I spent two days in the last week at the International Wine Challenge (IWC) where I mingled with some very famous names from the world of wine. I won't drop any names, that would be vulgar, but suffice it to say that had The Oval been swallowed up by a sink hole (these are rather fashionable this year) then the vinous bloggersphere would fall eerily silent and the consumer would have far fewer recommendations to ponder. Wine counterfeiters would sleep more easily in their beds and the en primeur campaigns of Bordeaux would become even more of a lottery.
I was there in the capacity of Associate Judge, the lowest possible tier in the hierarchy, and hope I have learned much through sniffing, sipping and spitting over one hundred wines on each of the two days in the company of genuine experts.
One of the experts I tasted alongside was a visitor from Croatia. Apart from judging in international competitions he also organises the Wines of Croatia festival and is credited by 'the Drinks Business' as being that country's leading wine writer.
So in gratitude for a great experience and with respect to Sasa:
Week G (2014) is Golden Valley, Grasevina 2012. M&S £8.99.
Grasevina is the local name for a grape known elsewhere as Welschriesling and Laski Rizling, but according my reliable source, Croatia is where is reaches the peak of its potential. In fact, he goes further and says that Kutjevo, the appellation in the Slavonia region where this wine has been made, is 'the best place on earth' for this variety. (credit: Drinks Business)
Under its other name(s) it is known for producing thin and uninteresting wines, largely due the variety's ability to produce high volume crops if not controlled carefully and grown on suitable sites.
Such sites, as in Kutjevo, are warm and humid with sunny, South-facing slopes which help the grapes to ripen fully and produce aromatic, fresh and rich textured wines.That's exactly what I found in this bottle. 12.5% abv.
It has been made by Vlado Krauthaker at his vineyard in Kutjevo where he grows not only Croatia's most widely-grown grape, Grasevina, but a total of 39 varieties. Which I find mind-boggling.
Despite Grasevina's pseudonyms giving the impression that it is related to, or even the same as, the mighty Riesling this is not the case. 'Welsch' is, apparently, German for 'romance-speaking' or 'Southern European' which suggests perhaps that it was known to be a grape from somewhere other than the Fatherland. The Croatian name is also said to imply that it originates to the East of the Balkans.
Once again my supplier was M&S and I am increasingly impressed with the breadth and depth of choice the shop famous for underwear supports. (tee hee.)
I was there in the capacity of Associate Judge, the lowest possible tier in the hierarchy, and hope I have learned much through sniffing, sipping and spitting over one hundred wines on each of the two days in the company of genuine experts.
One of the experts I tasted alongside was a visitor from Croatia. Apart from judging in international competitions he also organises the Wines of Croatia festival and is credited by 'the Drinks Business' as being that country's leading wine writer.
So in gratitude for a great experience and with respect to Sasa:
Week G (2014) is Golden Valley, Grasevina 2012. M&S £8.99.
Grasevina is the local name for a grape known elsewhere as Welschriesling and Laski Rizling, but according my reliable source, Croatia is where is reaches the peak of its potential. In fact, he goes further and says that Kutjevo, the appellation in the Slavonia region where this wine has been made, is 'the best place on earth' for this variety. (credit: Drinks Business)
Under its other name(s) it is known for producing thin and uninteresting wines, largely due the variety's ability to produce high volume crops if not controlled carefully and grown on suitable sites.
Such sites, as in Kutjevo, are warm and humid with sunny, South-facing slopes which help the grapes to ripen fully and produce aromatic, fresh and rich textured wines.That's exactly what I found in this bottle. 12.5% abv.
It has been made by Vlado Krauthaker at his vineyard in Kutjevo where he grows not only Croatia's most widely-grown grape, Grasevina, but a total of 39 varieties. Which I find mind-boggling.
Despite Grasevina's pseudonyms giving the impression that it is related to, or even the same as, the mighty Riesling this is not the case. 'Welsch' is, apparently, German for 'romance-speaking' or 'Southern European' which suggests perhaps that it was known to be a grape from somewhere other than the Fatherland. The Croatian name is also said to imply that it originates to the East of the Balkans.
Once again my supplier was M&S and I am increasingly impressed with the breadth and depth of choice the shop famous for underwear supports. (tee hee.)
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