Review: Ski + Wine

Fine “grape juice” at high altitude

Wine connoisseurs and top winemakers congregated on the pistes of Austria’s largest ski resort and subsequently rewarded themselves with the finest wines by local vineyards. Let’s face it, the fine “grape juice” tastes best at a high altitude.

The arrival on Thursday was rounded off on the same evening with a “flavourful” vintage tasting of Toni Hartl wines. The terrific evening started with excellent wines such as the Chardonnay Leithaberg. The key players of this culinary spectacle in the Austrian mountains were the well-known and award-winning winemakers Toni Hartl from the thermal region Leithaberg, Horst Gager from Deutschkreuz in Mittelburgenland, and Erwin Sabathi from Leutschach in Southern Styria.

On Friday, at least in the morning, it was all about the slopes. The conditions were perfect for enjoyable sun skiing and the obligatory ski hut visit. What more could one wish for in Austria’s largest ski resort? After being kissed by the sun’s rays, the participants headed for a spring menu in the evening. The plates were filled with regional delicacies prepared by our chefs.

Would you like to take a peek at the menu? Gladly - gusto is always perfect!

• Asparagus strawberry salad
  Black pepper | Pinzgau sheep’s cheese
• Cream soup of young cress
  Poached quail egg
• Grilled loup de mer
  Wild garlic risotto | Grana Padan
• Twice braised fawn
  Braised potatoes | organic vegetables
• Cottage cheese dumplings
  Elderberry compote | grapefruit sorbet

The magical skiing experience continued on Saturday. After artfully carving turns into the spring slopes, the participants headed straight for the Rosswald hut in Hinterglemm. A wine quiz and blind tasting guaranteed many a laugh. Some of the “experts” even had to admit defeat during the blind tasting. But in their defence: the eye does play an important part in the tasting process!
Back in the eva,VILLAGE, our wine connoisseurs were greeted in the eva,ALM by an enormous steaming pan of “Kasnocken”. The “Kasnockn Party” prepared by Robert, our chef, was a welcome refreshment, especially as another wine tasting was scheduled for Saturday evening. TOMMY R. & MAYA supplied the musical accompaniment for the merry event. Music and wine are, after all, two peas in a pod.

After all the blind tastings, fun challenges, and games surrounding the subject of wine, it was time to declare a winner. There was, after all, a great first prize to award: a summer weekend in the eva,VILLAGE including a MINI exploring tour and a wine decanter.

The two runners-up on the podium were handed a magnum bottle and wine decanter. The party lasted until the last guests retired to their cosy rooms in the early hours of the morning. The eva,SKI+WINE days finally came to their end on Sunday. A leisurely brunch and witty souvenirs from the event in the Glemm valley made it difficult to say good-bye to Saalbach Hinterglemm and the eva,VILLAGE!

We are looking forward to next year!