Hello My Friends,
I write to you this week from Sofia, Bulgaria. I just finished up a weekend at the Balkans International Wine Competition and what a revelation! It never ceases to amaze me how the production of quality wine in the world is expanding. Nothing is more thrilling, however, than finding places resurrecting centuries old traditions of quality wine. In Eastern Europe, and The Balkans in particular, there are many such places.
WWII decimated wine production here and 50 years of Communism demolished any notions of quality wherever it returned. I am reporting to you, that those traditions are being revived by some of the most passionate, interesting, wonderful people I've met. It's exciting here!
I've spent the last few days attending tastings and master classes with wines and winemakers from Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Turkey, Romania and Greece is here too! Who knew that Serbian Prokupac could be so beguiling? Who knew that there were so many iterations of Vranac or that it could so clearly express different bits of the terroir of Macedonia? And there are western varieties as well. I'm staring at a 1995 Merlot-Cabernet blend called Aurelius Barrique from Kovacevic that just blew my mind.
I am really moved by some of these wines and I am certainly moved by this whole conference. The governments of these countries have not always gotten along (understatement), but these wine people here are just amazing. They're amazing for what they're making in their vineyards. They're amazing for challenging themselves and each other and raising the bar so quickly. They're amazing in their individual commitment to their goals of quality and local pride. But most strikingly, they're amazing in reaching out to each other and coming together despite complex national histories and tragedies that lesser folk would allow to keep them apart.
Maybe all this international appreciation for each others wines and food among the nations of the world can do a small part to help us overcome our differences and celebrate each other. Foodies for peace, love and understanding? I'm over-reaching I know. But it's a nice thought, isn't it?
Francis Schott
Sofia
Follow me on Twitter @RestaurantGuys
I've only brought a few (4) bottles home and I'm going to open them and pour tastesone night next week for whoever is present at the time. I will tweet the time and which restaurant. When they're gone they're gone!