#wineblog

Wine Diary: My Top Wine Recommendations From May & June

Wine Aging Vessels Explained: What Really Shapes Your Wine

Looking for standout bottles for the festive season? Hungarian sparkling wines are delivering some of their most exciting releases yet. Here’s your quick guide to the top picks worth opening before the year ends.

November delivered a surprising mix of wines that couldn’t be more different — from an aged, creamy Grüner that feels almost Burgundian, to a tropical, honey-hinted white that’s actually fully dry, to volcanic Kékfrankos that tastes like pure energy in the glass. And then there’s the single-vineyard Blaufränkisch that shows just how deep and powerful this grape can go. I’ve broken each wine down with clear, friendly tasting notes and simple explanations of what makes them genuinely worth drinking. No jargon — just real insight into why these bottles stood out. Curious which one became the star of the month? Dive in and tell me which wine you’d open first.

Weingut Anita und Hans Nittnaus - Tannenberg Furmint 2023

Glühwein defines winter in Vienna. The city’s markets serve versions that are more wine-driven and less sugary than most, but the best balance of spice, fruit, and warmth still comes from making it yourself. This article dives into the drink’s history across Europe, how Austria’s approach differs from Germany’s, and why my mandarin-based recipe puts the wine back at the centre of the cup.

Exciting news — I’ve joined Anne-Wies.NL, the award-winning Dutch wine platform founded by wine journalist Anne-Wies van Oosten. I’ll be contributing in English, focusing on Austrian and Hungarian wines, their regions, and the stories behind the bottles. It’s a new space to share authentic wine experiences with an international audience while connecting the Central European wine world with the wider community.