Sunday, 29 May 2011 12:24

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10 Drinking Experiences From Around the World - Part 2 of 2

The first part of this series focused on liquors from around the world. Part 2 is all about wine and beer. Beer is the third most widely consumed beverage behind tea and water, and first among alcoholic drinks. Wine, which has been around for at least the past 8,000 years, plays an important part in cultures around the world. I discovered the importance of this living in France. With many good wines characterized by olfactory descriptions such as petrol, cat piss, and wet wool, and bottle sizes such as the Nebuchadnezzar at 15 Litres, wine experiences can certainly be fascinating and eye opening.

Beer at the Delirium Cafe in Brussels Belgium

Though most people instinctively think of Germany when asked to pick a famous beer country, I think Belgium takes top spot for the best beer in the world. Delirium Cafe in Brussels, for example, is a sacred place for serious beer drinkers. Though Belgium is known more for their complex trappist beers, with over 2,004 varieties available (earning them top spot in the 2004 Guinness Book of World Records for most beers available in a bar),  there's something for everyone here. Set in an 18th century building, the cafe has a series of interesting rooms with even more interesting furniture and decor. Conveniently located just 100 metres from the famous Grande Place, Delirium Cafe is both a living museum and a drinking haven.

Tokay Aszú Wine in Tokaji Hungary

Hungary's most famous wine, Tokay Aszú is actually cited in the Hungarian national anthem! The wine is sweet, but ranges in the level of sweetness. It is made with botrytised ('nobly' rotten) grapes and the sweetness is measured by the number of 'puttony'. The higher the puttony, the sweeter the wine.

How good is the wine? In 1703 Francis Rákóczi II, Prince of Transylvania, gave King Louis XIV of France some Tokaji wine. Louis XIV later referred to it as "Vinum Regum, Rex Vinorum" (Wine of Kings, King of Wines). Traditions haven't changed much over the years, and the quality remains outstanding.

To taste the wine, you can just wander around the village of Tokaji and find local producers that offer samples. This is what I did and it was quite fun. Try to mix your stops between large and small producers. 

Guinness in Dublin Ireland

A great beer with a rich history, Guinness started brewing at St. James's Gate in Dublin in 1759. Guinness as we know it today is a dark dry stout with a burnt flavour that comes from the use of roasted unmalted barley. A visit to the Guinness factory and a fresh pint is both an important lesson in history as well as a mouth watering treat! There are also studies that suggest that the antioxidant compounds found in Guinness have health benefits!

Other breweries may offer great tours and drinks, but few have the history of Guinness.

Ice Wine in Niagara-on-the-Lake Ontario

When most people think of tourism in the Niagara region, Niagara Falls immediately comes to mind. Go north of the bright, vibrant, and some say cheesy tourist area of Niagara falls and you will find the picturesque historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Though many different wines are produced in the Niagara region, they are most famous for their award winning ice wines. This is largely due to the cold climate as ice wine is made when the temperature drops below freezing. The water in the grapes freezes, but the sugars and other solids do not, resulting in a very sweet and concentrated syrup when the grapes are pressed. If you've ever wondered why ice wine is so expensive, it is because of the labor intensive and risky process. The grapes must be picked at a very specific time, or you'll end up with a bad product. There are a number of varieties of ice wine. An interesting variety that you should definitely try is sparkling ice wine.

Every year there is a great ice wine festival in Niagara. You purchase a passport that you then bring to various participating wineries and they will give you a sample of their featured ice wine and a small food pairing to go with it. Last year, Peller Estates (pictured on the left) served a Cabernet Franc icewine with homemade vidal marshmallows. You can visit Niagara Wine Festival for more information. Some of the larger, more famous producers in the area include Inniskillin and Hillebrand Estates. There are plenty of smaller producers such as Pillitteri and Reif Estate that also produce high quality wines, often at much lower prices.

Wine Tasting in France

Burgundy and Alsace are two wine regions in France that are great for learning about and tasting some amazing wines. Burgundy, known more for its red wines, produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world, while Alsace, more famous for its whites, has some great Rieslings, Gewurtztraminers, Pinot Gris' and Muscats.

The great thing about Burgundy is that it's easy to sample a wide variety of great wines in a very small geographic area. In the town of Beaune, the heart of Burgundy, there are some excellent locations where you can sample many wines. Built in the 14th or 15th century and housed in a former church, the Marché aux Vins is a great wine tasting stop. For 10€ you can visit the Marché and sample a number of excellent wines, using a little 'tastevin' provided at the entrance. If you're a little more adventurous, you can hop on a train and head to one of the nearby towns. During my last trip I visited Nuits-Saint-Georges and randomly stopped in at some wineries along the route. Look for signs that say 'Dégustation Gratuite', which means free sampling. Note that if you're going to sample for free, it is generally expected that you will purchase something. There are plenty of restaurants in the area serving regional specialties that go great with the wine from the region, such as Boeuf Bourguignon, Coq au Vin and Escargot in garlic butter.

Alsace is very different from Burgundy as it is more reminiscent of Germany, which should not come as a surprise given its close proximity to the border. There are over 100 villages in the Alsace region and all villages are surrounded by wineries. A great base to start your wine tour is the city of Colmar. There are lots of places to try local fare such as Choucroute garnie (Sauerkraut with meat) and Flammekueche (paper-thin pizza). Though you might associate small gourmet-size meals with French cuisine, Alsace does not fit this stereotype at all. Think big, hearty German-esque portions. You can also organize trips to surrounding villages quite easily. My favourites are Riqeuwihr and Ribeauvillé.

There are many excellent shops selling local produce and treats. If you love cheese, definitely give the Munster a try. If you like sweets, try their macaroons, or some of the sweeter Vendange Tardive and Grains Nobles wines.

Though other places in the world produce great Pinot Noirs and white wines, I find the quality and tastes of wines from Burgundy and Alsace to be world class and unique. You won't be dissapointed with a trip to either of these beautiful regions!

Part 1 - Liquor

• Bohemian Style Absinthe in the Czech Republic
• Cachaça in Rio de Janeiro Brazil
• Pisco in Lima Peru
• Lion's Milk in Istanbul Turkey
• Calvados in Normandy France