Mendoza, Argentina
Australian Wines
Far from Ordinary
This winter, Australia has been much on my mind. After watching news report after news report about the devastating fires which seemed to encircle the entire continent/country of Australia, and hearing of the decimation of so many of Australia’s iconic animal species, I was being constantly reminded of things that I had seen and experienced in my travels to this unique country.
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​For decades, much of the general public had perceived the wines of Australia as essentially two varieties: Chardonnay and Shiraz (usually with labels that have some sort of cute animal prancing around.) As we got more comfortable with wines coming from such an exotic place, we were then suddenly surprised to find that winegrowing in Australia didn't just start in the 1970's! Imagine that!
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WINE REVIEWS
VINE EDUCATION
The Future is
Up or Up
Nearly all great wine regions share a few common threads. Grapes destined for premium wines—$15-$25 and up—require ample heat to ripen the grapes, cool evenings to maintain acidity, and well-drained soils to ensure the vines aren’t too comfortable. The best of these Goldilocks zones ...
LIFESTYLE
Basking in the Beauty of Budapest
It’s been said that in Budapest, happiness is not a destination, it’s a way of life. Our trip to Budapest made me very, very happy, along with 30 million other tourists each year. Record-breaking numbers of travelers are visiting this extremely affordable city. Why? You’ll find centuries of architectural history along with a wealth of Unesco World Heritage Sites, steamy thermal baths, the beautiful Danube River, outstanding wine, delightful people and delectable food.
WINEMAKER PROFILE
The Success Story Behind Sauska Winery
Andrea and her husband Christian own two wineries along with vineyards in Hungary, one in the northeast region of Tokaj and the other in the southwest town of Villany, where they produce red wines...
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From humble beginnings, Christian Sauska became an entrepreneur and self-made success story from the ground up. Along the way, he pioneered a new wine movement in Hungary and Central Europe.