Episode Details

Zena and Renée and Jimi hanging out by the cold plunge pool recapping the magic...and maybe a song or two....

We taped this recap in our bathing suits at Loisium Wine & Spa Hotel, which tells you pretty much everything about our priorities by Day 2. 🤣

We were only a day and a half in and already had a lot to talk about. First stop, Paul D in the Wagram. Weissburgunder that had us doing a double take (because, surprise, Pinot Blanc not Chardonnay) + Gemischter Satz, Frizzante, white asparagus season, strawberry season and Jimi discovering what may have been his true reason for coming to Austria: the tractor.

He was very happy. The chickens also appeared to be having an excellent day.

Then we left the Wagram for Kamptal and checked into the hotel, where we took the bottle of Handwerk Grüner that Paul had given us to the pool. ‘Cuz obviously.

We opened the Handwerk and a Kloster Eberbach, recorded two “What’s in Renée’s Glass” episodes (including a German Pinot Noir!) and continued the very important work of drinking wine in our 👙 🩱.

At the Steiningers our tasting turned into one of those nights that starts with 🥂 and ends with strawberry ice cream and Zweigelt Sekt, talking about traditional method sparkling wine, why they skip that second dosage for a cleaner, clearer style and a deep dive into Grüner Veltliner, including what gives it that very Grüner character and how the big day to night temp swing shapes the wine.

But the thing that kept coming up everywhere was family. 💜 Kids working with parents. Parents working with grandparents. Generations of stories, vineyards and knowledge all wrapped into the wines.

Austria in Two Days: Paul D, Steininger, Grüner, Sekt, tractors, chickens, asparagus, strawberries and podcasting in bathing suits talking about wine. Consider this the warm up. ♥️ 🇦🇹