Summary:  While Austria in terms of volume only plays a minor role in the global wine context, the country’s wines have gained more and more fans around the world thanks to their high quality and unique elements. The diversity related to the size of Austria’s vineyards is immense, ranging from zesty Grüner Veltliners and vibrant Rieslings along the Danube valley over to Vienna’s field

There’s no wine region I enjoy visiting more than Alsace.  It’s beautiful, of course – and not just the half-timbered houses around which a profusion of flowers seem to float, or the grand hillside vineyards romping up to the forested Vosges mountains, always somehow bigger and more imposing in scale than those of Burgundy. The growers are fascinating characters, too, as if their historical and geographical position, wedged between (and much fought-over by) France and Germany, has given them an independence of thought which eludes those with a more settled position in each wine culture.  Then there’s the wines. It’s commonplace to say that Alsace wines are underappreciated -- but it’s true. For me, no white wine region can offer more diversity and intrigue than Alsace, nor does any single regional range of white wines appeal more to my palate...

Summary:  Niederösterreich is Austria’s largest province and also its biggest wine-growing region for “Qualitätswein”. This province is home to the most famous Grüner Veltliners and Rieslings from the country but is known for much more than these two precious grapes. Under its name is gathered an abundant diversity of wine cultures, ranging from vinous stylings of local varietal rarities to distinctive interpretations of

Summary:  Do you prefer Rieslings that are floral or fruity? Or do you appreciate an Old World style of Riesling with a petrol character?Regardless of your preference, the characteristics of the wines you enjoy come from the vineyard. Climate, site, and vineyard management practices directly impact the production of specific flavors and aromas in wine grapes. In this session you will learn how the unique Riesling qualities you value are produced in the vineyard and

Summary:  Riesling isn’t the first grape we think of when considering “international varieties.” Yet it thrives from the suntraps of Napa Valley to the cool valleys of the Antipodes. In this WSG Live, we will briefly examine the origins of Riesling, trace its early spread through Germany, and then zero in on the surprising range of regions where it thrives today: Alsace, Austria, Luxembourg, Northern Italy, the U.S. West Coast, Michigan, and New York, as well as Australia

Summary:  Get a thorough view of Alsatian Riesling from an expert on Alsace! This grape variety with the highest reputation in Alsace can produce wines with an incredibly wide range of styles, from dry to sweet. This session will also explore the mineral dimensions of all Alsace terroirs. Learn about the supposedly famous and typical petrol aromas, about what is a truly dry Riesling, and discover how a famous producer's Riesling style may be better explained by its distinctive