On arriving into Vienna some 27 hours since leaving Tullamarine we found the CAT train which whizzed us in ultra-smooth and very quick fashion. There was time for a swift check-in, shower and email download before it was time to meet in the hotel bar with the rest of the visiting Australian contingent. After a well appreciated local beer we set off on what was a delightful 30 minute walk across central Vienna, though a thriving with tourism Stephansplatz square and on to our spot…

In June this year Patrick and Bengt Baumgartner travel to Austria, Germany and on to a sneaky few days in Alsace and Burgundy. Bengt is sommelier at The European in Melbourne and was winner of the 2011 CellarHand/Frankland Estate Riesling Scholarship award. Bengt has already attended the Frankland Estate International Riesling Tasting in Sydney in February this year as part of his prize - and is now about to undertake the second part of the prize - two weeks with some of the greatest Riesling…