A Toast for Austria Day at The Upholstery Shop

 

Next door to the ever popular Austrian restaurant and bar Wallsé, is The Upholstery Shop, named such as that's what the space used to be. This is a quaint and comfortable wine and cocktail bar of high excellence. It is so romantic, set on quiet Washington Street in the West Village, a great neighborhood for strolling on a mild fall night.

We stopped by to celebrate October 26th, our wedding aniversary, and Austria Day which celebrates the signing of the treaty that restored Austria's national sovereignty and the end WWII.

Upholstery Shop offers a great list of international wines with an emphasis on Austrian and very interesting cocktails as well as small bar snacks.

We had two wonderful white wines. One Italian and one Austrian.

 

The Austrian was a Neuburger, a beautiful wine uinque to Austria. The grape arises out of a natural crossing of Roter Veltliner and Sylvaner. This one Wallsé has made special for them so you can only find it here or next door at the restaurant. It has a wonderful delicate nature that is very flavorful.

The Italian was another unusual wine. Frecciarossa Riesling Frizzante. A blend of 75% Rhine  Riesling, 25% Pinot Nero. Only 1,700 cases are made in Oltrepò Pavese an area of the Province of Pavia in the north-west Lombardy by Frecciarossa (Red Arrow) a winery, run by Margherita Odero and her family, that is making a name of itself around the world.

"Oltrepò Pavese's Frecciarossa uses only the very best crus for its whites, and that includes the Frecciarossa Riesling Frizzante Nai. A rich and intense bubbly white with hints of apricots, tropical fruits and minerals that carry through to the long finish." Italian Wine Merchants. Diana adored this wine.

My friend Constance Chamberlain, consummate marketing and PR professional and perpetual promoter of Austrian wine, recommended Upholstery Store to us. Her blog Austrian Wine USA is a great place to learn more about the fabulous wines of this country.

The place has a distinctly old world feel and how often do you get a check like this.

The Upholstery Shop

New York Magazine Critics Pick

713 Washington St., New York, NY 10014
nr. 11th St.  See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
212-352-2300

Comments

[Mike Cornelia]

Some of the biggest pet peeves I have had about bars lately are there restaurant tables and chairs. They are really uncomfortable and I think it is so important for owners to recognize this. A few friends have said the same thing. Just thought it would be great food for thought.