Austrian Wines 101: 8 Delicious Austrian Wines to Try
Get to Know Austrian Wine: Your Ultimate Guide to Austrian Red and Orange Wines
Welcome to Bri Books! Today, I’m talking about one of my favorite parts of the world for wine: Austria. Austria is often considered to be one of Europe’s best-kept wine secrets, with a wealth of indigenous grapes and top-tier wineries, producers, and vineyards. It wasn’t until I fell in love with the wines of Burgenland that I got a better sense of the versatility of Austrian soil and grapes, courtesy the brilliant Christian Zechmeister, the Managing Director of Wein Burgenland.
All About Blaufränkisch
Blaufränkisch is Austria’s signature red grape. The flavor boasts a deep pepperiness but without the heaviness often associated with red wines. Aromatic, dark, spicy, and glorious, Blaufränkisch is without a doubt the unsung hero of the wine world. The Blaufränkisch red grape is predominately grown in the Burgenland region, and is notoriously rich in tannin and spicy in flavor. It’s a ‘leaner’ and more lightweight red, and it pairs well with all things Italian pasta, fish, shellfish, chicken, tomato-based sauces, and casseroles.
In October, I was fortunate enough to be invited to a presentation of an in-depth seminar hosted by Wein Burgenland with the best examples of Austria’s premium indigenous red grape variety, Blaufränkisch. The unique variety offers a range of styles, which were presented from single vineyard sites and some matured, more aged wines. This masterclass featured a tasting menu at San Francisco’s exceptional restaurant and wine destination The Morris Restaurant. I even returned to The Morris recently during a separate trip out west, and had to get both the duck and the burger + an insane glass of something Austrian and funky.
Christian Zechmeister, the Managing Director of Wein Burgenland, led us through a seminar highlighting the wine styles of Blaufränkisch from Burgenland, which is Austria’s most easterly wine growing area. Austria is truly the gateway to Eastern Europe. Nestled right between Czechia at the top and Slovenia at the bottom, Austria is bordered starting at bottom left by Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, and Slovenia. Burgenland is on the eastern side of the country, as east as you can go, bordering Slovakia and Hungary. Burgenland has 300 days of sunshine, several UNESCO World Heritage sites including Lake Neusiedl. If you’re in Vienna, you have no excuse not to go to Burgenland for at least a couple of days. Thank you to Constance Chamberlain of Wine & Co, Wines of Austria, and Wein Burgenland for an unforgettable afternoon.
Brionna’s Favorite Wines of Austria: Blaufränkisch Edition
Burgenland Pick #1: Erich Sattler St. Laurent 2020. St. Laurent is one of the 3 indigenous grape varieties of Blaufränkisch. The flavor of this wine reminds me of a rich red. Erich Sattler farms his vineyards in Tadten organically and became certified in 2016. Sattler’s concentration on Zweigelt and St. Laurent is a reflection of his interest in producing the very best quality from the rolling gravely hills south-west of Lake Neusiedl. St. Laurent is Austria's finicky, delicate red wine grape, a little like Pinot Noir. This one took our breath away with its pretty blackberry color, fruity berry notes, and mineral flavors. It’s full bodied and balanced with a taste of cherries, cedar, light acidity, and a smooth finish. (Price: Avg. $25/ bottle)
Burgenland Pick #2: Judith Beck Blaufränkisch 2021. This very young, fruity and balanced wine was much lighter than I expected, and it’s definitely perfect for vegetable dishes. Blaufränkisch by Judith Beck is a fun, playful, simple red wine made in Burgenland with Blaufränkisch grapes. You can think of this as the perfect pizza wine. It has aromas of cherry, red currant and blackberry with mild tannins and medium acidity. It is a great traditional Blaufränkisch perfect to get to know this typical Austrian grape variety. It’s imported by Zen Rovine Selections in NYC, and it’s an absolute smash. (Price: Avg. $25/ bottle)
Burgenland Pick #3: Markus Altenburger Blaufränkisch vom Kalk 2020. The Altenburger family has farmed land in and around Jois since the 16th century, and the Blaufränkisch Vom Kalk is down-to-earth: bright with hints of black cherry in the nose and mineral nuances throughout. It’s the perfect wine to keep on hand for solo dinner nights and dinner parties alike. You’ll want to drink it with friends…but you’ll also want a store of bottles at home for personal enjoyment. Trust me. (Price: Avg. $15-$20/ bottle)
Bri’s Favorite Burgenland Pick: Meinklang 2020 Blaufränkisch! I’ve been drinking Burgenland Blaufränkisch since before I even knew what it was! First at Simple Syrup Wine and Spirits from 2019 to 2021, then I went deeper at Orange Glou wine shop starting in about 2021. I’ve met the team there. I adore them. The Meinklang family are essentially farmers who happen to make delicious wine. The Michlits family of the Mainland farm live and exist within a complete agricultural and viticulture project. The pride of the farm is the Angus cattle which provide fertilizer and income. The family produces crops and heirloom wheats. They colonize wild bees to encourage pollination and a diverse biotope. Imported by Zev Rovine Selections in NYC, this is the quintessential Blaufränkisch Austrian wine experience. (Price: Avg. $20-$25/ bottle)
Brionna’s Favorite Wines of Austria: Orange Wine Edition
Heinrich Grau Freyheit: Graue Freyheit is an absolute delight from Heinrich, who is another top producer based in the vibrant region of Burgenland, Austria. This Graue Freyheit is a blend of 35% Weissburgunder, 30% Grauburgunder, 30% Chardonnay and 5% Neuburger. Delicious and surprising, I recommend this orange for your next big holiday party. (Avg. Price: $50/ bottle)
Weingut Pittnauer ‘Perfect Day’: Grown in Burgenland and imported by Savio Soares Collections, Perfect Day is 54% Muskat Ottonel, 29% Sauvignon blanc, 8% Chardonnay, 4% Gelber Muskateller, 5% Traminer. The flavor is crisp texture and fresh with mineral elements. The cloudy orange color is so charming, and the intense floral bouquet in the nose is enticing (especially the orange blossom, rose, and peachy notes). (Avg. Price: $35/ bottle)
Fidesser Orbis, Weingut Rudolf Fidesser: Weingut Rudolf Fidesser is a certified Biodynamic estate winery in Platt in the western part of the Weinviertel region of Austria. This orange has a gentle aroma of peach and orange zest, and it’s slightly tart on the palate with a juicy stone fruit finish. Fidesser Orbis Orange is a very fun wine to drink, thanks to its cloudy, aromatic and smoky nature, and delivers a smooth, flavorful finish and aftertaste. (Avg. Price: $30/ bottle)
Weingut Schmelzer - Simple and poignant, the Schlicht und ergreifend Sämling Orange 2017 is a deeply complex orange wine with earthy hints of smoke, Tonka beans, mango, and peaches. peaches and mangoes with a hint of Tonka bean. This is truly a one-of-a-kind wine, created by genius and innovative winemakers Georg and Georg. (Avg. Price: $25/ bottle)
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