Joie de Vivre with Princess Marie and The Women of Organic Princely Winery of Liechtenstein plus A Quick History of Quiche For Pi Day!

 

Organic Princely Winery of Liechtenstein plus A Quick History of Quiche For Pi Day!

“Our vineyards in Liechtenstein and Austria, steeped in tradition, imbue our wines with
individual stylistic expressions that make every occasion a celebration of joie de vivre,” says Princess Marie of Liechtenstein, a sommelier since 2014. Joie de vivre is a French term meaning “an exuberant enjoyment of life” and I am here for it! And clearly so is the Princess and the Princely Wines of Liechtenstein. In 2013, Princess Marie von Liechtenstein helped with marketing and distribution. With a desire to make wines she wants to drink and enjoy (there’s that joie de vivre again!), she’s now devoting more of her time to the grapes grown on family vineyards in Austria and Liechtenstein. When the UC Davis trained native Austrian Stefan Tscheppe came on in 2019, he began the transition to organic and biodynamic farming, and he brought in more women to join Princess Marie: Oenologist Natalie Ströhle, Sommelier Hannah Fiegenschuh, and Operations Manager Alexandra Goop. Celebrate joie de vivre and Women’s History Month with these women made wines!
 

The Princely Wines of Lichtenstein’s Princess Marie and Stefan Tscheppe

 
Known formally as The Hofkellerei Fürst Liechtenstein, the vineyards and wineries in both Liechtenstein and Austria are owned by Prince Hans Adam Il of Liechtenstein and the Princely Family including sommelier Princess Marie. During a virtual tasting with Stefan Tscheppe, I learned about the vines and wines, and experienced the beauty of the castle and alpine landscape that is Liechtenstein, one of the smallest and most wealthy countries on the planet, and saw how that place is perfect for Pinot Noir. I can’t wait to visit this stunning, regal region myself, see their art collection, and eat in their Michelin star restaurant.

Continue reading

Made in Clay From Near and Far: Italy’s Organic Visintini Amphora Friulano Paired with Römertopf Roasted Chicken #WinePW

Visintini Amphora Friulano

Italy has a long tradition of fermenting wine in clay vessels, particularly in the northern part of the country. Known as anfore, orci or giare, they stacked and traveled well in the days before oak barrels. Continue reading

Local Love: 6 Ventura County Wines from Local Vines paired with Watkins Beef, Ventura Fresh Fish #WinePW

This is my 1000 post on Wine Predator.

“Congratulations on writing 1000 posts on wine predator!” says WordPress.

As such, it seems appropriate to make it about “Local Love, Local Wine” because while I first started going wine tasting in Napa and Sonoma then worked at Ridge Vineyards in the early and mid-80s, in the mid 1990s, I got back into wine as the Art Predator by writing a newspaper column that included “all that engages the whole soul” from art to literature to film to wine to food, all local. I didn’t make a lot of money in that gig, but I did have trade: free food and drink at many area restaurants.

One of the restaurants, the long gone Nora’s of Ojai, featured wines from The Ojai Vineyard Continue reading