The Vancouver Branch of The International Wine & Food Society is an admirable template for other groups to follow. Leaders Milena & Jim Robertson work splendidly in organizing unique functions for their enthusiastic members that include interesting wine and food. As our Founder Andre L. Simon stated in his last book In The Twilight: “meals deserving to be gratefully remembered – Memorable Meals. ” On February 7, 2024 talented Chef Andrey Durbach closed his restaurant Impostori Trattoria (Italian food) for our members’ function to cook some of his family dishes for a most memorable meal. The Austro-Hungarian Menu prepared was especially done with unique courses including “Pot Roasted Duck, Grandmother’s Way” all appropriately paired with wines from that region. It was a learning experience with the Chef’s insightful comments on each dish and it was also so delicious tasting. A friendly warm well deserved accolade on the meal was delivered by member fellow Chef John Blakeley. More details on the event with photos are here posted on the IWFS Vancouver website. A few additional personal notes on these wines:
CHATEAU DERESZLA 2015: Methode Traditionnelle Sparkler made from two important grapes grown of Furmint & Harslevelu in the Tokaj region in Hungary aged 14 months on the lees showed well with elegant balanced acidity plus a touch of spice for the gougeres.
DISZNOKO 5 PUTTONYOS TOKAJI ASZU 2012: 100% Furmint with sweet orange honey nuts seductive styling at 12 abv from historical best site matches perfectly with the foie gras parfait and apple crepe.
PINOT GRIGIO ALTO ADIGE DOC 2022 KLOSTER NEUSTIFT bottled by ABBAZIA DI NOVACELLA: Pure Italian variety of melon-pear aromas plus full bodied ripe 13.5 abv palate pairs well with flavourful Arctic Char.
BLAUFRANKISCH 2021 JUDITH BECK: 100% the red grape (here organic & biodynamic) from Beck family estate in Burgenland N. E. Austria at 12.5 abv naturally fermented in oak barrels (plus aged 10 months). Juicy spicy drinking with softer tannins for an amazing duck course!
CABERNET FRANC 2018 RUSSIZ SUPERIORE COLLIO DOC MARCO FELLUGA: From hilly northeast Italy it shows good fruit with some slightly greener character of this growing in popularity and highly rated 100% variety but is fresh and balanced at 13.5 abv. Very drinkable with authentic goulash.
OLD FALCON PLUM BRANDY “Eau-de-Vie de Prune” Stara Sokolova Radisav Bogdanovic Family: Traditional Slivovitz from Serbia but at a higher quality level distilled in small batches using a recipe through 7 generations resulting in an aromatic smooth 40 abv.
An original fun idea for an excellent IWFS memorable event. Suggest you try it. What unique culinary event spotlighting wines & food from a less-discovered region have you recently attended? Please let us know.
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