How to make the Sommelier sweat

It is always nerve-wracking. There I am, sitting across from a winemaker, or, in this case, his father. Watching him pour two glasses of wine while carefully making sure I cannot properly see the bottles. I am still at Rethaller and today it is time to taste their red wines. We are working with two […]

The small winery with the big heart

Just outside Krems an der Donau, on the other side of the river, lies Rethaller. A small, family-owned winery. The kind of place where you arrive as a visitor and, before you know it, feel as though you have somehow been adopted into the family. Rethaller also offers accommodation, and I have been given one […]

Lagoon wine

Carnival, Canal Grande, city on water… Of course we are talking about Venice. And yes, they have one of the world´s most unique and exclusive wine. Located on the island of Mazzorbo, behind the walls of an old monastery, a visionary named Gianluca Bisol revived what was thought to be an extinct grape varietal since […]

Maratheftiko Day, 1st December

Maratheftiko day. Almost all vitis vinifera plants are hermaphroditic or called ‘perfect flowers’ because they contain both seed-producing and receptive organs for production and fruiting. One of the fundamental biological advantages is that they do not need bees or other insects or wind to fertilise. Some others need other species to produce fruit, as is […]