There is almost stealthy, surprising grip. Schloss Gobelsburg 2015 Reserve Zweigelt (Niederösterreich); $38, 92 points. Yet there is nothing facile. Craft + Estate–The Winebow Group. A gentle hint of soft and mellow vanilla frames the ripe, red-cherry fruit that appears readily on the nose. Lovely, velvety and sensuous in a modern, international style. In other parts of Austria, the wine names are generally a grape name (or, increasingly, a proprietary name) followed by the name of the region. Additionally, Austrian Sekt must have a minimum pressure of 3.5 atmospheres (3.5 bar – the same as Prosecco). Traces of viticulture can still be found today amidst the nation’s medieval villages, baroque monasteries, Roman cellars, and stately castles. Wait a little and this will blossom. Gebeshuber 2015 Lage Glas St. Laurent (Thermenregion); $73, 93 points. Shy aromas of wet stone and black cherry mark the nose. The second most planted wine grape in Austria (that is still rapidly growing in popularity) is the light-hearted Zweigelt. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies and the terms of our, Experiencing the Weinviertel, Austria’s Wine Quarter, Welcome to winemag.com! The mouthfeel is soft and sinuous, the tannins are fine and have a gauze-like quality that might tip over into velvet any moment. Similarly, at least 85% of the grapes from a given harvest must come from the a vintage year on the label. There is something seamless in the way the flavors merge, unimpeded by the tannins and their velvety crunch. As Austrian wine laws are among the most strict in all of Europe, you can be assured that any wine carrying the proud name of Eiswein is a true ice wine. We've received your email address, and soon you will start getting exclusive offers and news from Wine Enthusiast. The palate is pliable with a fruity, friendly flow, yet this shows depth and charm. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links. Lovely and highly appetizing. Right now the oaky smokiness still envelopes the firm fruit, supported by a fine tannic structure. Heinrich Hartl 2014 Reserve Pinot Noir (Thermenregion); $36, 92 points. Its wines are full-bodied yet crisp, with rich texture and herbal or sometimes spicy-vegetal flavors (especially green pepper). While the excellence of Austria’s sweet whites has long been recognized, her dry whites and reds have gained recognition only in the past two decades. Vintners Alliance. Grüner Veltliner, which covers more than a third of Austria’s vineyard acreage, is justly identified with Austrian wine culture. Aromatic, ripe blueberry notes entice the nose. The palate has that same appetizing, red-fruited allure: refreshing and juicy, but never heavy. Search our inventory to find the best austrian wine at the best prices. In certain well-chosen plots, the interplay of sunny warmth and brisk freshness create those conditions that Pinot craves and rewards. Vignaioli Selection. A rich wine but without superfluous fat. Simply lovely now but will get much better with age. The harvest for late-ripening grapes such as Riesling frequently extends into late October or early November, as a long, cold winter kicks in. The merest hint of licorice and tar tingles around the edges. Best Austrian wines: the region, the grapes, the producers and the best prices for the wines. Drink 2020–2035. Fresh, almost pristine black cherry beckons from the glass, followed by a gentle whiff of woodsmoke. There still is bite and freshness, making the generous weight appear all the more alluring. To this day, Austria’s wines enjoy great international acclaim, both amongst wine experts and wine lovers. Austria offers excellent sites for growing internationally known varieties such as Riesling, Weissburgunder, Chardonnay, Muskateller, Traminer, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Steindorfer 2015 Reserve St. Laurent (Burgenland); $37, 94 points. Muhr-Van der Niepoort 2015 Liebkind Blaufränkisch (Carnuntum); $42, 94 points. The palate replays these flavors, complete with finely woven tannins that seem to boost the aromatic cinnamon notes. you agree to our use of cookies and the terms of our. Malat 2015 Reserve Pinot Noir (Niederösterreich); $48, 93 points. Likewise with Zierfandler, Rotgipfler is a speciality found virtually only in the Thermenregion, and flourishes on the warm south-facing, chalky soils of Gumpoldskirchen and Traiskirchen. The palate discloses that same mix of fruit and oak influence, wrapping fresh cherry, both tart and ripe, in a rounded, smooth cloak of smoky vanilla. It is said by some to be the natural offspring of Traminer and St. Georgen and by others to be the offspring of Gewurtztraminer and another unknown grape variety. St. Laurent is a more moody proposition. Zweigelt makes for fabulous dry rosé wines as well as reds. How Long to Cook Foods in a Pressure Cooker. For reds there’s Blauburgunder, Cabernet Sauvignon and St. Laurent. Its wines are full-bodied yet crisp, with rich texture and herbal or sometimes spicy-vegetal flavors (especially green pepper). A wave of ripe, juicy black cherry reaches the nose before hints of cinnamon follow, colored by a lovely floral perfume. The best value wines from Austria based on average price and critic scores. Alluring scents of ripe red and black cherries make for an inviting nose. Austria’s main white grapes are Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, grown mostly in the region of Niederösterreich in the north-east corner of the country around Vienna. 