Supposedly Glynsky is the wine expert here on diablog. But except for his love of wine and his consumption - a lot - he has not been sharing too much information about wines yet. Aside from his ramblings about "Pink", I almost forgot.
Recently I had the privilege to try an exceptional red wine with an even more exceptional history.
For the rushed reader the key facts:
Name: Mavrud Reserve
Grape: Mavrud
Region: Asenovgrad, Bulgaria (!)
Now on to the story behind this great wine.
To really appreciate this wine, a little bit of history is needed.
Around 1850 pretty much all of Europe suffered from an outbreak of mildew. This outbreak destroyed the majority of vineyards all over Europe.
Hundreds of years earlier, the Spanish had exported grapevines to America. Partially to re-establish European vineyards, grapevines from the East coast of North America were re-imported via London to France.
Unfortunately along came the grape phylloxera. The North-American grapevines had developed some resistance, the European had not. From 1863 to 1889 between 3/4 and 9/10 of all vineyards were devastated.
The Mavrud from Bulgaria survived both, mildew and grape phylloxera, without damage or impact at all. Thus, by many it is called one of the oldest and most original grapes in the world.
Mavrud matures in Barique oak butts, has an almost black color and usually 13 Vol %. It tastes delicious and goes well with dark meat or cheese.
It also makes for a splendid night cap, with or without cigar.
Cheers,
Engine Room
15 comments:
Mavrud is an excellent Bulgarian red wine, as is Gamza. Having spent my whole working life (nearly 40 years) in Eastern Europe and ex Soviet Union, I can assure you that there are some excellent wines from these countries but also many bad wines. Czech Republic is known for beer yet their white wines from Moravia are excellent but the quantity is too small for export.
These days I only drink 2 glasses per day, the first and the last !!
Dear Smiles,
Now Gamza is on the list of "wines to try", thanks.
Who let you out from behind the iron curtain, and why????
Just kidding,
ER
I first went behind the Iron Curtain, to then Czechoslovakia, when I was 18 years old and have been going in and out ever since.I went there to find good wines for you to taste instead of your favourite Liebfraumilch - just kidding too.
To answer your question properly. I was probably more use to them on the outsdide. Ok Tovarisch ?
Dear Smiles,
You're amongst friends, you can admit that your heinous crimes disqualified you from being sent to AUS and only the soviets took you in.
We don't discriminate, that's why Glynsky is still around.
ER
PS: Wouldn't touch a bottle of that horrible Liebthing.
A true story. After 5-6 years of extensive travel throughout Eastern Europe, one Christmas night I was watching the latest James Bond Film on the BBC with my parents, when suddenly my Mum seriously asked me "Are you doing something like James Bond?". My reply "Only with the women !!".
And food and drinks, obviously.
ER
I did not have to write the obvious.
No Glynsky and Pete today,so maybe we should rename the diablog as ER and Smiles.
Glynsky is locked away and Pete is watching the door. Or something like this.
ER
Over my dead linguni!
I think Glynsky meant linguini but who cares as they are dead.
Not as dead as your pastina in Brodo
I was most interested in this article particularly the following quoted information.
You say that 'Around 1850 pretty much all of Europe suffered from an outbreak of mildew'
It would appear that Glynsky still has it and wondered if you knew of a potential cure?
Agreed, judging his looks, Glynsky has been around in 1850 already.
But you should know, Glynsky is beyond any cure of any disease.
ER
Glynsky is like a disease, very infectious.
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