There's an old Central European / Australasian saying that the best way to get to know a people is by learning its preferences in lizards. Pictured above are the prized goanna of Australia (a feisty carnivore who isn't typically associated with wine) and the Austrian lacertid lizard (whose emerald color has earned it the name "smaragd" - a name which, in turn, has been applied to some of the finest Grüners and Rieslings of the northern Austrian region, Wachau). The latter is strikingly colorful and peace-loving, but the former has razor sharp teeth and is really good to have by your side in a fight. Take your pick!
   Fortunately with the wines of Austria and Australia, you won't have to pick because we have beautiful examples of the rarer, western wines of Australia at this Saturday's free tasting and an in-depth slice of Austria at our upcoming Austrian Wine Class (details below) in Raleigh (3/31/16. For more immediate gratification of the Österreich-i-est kind, you can follow our very Grand, very Poobah-esque Wine Swami on his current adventures* in Austria and, later this week, Germany! #rockmeswamideus
*We advise viewer discretion on account of gratuitously tantalizing wine and food photography...