Comments

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  Donna Hamilton August 27, 2009 at 3:29am

  Just 25 minutes from downtown AUCKLAND is New Zealand's original commercial wine producing region of KUMEU. As part of Tripadvisor's No1 Auckland attraction, you'll have free wine-tasting at one of the original wineries there.
  

  
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  Karl S Mann August 22, 2009 at 4:10pm

  There is nothing wrong with "eastern" wines. We are starting to import 4 whites from Slovenia that are just stunning!
  On my recent trip to Sonoma I went up to Lake County and found a small winery "Beaver Creek" that is run by 2 Czech guys - they even had a huge picture of Schweijk in the Cellar - and their wines - bio-dynamic - were exceptional!
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  Jacy Meyer August 21, 2009 at 6:46pm

  Fabulous may be a bit of a stretch! ;) Yes, I think you'll find some much better vintages have emerged since your visit David, but wine producers still have a long way to go, and part of the problem is probably marketing related. They are trying though, last January was the inaugural Prague Wine Week and winerys are starting to visit many of the international fairs; I know they went to the London one in May and some producers are winning awards. Yes, if there's interest would love to write a future blog about Czech wine!
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  David Paul Appell August 21, 2009 at 3:50pm

  I remember touring Znojmo, Mikulov, Valtice, and other Moravian wine towns when doing an article back in '99; I even got to visit the Valtice wine fair. Both then and when I lived in Prague several years earlier, I recall some of the vintages were pleasant enough but most were less than "fabulous." But never mind, that was sooner after Czechoslovakia's emergence from Communism, (which of course was notoriously indifferent to quality) and certainly I can imagine that a decade later their techniques and the overall situation have improved somewhat. I'll be looking forward to verifying that on my next trip. And in the meantime, Jacy, maybe one of these days we could get you to blog for us on the undersung vinos of Bohemia and Moravia!
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  Jacy Meyer August 21, 2009 at 1:08pm

  And what about the fabulous Czech wines?!? ;) We are gearing up for our fall wine festivals all over the country. Most popular offering at these "vinobranis" is burcak, or young wine. Tasting like a sweet juice, this not quite fermented wine goes down nice and quick, and packs a late arriving punch. You'll find the biggest and best vinobranis in Moravia, the eastern half of the country. The cities of Znojmo and Mikulov have the biggest. In Bohemia, whose wine isn't as appreciated, Melnik holds the most popular vinobrani. Intrigued? Learn more here: http://www.wineofczechrepublic.cz/en.html
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  Karl S Mann August 20, 2009 at 6:16pm

  I know Brunello 06 is supposed to be superior - about the current one I'll tell you after my return - I'm there after and even still during harvest
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  David Paul Appell August 20, 2009 at 5:34pm

  Interesting...how about the vintages?
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  Karl S Mann August 20, 2009 at 5:27pm

  Reduction of US and British tourists - but now more visitors from Belgium and Germany. That ever climbing EURO has an impact!
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  David Paul Appell August 20, 2009 at 5:03pm

  Karl, I think I speak for all of us when I say, "assolutamente!!" Any sense of how this year is shaping up in Italy, and southern Europe generally?
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  Karl S Mann August 20, 2009 at 4:57pm

  I am off to Italy in October and will be visiting several vineyards:
  Giacomo Vico, Burlotto (Piemont), Castello di Poppiano and Il Pogiolo (Brunello Beato) in Tuscany. Looking forward to it and would be happy to report about my experience if interested.