Austria in Your Glass: A Virtual Vacation
If you’re not quite willing or able to get on a plane to Austria, how about a virtual trip instead? Start with a cocktail, turn on some music, enjoy a meal and then it’s up to you, but a movie is always a good choice for transporting you even if it’s just for a few hours. The Sound of Music is a natural choice, but it isn’t the only movie set in Austria, consider Before Sunrise for city scenes of Vienna in the 1990s, Amadeus for the story of Mozart in Vienna during the 1770s, or the 2015 James Bond film Spectre, set in the Austrian Alps.
Austria may be best known for grüner veltliner and riesling wines, but it also produces sparkling wines and liqueurs which we are focusing on for this adventure.
Here are our tips for a somewhat romantic getaway, all in the comfort of your own home. Queue up the Mozart playlist and let’s go!
Chocolate Martini
Start your adventure with a chocolate martini made with Mozart dark chocolate liqueur. While not a classic martini since it lacks gin and vermouth, it’s a very popular drink and when made with Mozart Dark Chocolate Liqueur it has a slightly savory quality. Mozart is an Austrian craft distillery based in Salzburg, the famous birthplace of Mozart himself. For 40 years they have been handcrafting award-winning chocolate liqueurs using only natural ingredients. The dark chocolate liqueur is not very sweet; but has a true chocolate and smoky cocoa flavor. It’s been widely reported that Mozart uses use sound-milling during production playing the Andante from String Quartet No. 2 in D Major to the liqueur in tanks before bottling. Most frequently used in after dinner drinks, thanks to a drier profile, you can also use it to make a classic chocolate martini.
Chocolate Martini
Recipe courtesy of Marussia Beverages USA
2 ounces Mozart Dark Chocolate Liqueur
2 ounces Mamont Vodka
Ice
Combine the Mozart Dark Chocolate Liqueur and Marmont Vodka in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until thoroughly chilled. Strain drink into prepared glasses and enjoy.
Toast with Sparkling Wine
Since vacations are like little celebrations, drink something that’s festive in addition to being local. Schlumberger is the oldest Austrian sparkling wine producer and it was founded by a former cellarmaster for Ruinart who moved to Austria in 1842 so it should come as no surprise that their sparkling wines are made in the Méthode Traditionnelle used for Champagne. They always use vintage wines for their sparkling wines, which they feel are more fruity and fresh, as opposed to reserve wines and work with 400 Austrian growers. At around $30 a bottle, the brut or brut rosé are not just great for toasting, but excellent food pairing wines. While best known for sparkling wines, Schlumberger also makes a fine Gruner Veltliner if bubbles aren’t your thing.
Tasting & Pairing
The 2016 Schlumberger Brut is an Austrian sekt, a blend of chardonnay, pinot blanc and Welschriesling. Aged 9-12 month on the lees it’s delicate, yeasty with notes of lemon and lime. It pairs well with appetizers, fish and lighter pork or chicken dishes. For something typically Austrian, try it with Steckerlfisch, an Austrian version of smoked trout.
The 2016 Schlumberger Brut Rosé is a blend of Pinot Noir, St. Laurent, Zweigelt and is aged a year. It’s elegant with a velvety finish, the essence of wild strawberries, with floral notes. It pairs well with seafood, fried chicken or even prosciutto and melon. Going with Austrian theme, try it with Wiener Schnitzel.
Dessert
Mozart also makes a strawberry chocolate liqueur. It’s made with cocoa butter so it has a mild white chocolate flavor and a very delicate strawberry flavor thanks to a combination of both conventional and forest or “frais de bois” strawberries which are small but have an intense aroma.
Enjoy Mozart White Chocolate Strawberry Liqueur over ice, over ice cream or blended into a luscious milkshake.