Wine Advent-ure Day 11:

A Seaworthy Tale

Country: Hungary
Grape Varietal: Blaufränkisch

The wine for Day 11 is “A Seaworthy Tale”, a cool title, and quite ironic too, considering that the country which produces this wine – Hungary – is landlocked.

But there is no irony when I say this is a tasty wine. It’s a wonderfully complex blend of dark fruit flavors – blackberries and dark cherries, with a spicy pepper zing. The tannins are silky and well-integrated, providing a presence that isn’t overpoweringly bitter. The wine has a medium body, with a smooth, graceful finish. The website aroundtheworldinwines.com recommends pairing this with a variety of peppery dishes, most memorably chicken schnitzel, but I just enjoyed it by itself, savoring the succulent red fruit and elegant smoothness. Easy drinking.