World’s best restaurant celebrates Austrian wine

Two Michelin-starred Danish restaurant Noma has introduced an exclusively Austrian wine list to celebrate the country’s “outstanding quality”.

Since the beginning of September, Noma has been offering a selection of Austrian wines put together by head sommelier Pontus Elofsson to match its dishes.

Awarded the title of World’s Best Restaurant this April, Noma specialises in traditional, raw Nordic dishes. Its name represents a combination of “Nordisk” (Nordic) and “mad” (food).

While Austrian wines have been a feature on the venue’s list for years, Elofsson said he wanted to focus on the wines more fully because: “Austrian wines are so outstanding in quality, that they are expected to be served in a restaurant such as Noma.

“Yet many people are still unaware of Austrian wines and their superb quality – and that must be changed!”
 
To accompany its dishes of venison and wild thyme with red beets and red fruits or hay and camomile, sorrel and wild herbs, customers can try a variety of wines including Riesling, Weissburgunder and, of course, Austria’s flagship Grüner Veltliner.

The 12 wines have been sourced from the Wachau, Burgenland, Neusiedlersee, Kamptal, Niederösterreich and Mittelburgenland.

Rupert Millar, 14.09.10