2.1: A Winter's Tale of Austrian Wine & Food

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 1 of TRINKTalks! where we dive into the soulful, surprising, and often misunderstood world of Austrian wine and food. This is a thoughtful conversation with Monika Caha and Tara Q. Thomas—their deep industry experience bridges Austrian tradition, New York’s wine scene, and decades of culinary exploration.

Together, we unpack everything from Austria’s natural-wine reputation to the country’s deep regional diversity, from cherished grapes like Zierfandler and Rotgipfler to the rustic foods that shape the Austrian table.

If you would rather read the transcript you can!

Consider joining the TRINK community. Read up on our subscriptions and unlock exclusive wine content, benefits, and experiences. 

ABOUT TODAY'S GUESTS 

Tara Q. Thomas is the Managing Editor of JancisRobinson.com, one of the world’s most respected independent wine websites. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, she is a veteran wine journalist, critic, and editor. Before joining the Jancis Robinson team, she spent more than two decades at Wine & Spirits Magazine, where she served as Executive Editor/Lead critic for the wines of Austria, Germany, Greece, and Eastern Europe.

A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Tara’s deep understanding of wine is rooted in her early training as a chef. She "traded her knife kit for a wine glass" and has since become a leading voice on the intersection of food and wine. She is the Assistant Editor for the landmark 5th edition of The Oxford Companion to Wine (published in 2023) and has authored several books, including The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Wine Basics.

Monika Caha is a true pioneer, she changed the way America drinks Austrian wine. Born and raised in Austria, she first conquered the New York culinary scene as the executive chef and owner of the acclaimed restaurant Kaffeehaus. In 2003, she pivoted from the kitchen to the cellar, founding Monika Caha Selections.

Over the last two decades, she has curated an elite portfolio of artisanal, family-owned estates, bridging the gap between centuries-old traditions and the modern American palate. From creating the 'training wheels' for Grüner Veltliner with her famous Grooner brand to championing rare indigenous varieties like Zierfandler, she is the primary architect of Austria’s success in the U.S. market. 

ABOUT TRINK 

TRINKTalks has been brought to you by TRINK Magazine, an independent quarterly digital publication exploring the “German-speaking wines” of Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.

LEARN MORE:

https://www.facebook.com/trinkmag

https://www.instagram.com/trink_magazine/

https://x.com/magazinetrink?lang=en

https://www.linkedin.com/company/trink-magazine/

ABOUT THE HOSTS OF TRINK TALKS

⁠Valerie Kathawala specializes in the wines and wine cultures of Germany, Austria, South Tyrol, and Switzerland, as well as those closer to her home in New York. Her work appears in the pages of , Noble Rot⁠,⁠ The Art of Eating⁠,⁠ SevenFifty Daily⁠,⁠ Meininger’s and of course .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}