Securing a spot to taste through the new wines with Lucas Pichler was no mean feat in itself, such was the rugby- scrum of hopefuls surrounding the table. These guys are rock-stars! But timing is everything and as Bengt and I made our move a group where just finishing and were in! The first thing to be said is that the FX wines are better than ever. And that's really saying something as they were always, obviously, very good indeed. I asked Lucas if he'd…

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…