On Saturday, 12 July 2025, ELSA Spa Apartments in Tux, Austria hosted its first‑ever “Taste of Terroir” wine masterclass with international wine writer, judge and lecturer Darrel Joseph. Two dozen guests from Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic filled the room and quickly transformed the debut into a warm, family‑like gathering.

Joseph kicked-off the masterclass with a deep dive into Austria’s remarkable wine landscape as he took participants from the steep hills of Steiermark (Styria) to the warm lowlands around the Neusiedlersee (Lake Neusiedl) in Burgenland to the ancient, stone-terraced  regions along the Danube river in Niederösterreich (Lower Austria), including the Wachau, Kamptal and Kremstal. The guests tasted ten carefully curated wines, mainly from historic family wineries, but also from boutique start-ups as well (full list below). Joseph’s masterclasses are renowned for their depth and focused perspective as he has been following the Austrian viticultural landscape for nearly 30 years.

“It was an absolutely unique and harmonious masterclass,” said Darrel Joseph. “I curated a line-up of excellent Austrian wines to highlight this country’s showcase grape varieties, such as Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Blaufränkisch and Sankt Laurent. And an array of styles was featured as well – sparkling, still white, still red, rosé, minimal intervention and botrytised sweet. Believe me, it was a joy to see the guests so open and enthusiastic. Not only the experienced Austrian wine lovers, but especially those discovering Austrian wines for the first time. Their curious noses and palates simply couldn’t get enough. And on top of all this, the amazing ELSA location is superb – in the middle of the Alps with the dramatic Hintertux Glacier in view. What perfect synergy all the way around!” 

Once the final wine had been poured, new winemaker Chris Sciacca, who planted his first vines in 2022, shared his journey from corporate communications to the launch of Kapitel Zwei, a small winery in Krems, Austria, where he is producing amphora‑aged, low intervention wines based on Chenin Blanc.

When the educational portion ended, a generous buffet appeared: regional mountain cheeses, artisan hams, roast beef prepared in-house, a bubbling cauldron of goulash and, to finish, delicious homemade cakes.

The tasting, learning and dining was actually a part of a weekend that delivered the full Tyrolean experience. Most guests also spent their mornings and afternoons conquering nearby hiking trails and soothing tired muscles in the ELSA relaxation pool and spa. This blend of alpine adventure, spa relaxation, an in-depth wine learning experience and gastronomic delights comprised a truly unforgettable experience.

“This inaugural masterclass captured exactly what we want ELSA to stand for: authentic Tyrolean hospitality, memorable alpine adventures and world‑class wine education,” remarked Petr Juza, from Petr Juza Group, operating the ELSA Spa Apartments Tux. “The family‑like atmosphere and enthusiastic feedback from our guests confirm that this is only the first of many hike‑ski‑taste‑relax weekends to come.”

More photos from the event available in Google Photos gallery here.

The Tasting Line‑up

1. Weingut Bründlmayer – Brut – Sekt (sparkling) Reserve, (non-vintage); Langenlois, Kamptal region           

2. Weingut Hirsch – Kammern, Grüner Veltliner 2022; Kammern, Kamptal region               

3. Weingut Emmerich Knoll – Loibenberg, Grüner Veltliner (Smaragd) 2022; Unterloiben, Wachau region           

4. Weingut Malat –  Ried Steinbühel, Riesling 2022 (ÖTW Erste Lage); Furth, Kremstal region                 

5. Weingut Sattlerhof – Ried Trinkaus, Sauvignon Blanc 2021; Gamlitz, Südsteiermark region        

6. Weinbau Parvenü – Parvenü –  Zweigelt / Grüner Veltliner / Welschriesling 2023; Weinviertel region                                          Instagram: parvenue.wine

7. Weingut Juris –  Zweigelt 2020; Gols, Neusiedlersee region        

8. Weingut Familie Reinisch – Ried Frauenfeld, St. Laurent 2022 (ÖTW Erste Lage; BIO); Tattendorf, Thermenregion

9. Weingut Dorli Muhr – Ried Spitzerberg, Obere Spitzer, (ÖTW Erste Lage) Blaufränkisch 2021; Prellenkirchen, Carnuntum region

10. Weinlaubenhof Kracher – Nouvelle Vague, Grand Cuvée No. 3, Trockenbeerenauslese 2021  (35% Chardonnay, 65% Welschriesling); Illmitz, Neusiedlersee region                       

About Darrel Joseph

Darrel Joseph is an international wine writer, competition judge, presenter and lecturer based in Vienna, Austria, with a focus on the wines and wine regions of Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Caucasus countries.

His written work has appeared in numerous prestigious wine publications, including Decanter and Decanter.com in the United Kingdom, Meininger’s Wine Business International in Germany and the US-focused online platform wine-searcher.com. He has also contributed to the Wine Spectator in the United States and Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book in the UK.

Darrel has contributed his discerning tasting skills to numerous renowned international wine competitions: this includes 16 years for the Decanter World Wine Awards in London – for which he also served as Joint-Regional Chair for Central & Eastern Europe in 2022. Other key international wine competitions include Mundus Vini and the Berlin Wine Trophy in Germany, Vinistra and the Kvarner International Wine Trophy in Croatia, the Asia Wine Trophy in South Korea, and numerous others in Georgia, Sweden, Albania, Switzerland, Russia, China, France, Italy, Turkey, Serbia, North Macedonia, Romania, Moldova and Bulgaria.   

In Austria, he is a judge for the AWC competition, and is also a member of the tasting jury for the Gault & Millau Wine Guide – Austria edition.

Darrel conducts engaging wine tastings, masterclasses and presentations for wine clubs, wine schools, businesses, and private clients across Europe.  His numerous masterclasses have been held from London to Stockholm, Budapest to Zagreb, Copenhagen to Vienna, Moscow to Yerevan, and Bucharest to Berat.

Darrel is also a part-time lecturer in the International Wine Business programme at IMC/University of Applied Sciences in Krems, Austria.

Beyond his writing, judging and teaching, Darrel provides valuable support to wineries and wine organizations through international communication activities. This includes translating PR and website texts from German to English and crafting native English content. With a professional voice-over career spanning more than three decades, Darrel lends his distinctive voice to narrate films, documentaries, corporate identity videos, and advertisements. Notably, his narration talents have been featured in films about wineries and wine regions. Darrel is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers in the United Kingdom. He also holds the title of Vranec Ambassador, showcasing his expertise and enthusiasm for the Vranec/Vranac grape variety in the Balkans. Additionally, he is a member of the Confrérie de Tokaj in Hungary.