Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Backgrounder on Austrian wines

Austrian wines have received international acclaim over the last few years, especially after the phenomenal blind tasting where a judging panel made up of top sommeliers, international wine journalists and restaurateurs ranked Austrian Grüner Veltliners (a local grape in Austria) above the top French wines (especially white Burgundies). This tasting instantly put Austrian wines in the limelight, and they have since been represented in wine lists in prestigious restaurants owned by top chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Charlie Trotter, Alain Ducasse and Wolfgang Puck.

The majority of Austrian wines are hand-crafted and produced by family-owned wineries. Customers are therefore ensured of styles that are unique to the terroir and philosophy of the wine makers. Many of the wines are also based on indigenous grape varieties. Particularly noteworthy are the country’s fresh and crispy white wines and excellent sweet wines, while gaining prominence are the country’s elegant, medium to full-bodied red wines. Austrian wines also promise value-for-money.

Not only have Austrian wines excited wine lovers overseas, it also made a deep impression with local wine journalists at blind tastings held in Singapore.

Austrian Pinot Noirs showed their impressive top class status at an international blind tasting held in Singapore on August 4th. The tasting, which was organised by Michael Thurner, the former general manager of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board, comprised a total of 34 international wines from the vintages 2001-2008. Of these wines, 12 Austrian Pinot Noirs placed amongst the top 20! And the competition was tough: the Austrians successfully triumphed not only over many familiar names from Burgundy, but also over wines from the New World (overseas). The results of this tasting show how much of an impression we’re making on the international stage with our high class red wines,” said an enthusiastic Willi Klinger, the general manager of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board. “For a long time, we were known around the world for our white wines only, but now we are more and more being associated with our world-class red wines as well.”

Austrian Wine Festival Opening Dinner - Truly Austrian

Venue: Brasserie Wolf (80 Mohamed Sultan Rd, The Pier at Robertson #01-13)
Date and time: 15 October 2010, Friday, 7.30pm
Price: S$125++ per person
Reservations / enquiries: (65) 6735 9098 during office hours or email alisonteo@esmirada.com

Featuring a fine selection of Austrian wines and authentic Austrian cuisine prepared by a stellar cast of Singapore-based top Austrian chefs – Wolfgang Lapper (Esmirada Group of restaurants), Armin Leitgeb (Les Amis), Karl Dobler (Private Chef, Au Petit Salut Private Dining), Wolfgang Ranner (Executive Chef, Conrad Centennial Singapore) and Gottfried Schuetzenberger (Area Pastry chef, Grand Hyatt Singapore), this multi-course wine dinner will also include a charity auction of top Austrian wines led by Michael Thurner, Wine MBA and CEO of Austria’s Fine Brands. Proceeds for the auction will go to the Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. Well-known Austrian caricaturist, Reini Buhaha, will also specially fly in and entertain guests with his art.

Austrian Wine Festival Press Release


Austrian Wine Festival (Singapore) 2010
‘New Wines from Old World’


Back for the second year and proudly showcasing
new wines, events, participating restaurants and a charitable initiative


September 2010, Singapore – The Austrian Wine Festival (Singapore) 2010 returns and this year, it will take place from 15 October to 15 November 2010. This month-long celebration will showcase the versatility of Austrian reds, whites as well as dessert wines. Over 60 Austrian wines from more than 20 premium wineries – some of which are making its first appearance in Singapore – will be featured at the bigger list of participating restaurants this year.

Testament to the versatility of Austrian wines and their pairing with food, the Austrian Wine Festival (Singapore) 2010 will see the participation of some of Singapore’s renowned and new restaurants, such as Les Amis, Brasserie Wolf, Esmirada, Bistro Soori, Fifty Three, Song of India, Bodega Y Tapas, Angelo’s, The Steakhouse and Warehouse Bistro. Conrad Centennial Hotel, with its four F&B outlets (Golden Peony, Lobby Lounge, Oscar’s and The Terrace), has also come on board as the festival’s partner hotel. These partner restaurants and hotel will be hosting an array of Austrian wine-related activities from carrying a selection of house pours and tasting sets, to wine dinners and wine fairs.

This year, more Austrian gems will be highlighted, with over 60 wines from more than 20 premium wineries like Tement, Markowitsch, T.FX.T, Huber, Johanneshof Reinisch, Tschida, Weninger, FX Pichler, Emmerich Knoll, Weingut Alzinger , Bründlmayer, Gernot Heinrich, Fritz Wieninger, Moric, , Hirtzberger, Alinger, Weingut Prager, Paul Auchs, Kollwentz, Rudi Pichler, Erwin Sabathi and Jurtschitsch.

The Austrian Wine Festival (Singapore) 2010 will feature specially selected red, white, sweet and sparkling wines available by the bottle ranging from S$45 to S$250; and by the glass as well. For every bottle of Austrian wine sold at the festival, S$1 will be donated to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund.

The opening Austrian Wine Festival Opening Dinner on 15 October 2010 at Brasserie Wolf will be a festival highlight as it features an unforgettable evening of Austrian wines and Austrian cuisine prepared by a stellar cast of Singapore-based Austrian chefs.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Austrian Wine Festival Partner Restaurants & Retail Outlet

Participating restaurants/ retail outlets:
Look out for Austrian wine promotions at these outlets. Check out our events calender for details.

Angelo’s
111 Killiney Road, Tel: (65) 6732 5113.

Bacchus
290 Orchard Road, Paragon, #B1-13, Singapore 238859
Telephone: (65) 67344844 Fax: 67344803


Bistro Soori
2 Teck Lim Road. Tel: 6438 3802 | Email: jimchok@singnet.com.sg

Bodega Y Tapas
442 Orchard Road, #01-29 Orchard Hotel. Tel: (65) 6735 3476 | Email: tapas@esmirada.com

Brasserie Wolf
80 Mohamed Sultan Rd, The Pier at Robertson, #01-13. Tel: (65) 6835 7818 | Email: brasserie@esmirada.com

Conrad Centennial Hotel
Two Temasek Boulevard. Tel: (65) 6432 7482

Esmirada Orchard
442 Orchard Road, Orchard Hotel, #01-29. Tel: (65) 6735 3476 | Email: orchard@esmirada.com

Esmirada Chijmes
30 Victoria Street, #01-17 Chijmes. Tel: (65) 6336 3684 | Email: esmirada@esmirada.com


Fifty-Three
53, Armenian Street, Tel: 6334 5535 | Email: reservations@fiftythree.com.sg


Les Amis
1 Scotts Road, #02-16 Shaw Centre. Tel: (65) 6733 2225 | Email: lesamis@lesamis.com.sg

Song of India

33 Scotts Road. Tel: (65) 6836 0055 | Email: namaste@songofindia.com.sg

The Steakhouse
3B River Valley Road, #01-14 Clarke Quay. Tel: (65) 6332 1010 | Email: esmirada@esmirada.com

Warehouse Bistro
3E River Valley Road, #01-02 Clarke Quay. Tel: (65) 6337 5585 | Email: esmirada@esmirada.com