25 KMW) are air-dried, traditionally on mats made of straw or reeds, to concentrate their flavors and sugars. A good structure and bright acidity provide a backdrop for the precisely drawn, gloriously pure fruit. The Glorious Grapes Defining Austrian Red Wine Gerhard Wohlmuth, of Weingut Wohlmuth in Südsteiermark, also emphasizes that Gelber Muskateller can mature for years, despite its … There is so much vigor and easy charm, a fresh-faced, unforced and disarmingly honest wine. At the perfect juncture of freshness and ripeness, this brims with sensuous, red cherry fruit. Reds are in the minority, claiming about 25 percent of the country’s production, because many of Austria’s wine regions are too cool for growing red grapes. Wines have higher acidity and lower tannins and offer up flavors of cherry, raspberry (on warm vintages) and a spiciness similar to cinnamon or sichuan peppercorn. In past years, Austrian wines have been lumped in with their neighbors Germany and Alsace, but recently the Austrian Wine industry has taken America by storm, gaining headway with its most popular grape: Grüner Veltliner a.k.a. Blaufränkisch was previously widely-planted throughout the Habsburg Monachy, and is the most important variety in Mittelburgenland, called Blaufränkischland. Last but certainly not least, Austrian Pinot Noir deserves a shout-out. The highest scoring wines from Austria. This traditional Austrian variety is a cross between Blauer Zimmettraube and Weißer Heunisch. A heady whiff of woodsmoke combines with aromatic cherry fruit on the nose. Where Blaufränkisch brings brooding power and St. Laurent offers finely calibrated charms, Zweigelt laughs at them with light-footed ease, bags of cherry fruit and fresh-faced charm. The palate retains these rich, aromatic flavors but presents them on a fresh, slender canvas that shows both fruit and spice. In the right hands, however, it produces compelling wines that dance tiptoe on a high wire between gamey, fruity allure and a firm, almost stealthy structure. It can even be served a little chilled. Austria’s wines come from the eastern part of the country, where the Alps recede into hills. An aromatic streak of wild cherry flashes up on the nose and completely takes over on the smooth palate. Cellar Selection. Vignaioli Selection. By Alex and Priya, A Vine Romance . It’s tricky in the vineyard, demanding and churlish. Today's autochthonous grape varieties are increasingly appreciated as true resources of a region, and the basis for wines that reflect their incomparable terroir. Ausbruch (literal meaning: "break-out") or sometimes Ausbruchwein is an Austrian wine term for a quality level in the Prädikatswein category. They’re extremely food-friendly, and usually high quality. The finest wines made from these two varieties come from the famous Wachau, Kamptal and Kremstal regions. Privacy Policy, By continuing to use our Services and/or submitting the above information, you agree to our use of cookies and the terms of ourPrivacy Policy, Photo courtesy Leithaberg DAC / Paul Szimak, Welcome to winemag.com! Discovering the Jewel Grape of Austrian Wine. Circo Vino. The Zweigelt is a new Austrian hybrid grape created in 1922 by Friedrich Zweigelt (1888–1964), who later became Director of the Federal Institute and Experimental Station of Viticulture, Fruit Production and Horticulture (1938–1945). Highly accomplished, very elegant and quite irresistible. A lovely, well-judged and rather elegant wine. These Austrian originals possess distinct personalities. More of that aromatic black cherry resides on the palate that is smooth and just at the point where St. Laurent is perfectly ripe but still beautifully fresh. The traditional sweet wines of West Germany and Austria are produced from late harvest grapes, some of them affected by noble rot, and labelled in a hierarchy of Prädikat designations from Kabinett to Trockenbeerenauslese, depending on the ripeness of the grapes. This is another wine made from grapes affected by noble rot, and upon harvest, the grapes must have a specific "weight" requirement to be labeled as such. Austria’s white wines—apart from the luscious, late-harvest dessert wines made from extremely ripeor dried grapes — are dry wines ranging from light- to full-bodied that are generally unoaked. Although some inexpensive Austrian wines do make their way to export markets, the Austrians have embraced a high-quality image, and most of their wines therefore command premium prices. 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