My Encounter With Passionate Men In Our Eisenberg Vineyards.

Eisenberg Weinberg was the place to be yesterday...

It isn't often that you get to meet up with men who are passionate and enthusiastic about their work. Or should I call it a hobby that they are fortunate enough to make a living from and share their vintages with others. Who else could it be in the Eisenberg vineyards but the Vintners themselves.

The Eisenberg Vintners Association had put together a wine walk to celebrate Weinlese ( Grape Harvest ). It was the 3rd year that it's been held and it was the first one that Bob and I have attended. Most definitely not our last...A 6km walk up, through and down the vineyards of Eisenberg, with enough pit stops in between to quench any thirsts.

The motley crew assembled. The weather was overcast with a scattering of raindrops, and unfortunately a lot of people didn't make the effort. No one is made of sugar, are they? Anyway, as you can see, most of us had raincoats and rain gear at hand.

Dietmar Rabold ( another excellent Eisenberg Vintner ) was the pied piper for the afternoon atop his little tractor. He lead us the whole way up the hill. An easy mark to spot on the distant hills and a desirable mark to reach as he had water & wine in his trailer.

At times he got too far ahead of us. Phew, thank goodness for modern technology...he was lassoed in the hi tech way. A simple phone call placed to his cellphone, had him pull over in a hurry.

A half hour into our walk, the skies cleared a bit and the sun peaked through. Let me tell you, a lot of us were huffing and puffing up the hills. But a view like this is unbelievable and so worthwhile the walk.

For some reason, Bob and I were always the nearest to Dietmar and the supplies...?

This was our first organized pit stop, and what a pit stop it was. Wow. This was one of the men with a passion. Passionate about making fabulous wine.

Mathias Jalits is a vintner who produces unbelievable wines. He is so enthusiastic about how and with what he makes his wines that it was riveting to hear him explain his philosophy. But let me tell you, the proof is in the pudding.

Tasting two of his wines ( Pinot Noir & Eisenberg Blaufränkisch Reserve D.A.C. ) had all my taste buds sit up in a pleasant surprise. His wines were smooth as velvet and tasty as can be. You got to try them...

To be continued in part 2 tomorrow.

Biggi