Two In A Vineyard: Vienna or Bust Days One and Two

Getting There May 27th/28th
Being organized doesn't mean that you will be totally prepared for what is to come. So it went with the start of the Austrian portion of the new adventure. Our flight was to leave at 6:10 PM or 1810 hundred hours on May 27th. I was to be picked up at 1:15 PM or 13;15 hours . I spent 'till the last minute getting ready and even though my ride was late, I still couldn't help that feeling of forgetting something. I checked my bag over and over. I relented and off we went to the airport via the speedy 401. By the time we got to Leslie, traffic had slowed to a crawl aka construction but we arrived in plenty of time to get seats but not in time to get seats together. Together meant Sandie Kraft, Roy and myself.
They got the two seats together while I got the company of two males either side of my middle row seat. The flight was somewhat entertaining since one of those next to me was a computer and communication specialist in Afghanistan. We had a long chat as to the good that the occupation of this war torn country was achieving. The other person proved to be a student of my new friend Richard Johnston of By Chadsey's County.
The Arrival
Austrian Airlines Flight 072 arrived in the rain that she left in Canada. The weather was pouring and we were quick to be ushured into shuttle buses that took us to the passport check. There was no customs to speak of---not even travel forms to fill out. We then made our way through to the arrivals platform and were met by people from the AWMB (Austrian Wine Marketing Board). Our drive, Leopold, took us through Vienna and across the Danube to Hotel Am Konzerthaus.
After freshening up and having a coffee, I met the group and our new driver Tibero at the hotel lobby. It was Noon and we were up for 24 hours straight.
Tibero took us on a city tour which included the Museum, Parliament Buildings, Beethoven's House (one he stayed in in 1873), Franz Schubert's home and exceptional architecture that Vienna was/is known for. We stopped off at a restaurant called Weingut (Wine Cellar) Hajszan which was preparing for a wedding down in their superbly designed cellar. We also went to another Weingut that featured a baptism going on. Two In A Wineyard" was based on the premise that wine is a culture that brings together the many factors of humanity: birth, death, love, history, geography and history. So it came that we filmed a very happy and joyous group of people celebrating the baptism of their child. We then left the Weingut and went to one that was open. The food turned out excellent and was accompanied by some good Gruner Veltliner. The three of us had the same dish-----"Tafelspitz with vegies and potato hash. The "flank steak" was delicious and was enjoyed by all . Driver Tibero had a Rindsroulade served with mustard and noodles. After the meal we had double espresso coffee and then had seconds on the coffee. We returned to the hotel to freshen up and get ready for the whole team.
At six pm we were once again picked up at the Hotel support and he proceeded to take us to the Nussberg Vineyard for a wine get together with an international group of journalists from all over the world. Representatives from China, Russia, U.S.A., Bulgaria, Hungary, Britain, Germany and many more countries mingled and talked wine.
It is here that I must mention that Vienna is the only city in the world to be boasted as an actual Vineyard Appellation. It is very unique as having vineyards grown within its city limits.
The AWMB introduced some fine wines at the location at a vineyard high atop a hill overlooking the City of Vienna. Roy, Sandie and I took some amazing shots of the area surrounding the vineyard and of the City that was intermittently illuminated by the descending Sun as it peaked through the day's rain clouds. Rotes Haus am Nussberg was indeed a success.
The party went very well and we tried some find Gruner wines. Then it was off to the the house/restaurant that Ludwig van Beethovan wrote his "Nineth". Here we had a buffet dinner and tried some phenomenal wines both red and white, that were exquisite. The Cabernet Merlot was Roy's choice and we all loved the superb Pinot Noirs that showed much variation in body and taste. Sandie discovered a white wine a wine from what was called the Gemischter Satz grape but after inquiring found out that the grape variety was actually a style of wine made from several grape varieties grown side by side in the vineyard. While the varieties were not identified our guess was a Riesling, Werner or Gewurztraminer variety.
The Austrian Wine Marketing Board truly knows how to throw a party and it went on until about 11 PM or 2300 hours. We had been up for over 36 hours by this time and it was catching up to us so we decided to call it a night and headed off to the hotel where I am now finishing this entry.
On the whole it was a great night and an even greater day. At the end of it all, my mind wandered back to the earlier shows I did with Greg Rist and couldn't help but feel nostalgic. Greg, you are not here physically but you are here in spirit! Great Team! Great Shots! Great Day!
Wines Tasted
It was difficult to really do wines justice when tasting in such a large crowd with so much going on but I did manage to survey the group and come up with several wines that seemed to shine.
The Mephisto Cabernet, Zweigelt and Merlot blend was excellent with a firm backbone and a host of black and red fruit flavours which reminded me of some California representatives.
The other wine that stood out was a Wieninger Pinot Noir grand Select which came with a bevy of complex fruit flavours and a medium full body. The wine certainly went well with the foods presented----especially the lighter and saltier entries.
To be fair to the other wines, it is difficult to judge anything when such a crowd is indulging and the senses are being attacked from all levels and directions. But, on the other hand, if something sticks out, it does have merit to mention.
Tomorrow is another day!