The Palais Coburg in Vienna has been rescued from rack and ruin by Peter Pühringer who just happens to be a fanatical fine wine collector. One of my fellow judges last week in Argentina was telling me how he had toured the cellar there and been staggered to see a whole pallet of 1982 Mouton.
Basically it is a super-luxurious hotel in a beautiful old building right in the centre of the city with Christian Petz’s acclaimed cooking, the obligatory spa and a staggering collection of fine wine in its just-restored ancient cellars underneath. To celebrate this restoration the Palais Coburg is planning a ridiculously self-indulgent fine wine weekend on March 22/4.
On the evening of Thursday March 22 Anthony Hanson MW and David Elswood of Christie’s will be presenting a tasting of Château Lafite-Rothschild with vintages back to 1865.
EUR 5,600 per person
At lunchtime on Friday March 23 I shall be presenting a tasting of DRC burgundies back to Romanée–Conti 1934. See my account of the Stonefields dinner for a tasting note.
EUR 6,500 per person
In the evening of Friday March 23 René Gabriel of Switzerland will be presenting Ch Cheval Blanc back to the famous 1947.
EUR 2,900 per person [given away..!]
And following Cheval Blanc, as a midnight highlight on Friday March 23, René Gabriel will be leading a Ch d’Yquem tasting with vintages such as 1896, 1937 and 1976.
EUR 3,700 per person
Midday of Saturday 24 March is dedicated to Austrian red wine in magnums, a casual lunch with Viennese goulash and other culinary classics. All wines will be poured by their makers and commentated by Peter Moser, the leading authority by Austrian wine and senior editor of Falstaff magazine.
EUR 98 per person
And in the evening of Saturday March 24 René Gabriel and Olivier Bernard of Domaine de Chevalier will be presenting several white and red vintages of the Domaine and other famous bordeaux such as Ch Margaux 1990, Ch d’Yquem 1983 (impériale) and Ch Haut-Brion 1989.
EUR 1,900 per person
To book or to find out more, see here or email coburgwineopen@palais-coburg.com
I can personally vouch for the delights of Vienna as a place to stay. See Nick’s recent report on Vienna’s warm hospitality.