Tishbi at the Travel Show

I attended the sprawling Travel Show at the Javits Center this past Saturday, more as a travel writer than a wine lover. Last year, I was fortunate enough to meet New York Times wine columnist Eric Asimov at the show, but this year, there were no major seminars on wine. I did, however, happen upon a little talk and tasting by Israeli winemaker Jonathan Tishbi.
I have been hearing buzz about wines from Israel for the past year, both on the internet and through a writing buddy who insists I should visit the vineyards there. Historically, winemaking originated in the middle east, yet many of us westerners have rarely given a thought to wines from that part of the world.
So, with my curiousity piqued and my throat parched, I plunked down in one of the folding chairs and listened to Tishbi, a dignified older man in a conservative dark suit, describe his winery in halting English. A Shiraz was passed around, which tasted like its alcohol was very high. Tishbi described the growing conditions for his grapes: they receive little rainfall and his vines therefore produce less fruit and smaller grapes with more concentrated flavor. Next a blend of cabernet, merlot and cabernet franc was distributed in plastic Dixie-cups. It’s aged about five years, the fruit is well-balanced, and it has a nice amount of tannin, although a little too oaky for my taste. We ended with a sticky: an Israeli desert wine that is reminiscent of ruby port. At this point, Jonathan raised his own plastic cup in “L’Haim” and we toasted him back. I’m glad to have had this brief introduction to wines of Israel and I expect to see and taste more of them in the coming years.

Hero Worship at the Javits Center

I left the NY Times Travel Show today feeling exhilarated. I'd attended talks from two of my heros: Rick Steves, possibly the world's most successful travel writer, and Eric Asimov, chief wine critic for the New York Times.
One of my travel writing teachers had recommended attending the travel show, a yearly event at the Javits Center. So I headed into the Lincoln Tunnel with family in tow, as children get in for free. My husband split off to see animal shows and eat empanadas with the kids, and I headed into a large seminar room to see Rick Steves.
I've been reading Rick Steves' Europe Through the Backdoor books since I traveled to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland in 1988. I still turn to his books when I go to Europe: last year I bought his France book. To me, he epitomizes the kind of travel I love: get off the tour bus, stroll through lesser known neighborhoods, eat with the locals, and basically eschew the tourist traps and "sanitized" versions of travel (don't get him started on cruises). His passion for intelligent traveling, his knowledge of world cultures (he was a history major), and his insights about how America is viewed by the rest of the world left the audience enraptured. I was fascinated by his comparison of the "energetic" new European Community versus the U.S.: while the our country pours money into wars, Europe is investing in major infrastructure projects, from highway systems to sleek new rail stations. I walked away from his hour lecture incredibly inspired by his wit, charisma, and world view.
Next I strolled through the cavernous exhibit hall to the cooking demo area, where Eric Asimov spoke about traveling to lesser known wine regions. Joining him on stage was Doug Duda, host of A&E's The Well-Seasoned Traveler and executive director of the recently-opened Astor Center, a gorgeous-looking facility with classes in the culinary arts, wine tasting, even wine smelling! Definitely something I need to check out.
Eric was impecably dressed: from his houndstooth jacket to his mod black turtleneck he looked every inch the sophisticated wine journalist. Yet his presentation was anything but austere. He grinned his way through describing the up-and-coming wine region of Slovenia. We all sipped a buttery wine from the Ribolla Gialla grape, another great showing from the Fruili region I so recently became exposed to from Wine Blogging Wednesday. We also tried a bracing white wine from Santorini, Greece, and, as Eric put it, an "agile" red wine from Austria made from the unusual zwiegelt grape. After the talk I was able to chat with Eric and tell him about my little old blog. Unbelievable. Another reason I am so grateful to live a stone's throw away from one of the greatest cities on earth.
So cheers to NYC and the NY Times Travel Show. I can't wait to go for two days next year.