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Greetings Fellow Travelers,
As the hot summer sun beats down on us, here in the U.S. we turn to refreshing
beverages like tart lemonade and ice-cold beer for refreshment. In Spain, the
drink of choice happens to be tinto de verano, or ‘summer wine’. Concocted from equal parts of red wine (the cheaper the
better!) and Sprite, this beverage, served over ice, is perfect for cooling off
on sweltering days. In this issue of the Untours Eurozine, we take a look at European
beverages of all types. Check out which drinks the Untours staff favors, read
about popular beverages overseas that are relatively unknown here, get recipes
for some of our favorites, and view properties still available for the fall of
2005 in locations where you can conduct your own taste test.
Cheers!
Kim Paschen & Marilee Taussig
Co-editors, Eurozine
PS What's your favorite European drink? Email us! |
July 2005
888-868-6871 |
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There's no better place to enjoy your drink than on the terrace of a café (Photo courtesy
of the Netherlands Board of Tourism) |
Let Grappa grab ya...an introduction to some of Europe's more obscure beverages
Kir: A delightful mixture of white wine and crème de cassis (a berry concentrate) taken as a pre-dinner cocktail. A kir royale is made with champagne instead of wine.
Noisette: A chic Parisian drink consisting of a shot of espresso and a dash of frothy milk
on top, served in any café.
Obstler: An Austrian apple/pear brandy sold by the stamperl (tiny glass) by village bands as a fund-raiser. Young women dispense it from
small kegs hung around their shoulders.
Sturm: A young sweet wine, available only once a year, that is served while still
fermenting. It must be consumed quickly once it is opened since the flavor degrades
rapidly.
Limoncello: A refreshing concoction of lemons and sugar steeped in vodka for several weeks.
Grappa: A heady drink produced by extracting the alcohol from vinacce, the skins and seeds of grapes left in the fermenting tanks after wine is transferred
to casks to age. The smell and flavor are strong and offer hints of wine mixed
with licorice and herbs.
Glühwein: A heated red wine infused with spices, citrus, and sugar, usually enjoyed
around Christmastime.
Ebbelwoi: A distinctive apple wine very common in Frankfurt served in a decorative clay
pitcher.
Panache: Beer mixed in equal parts with lemon or orange soda. A very refreshing drink
to enjoy while hiking or biking. (Note: this beverage is called Radler in Austria.)
Rivella: Switzerland’s number one soft drink made from milk serum and other natural
ingredients.
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Chocolate in Spain...it really is that thick!
Photo by Ellen Peters |
Untours staff recommends…favorite drinks
Part of our job at Idyll includes traveling overseas to check out our programs,
visit with landlords, and view properties. After many transatlantic crossings,
we have become particularly fond of certain European beverages that we look forward
to sampling each time we return. Here are some of our favorites:
Homemade Peach Schnapps, made by Untours staff person, Terry Seiwald, in Kuchl, Austria.
Annemarie Quinn, Support Staff
Diablo Menthe, a refreshing non-alcoholic drink made with green mint syrup mixed with cold
water, served in cafés all over France. Kim Paschen, Marketing Director
Czech pilsener, a creamy, hoppy, delicious beer found in the Czech Republic. Brian Taussig-Lux, General Manager
Palinka, a homemade Hungarian fruit brandy. Erika Szabó, Prague On-site Staff
Rosso di Montalcino, a red wine grown in the hills around Montalcino on farms where we rent apartments
like Le Chiuse. Andrea Szyper, Italian Team
Chocolate, a thick creamy Spanish version of hot chocolate best served with churros (fried dough sticks). Ellen Peters, Office Manager
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Lemons never tasted so refreshing as in limoncello |
Here are a couple favorites for you to try at home!
Glühwein
Ingredients
1 liter red wine
1/8 liter water
60 grams sugar
¼ stick cinnamon
3 cloves
rind of half a lemon or two lemon slices
Preparation
Bring sugar, spices, and water to a boil. Let mixture steep for 30 minutes. Mix
in the wine and carefully reheat to just under the boiling point. If desired,
flavor with slices of lemon and/or oranges.
Limoncello
Ingredients
2 pounds lemons
4 cups 100 proof vodka
3 cups sugar
3 cups water
Preparation
Steep the peel (yellow part only) of 2 pounds of lemons in 4 cups of vodka in
a large bowl for 1 week at room temperature. Stir three cups of sugar and three
cups of water in a large saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
Cool. Add to the vodka mixture and stir. Strain the liquid into bottles; seal
and chill the limoncello for 1 month. Pour into small glasses and enjoy.
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Vineyards of Tuscany, where the Brunello grape flourishes |
Say What? How to say 'Cheers' in 10 languages
Do you know how to say ‘Cheers’ in French, Greek, or Spanish? Check out this
mini glossary for translations (approximate pronunciations in parentheses) so
that next time you are in Europe, you’ll be raising your glass with the locals.
Austria: Prosit (pro zit)
France: Santé (sahn tay)
Czech Republic: Na zdraví (naz druh vee)
Holland: Proost (proast)
Germany: Prost (proast)
Hungary: Egészségedre (egg esh egg edruh)
Italy: Salute (sahl oo tay)
Greece: Yamass (ya mas)
Spain: Salud (sah lood)
Switzerland: Proscht (proasht)
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Untours' Recommended Accommodations: Best bets for a beverage connoisseur
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Alsace
Set next to a sloping vineyard just outside the village of Bergheim, the Gewürztraminer is a well-appointed 1 bedroom accommodation with a modern kitchen, plenty of
space, and a lovely balcony. The apartment is well situated for daytrips of the
surrounding region and is owned by two enthusiastic landlords, the Schneiders.
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Austria
The Spitzer B vacation rental situated just outside of Salzburg in Golling is close to gorgeous
alpine scenery as well as shops and restaurants. The residence has one bedroom,
a modern kitchen, and a comfortable living room with cable TV. The landlords,
the Spitzers, are friendly and helpful. Fall is the perfect time to taste fresh
Austrian wines. |
Tuscany South
Set on a vineyard that produces the renowned Brunello wine, the Le Chiuse 5 is a 2-bedroom apartment that used to be a chapel. Many of the old features
remain, while modern comforts such as a fully equipped kitchen have been installed.
It is surrounded by sweeping views of the Tuscan hills and has a pool available
for use as well. |
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Idyll, Ltd.
415 E. Jasper Street
Media, PA 19063
www.untours.com
P. 888-868-6871
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