Clink Different

Austin-Based Sommelier Ali Schmidt Serves Up Sips, Tips and Festival Picks

Clink Different partner Ali Schmidt knows her way around a wine list. We asked the Austin-based sommelier and wine director to share a few of her favorite German and Bordeaux wine picks, the unexpected pairing she swears by, and where you can taste them for yourself this fall.

Photo Source: Ali Schmidt

Ali Schmidt is an Advanced Sommelier and Wine Director at Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group in Austin, TX, where she curates wine programs across award-winning restaurants in Austin and San Antonio. Her work has helped earn accolades including a Michelin Star for Hestia, a Michelin Green Star for Emmer & Rye, and recognition from Wine Spectator. She’s currently pursuing her Master Sommelier diploma while overseeing multiple wine programs and educating every team member on wine.  

Photo Credit: Ali Schmidt

What varieties or styles from Bordeaux and Germany do you think deserve more attention? 

I’m very excited about the Pinot Noir — AKA Spätburgunder — wines coming out of Germany right now! Producers like Rudolf Fürst and Meyer Näkel have proven that Germany can produce world class Pinot Noir.  

What is your favorite food and German or Bordeaux wine pairing? 

I love Riesling Kabinett alongside a classic pâté bánh mì. The high acid perfectly cuts through the decadent and rich pâté and mayo, the herbs play so well with the fruit and delicate florals of Riesling, and the tiny kiss of sugar balances out any spice from sriracha or fresh jalapeños. 

Photo Credit: Zan Lazarevic

If there’s one thing you could tell readers about wines from Bordeaux and Germany, what would it be? 

These regions offer amazing value for immense pleasure. If you’re on the Sancerre train, give White Bordeaux a shot! And for red wine drinkers: heading into summer, the elegant balance of Left Bank Bordeaux Blends are the perfect seasonal shift from warmer region Cabernets.  

Can you share a favorite memory from your recent trip to Germany and Bordeaux?  

It was so much fun to highlight wines from Germany and Bordeaux at Austin Food & Wine Festival. My favorite part was introducing the audience to sparkling Riesling! I had several people come up to me surprised at how much they loved it. They were skeptical that all Riesling was sweet and had never had it in sparkling form before. I fell in love with it, too, and poured it for my family and friends at Thanksgiving a few weeks later! Riesling isn’t just one style, it is a chameleon that is successful in so many different iterations.  

Photo Credit: Charles Reagan

Ahead of some exciting wine festivals across CA, FL and TX this fall — including Austin Food & Wine Festival — Clink Different is hosting in-store tastings at select Whole Foods and Total Wine & More locations in Texas! What wine do you recommend? 

At Whole Foods, I recommend the Château Ducasse Bordeaux Blanc, which shows why Sauvignon Blanc lovers need to pay attention to this region! Combining Sauvignon Blanc with Sémillon and Muscadelle creates a harmony of zesty citrus fruit, white flowers and a slightly rounder texture than you would find in the Loire Valley or New Zealand. 

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