http://www.eutopia.com.au European wine from an Australian perspective Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:45:39 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en It's underway....as English wine scribe Anthony Hanson describes it....the annual croissant fight.....the en primeur campaign. It's absolute madness, a scene of almost Hunter S Thompson grotesque...people with stained lips and teeth staggering around hotel lobbies, the usual wine royalty air kissing each other....Spurrier, HRH Jancis, Suttcliffe, Parker, etc, etc, And ... http://www.eutopia.com.au/fear-loathing-in-bordeaux/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fear-loathing-in-bordeaux In just over a week, the intrepid team at Eutopia heads over to Europe for an intensive wine tasting sojourn. We are off to Dusseldorf first up to visit Prowein....arguably the most important trade event for the wine sector in Europe. We'll then head to Burgundy for some individual producer visits ... http://www.eutopia.com.au/upcoming-european-reports/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=upcoming-european-reports An overnight success, centuries in the making ** The Fontanafredda dinner is now SOLD OUT ** Our next event is on the horizon for all you Melbournians - a six course dinner highlighting the best white and red wines of Piedmont's Fontanafredda. We hope you can join us on Tuesday, 16 March at Sette ... http://www.eutopia.com.au/fontanafredda-wine-dinner-tuesday-16-march-at-sette-bello-glen-waverly/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fontanafredda-wine-dinner-tuesday-16-march-at-sette-bello-glen-waverly [caption id="attachment_1503" align="alignright" width="113" caption="Maitre Renard Burgundy Chardonnay 2008"][/caption] A great little wine that represents superb value and one that newcomers to imported wines will feel comfortable with. For starters it's sealed with a screwcap....it's also varietally labelled and has a distinct lack of confusing guff on the front label and ... http://www.eutopia.com.au/maitre-renard-burgundy-chardonnay-2008/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=maitre-renard-burgundy-chardonnay-2008 [caption id="attachment_1492" align="alignright" width="75" caption="Lis Neris Fiore di Campo 2007"][/caption] Here's a fantastic, idiosyncratic wine produced from Fruili's native Tocai Friulano variety......although this will soon be labelled just Fruilano....Australia isn't the only country with EU labelling law issues. The Les Neris estate lies in San Lorenzo.....a small village on a plateau within ... http://www.eutopia.com.au/lis-neris-fiore-di-campo-2007/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lis-neris-fiore-di-campo-2007 There is a time and place for everything and every place has its time. For Piedmont that time is late Autumn. Piedmont is a place that wears brown well. Burnt umber, burnished bronze and tarnished copper too. Don’t get me wrong, Piedmont’s pretty darn speccy at any time and I first fell in ... http://www.eutopia.com.au/piedmont-the-complete-package/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=piedmont-the-complete-package [caption id="attachment_1474" align="alignright" width="170" caption="Pra Staforte Soave Classico 2005"][/caption] A step up from the Pra Soave Classico and if you tilt your head just right....one that could be stylistically compared to a Hunter Semillon with a bit of age under its belt. Sergio and Graziano Pra are the men behind this 20ha ... http://www.eutopia.com.au/pra-staforte-soave-classico-2005/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pra-staforte-soave-classico-2005 [caption id="attachment_1467" align="alignright" width="76" caption="Brezza Barbera d\'Alba 2006"][/caption] The name Brezza is best known for their brilliant Barolo's they produce.....Bricco Sarmassa, Cannubi, Sarmassa, and Castellero.... from their 22 ha estate. The vineyards here date back to 1885 and Giacomo Brezza bottled the first wine in 1910.....95% of the wines here are red....all ... http://www.eutopia.com.au/brezza-barbera-dalba-2006/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=brezza-barbera-dalba-2006 Know and love your favourite local wines but want a change? Nicholas Crampton provides some recommendations on what European wines to try to excite your palate and broaden your drinking experience. I grit my teeth regularly these days when I hear that somebody is “bored of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc” and that ... http://www.eutopia.com.au/the-anything-but-boredom-club/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-anything-but-boredom-club I am sure the recent reduction of the DUI limit in Piedmont from 0.8% to 0.5% has done quite a bit to save the lives of those driving after dinner. But nothing was going to save those of us unlucky enough to be driving with a sober Nick Ryan to ... http://www.eutopia.com.au/ristorante-al-castello/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ristorante-al-castello