling and Weissburgunder. Some of Austria's best reds come from a group of quality conscious wineries --- look for "Pannobile" on the label. The large, warm, shallow lake Neusiedler and an average of 2000 hours of sunshine per year guarantee an ideal climate for noble rot. As a result the most spectacular wines here are opulent, sweet, honey colored and packed with such exotic flavors that they can even champion those from Sauternes.

Neusiedlersee-Hügelland
This area is known for its wide variety of wines. You can find very good Cabernet, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc from this appellation along with nearly all the Austrian autochthon grapes. "Ruster Ausbruch" is the famous noble sweet wine from this area.

Mittelburgenland
The deep loess and clay soils of this appellation are ideal for ist main grape, Blaufränkisch. The austere tannic red wines here have a lot of character and typically show an unmistakable Austrian style.

Südburgenland
The average winery in this appellation has only ¼ hectare of vineyard making it an appellation of eccentric part-time wine makers. Each winery seems to have its own specialty and a different style and different grapes than his neighbor. You can even find foxy-tasting wine here made from Uhudler grapes that grow on ungrafted vines.

Südsteiermark

Nearly everyone who visits this appellation gets the cozy feeling of coming home after a very long absence, perhaps because it looks like our childhood dream landscape of green rolling hills and patchwork vineyards. On each hill is a little house, often a bed & breakfast or Buschenschank (a simple eatery), with its own little winery. This appellation is predestined for Sauvignon Blanc, but Morillon (Chardonnay), Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Ruländer (Pinot Gris) enjoy big success here as well. Typical for this appellation is the tart Welschriesling and a rare specialty is the bone dry, aromatic Muskateller.

Südoststeiermark
The wineries of this region are very small and many have their own Buschenschank where their wines are sold by the glass. As a result very little wine from this area ever makes it beyond the border. If you ever get a chance to try a dry late harvest Traminer from this area, you will remember it. The Gewürztraminer thrives on volcanic soil where it can fully develop its flowery aroma and full-bodied spice while the typical Styrian acidity keeps it from tasting like Grannies scented bath soap.

Weststeiermark
70% of the vineyards in this appellation are planted with the rare autochthon variety Blauer Wildbacher. These grapes are usually vinified to make an extremely acidic, grassy Rosé called Schilcher.