 |
|
|
The Best Local Beer & Wine
Mitko Manolev (Melnik, Bulgaria). Mitko, aka "six fingers," may not make the best wine, but he sure offers a great tasting experience. Seated in the cool sandstone cave burrowed into the side of a cliff in the little village of Melnik, Mitko lets you taste his wines direct from the barrel, then bottles your choice (two types of red, both not dissimilar to grape juice, made with no preservatives and slightly sparkling, rather good when served ice cold); worth it if only to watch him personally fill, cork, and label it right in front of you -- the most personally handled bottle of wine you're likely to purchase anywhere.
Quiet Nest (Black Sea Coast, Bulgaria). If you want an introduction to Bulgaria's independent producers, the Queens Winery House, a boutique wine shop on the grounds of the Quiet Nest (the Black Sea Coast palace built by Romania's Queen Marie), is the best place in the country to do so. At the helm is 21-year-old Elleanna, a young winemaker who stocks a superb selection of little-known labels and produces (among others) Ducessa Aperitiv, an "Aromatic Wine Drink": Apparently the Romanian queen's favorite tipple, Elleanna managed to pry the recipe from the queen's winemaker before he passed away in 2005. Passionate about the untapped potential of Bulgarian wine, the new queen of the Nest is one to watch.
Plzenské Pivovary/Pilsner Brewery (Prague, Czech Republic). At U Prazdroje 7, Plzen will interest anyone who wants to learn more about the brewing process. The brewery actually comprises several breweries, pumping out brands like Pilsner Urquell and Gambrinus, the most widely consumed beer in the Czech Republic.
Okocim Beer (Poland). This is going to generate a lot of controversy. Of the big national beers, Poles seem to favor Z[do]ywiec (maybe it's folk dancing on the label that wins them over?). For my money, Okocim is the brew of choice. The slightly sweetish taste is reminiscent of Czech Budvar (Budweiser), and all the other beers more or less taste blandly the same. Drink it straight or add a shot of fruit syrup to the mix (but don't try this if you're male).
Tuica (Romania): Tuica (also referred to as Palinca) is a homemade brandy distilled from plums, pears, apples, or other fruit, and is a popular after-dinner or welcome drink, particularly in Romania's village communities. You'll probably get to taste it whenever you dine or stay with local families, or at traditional restaurants. You can purchase some of the country's best-known Tuica from Teo Coroian, who runs a small distilling business from his home in the medieval fortress town of Sighisoara.
Movia Estate (Slovenia). You don't even need to visit the wine farm to enjoy tastings of some of Slovenia's favorite vintages. Movia has a wonderful little vinoteka right next to the Town Hall on Mestni Square. Luka, your obliging sommelier, will hardly bat an eyelid as you order another glass of something award-winning, but he will certainly remind you just how good it is.
The Jeruzalem Wine Route (Slovenia). In Slovenia's "far" east, this route is perfect for purveyors of fine wine and gentle drives through rambling vineyards. You can stop off at any number of farms, with private tastings usually conducted by one of the owners, and then -- should things get out of hand -- you can simply stay for the night and pick up where you left off after a scrumptious farm breakfast.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
|
|
|
