As wine lovers, we often choose bottles we already know, enjoy, and feel comfortable paying for. Being members of our sommeliers group gives us the chance to step outside that comfort zone and try wines we might never normally consider. This was certainly the case at our March meeting, when Alex Edwards from York Wines led us through a unique tasting of Austrian wines — all from a single producer. How often do we think about buying Austrian wine?

The six wines were paired with a three‑course menu of Austrian dishes. The whites, made from Donauriesling grapes, and the rosé, containing some Blaufränkisch, were served with a starter of Liptauer — a spicy cream cheese accompanied by crackers and rye bread. The wines proved an excellent match for the food.

The two reds, Blaufränkisch and Pinot Noir, were paired with chicken schnitzel, parsley potatoes, red cabbage and sauerkraut. Finally, the sweet wines, Eiswein and Sämling, were served with apple strudel.

All the wines were well made and complemented the dishes beautifully. Sonnenmulde Winery produces a wide range of wines, ten of which are stocked by York Wines. After such an interesting evening, many of our members may now be tempted to buy Austrian wine in the future. Unfortunately, around 75% of Austrian wine is consumed within Austria, with only 25% exported. However, it is encouraging to find York Wines offering such a good selection for us to explore.