• me sitting at a table with a bottle of balufränkisch wine
    Austria

    A Beginner’s Guide To Blaufränkisch Wine

    Blaufränkisch, my favourite grape variety in Austria! You can definitely see me smiling up there, knowing I’ll soon be enjoying a Blaufränkisch wine! So let me tell you all I know about this grape variety. Blaufränkisch was first mentioned in 1862 at a wine exhibition in Vienna under the name Lemberger, but it was not officially renamed Blaufränkisch until 1875.…

  • Is Blaufränkisch Pinot Noir - two bottles of red wine side by side with a quesion mark in between
    Austria

    Is Blaufränkisch Pinot Noir?

    While Austria is renowned for its high-quality white wines made from native Grüner Veltliner and Riesling grapes, it also boasts exceptional red wines from indigenous grape varieties. They are named Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch and Saint Laurent. I usually compare Saint-Laurent to Pinot Noir, but following several discussions with friends and tastings, some have compared Blaufränkisch to Pinot Noir. So, is Blaufränkisch…

  • How do you identify a Blauer Zweigelt - A glass of red wine beside a bottle of red wine
    Austria

    How do you identify a Blauer Zweigelt red wine from Austria?

    Austria is best known for the quality of its dry or sweet white wines, made from both autochthonous Grüner Veltliner and Riesling or botrytised dessert wines from Welschriesling. However, it also produces many excellent red wines made from local grape varieties such as Blauer Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch. In fact, Blauer Zweigelt is even the most common red grape variety in…

  • What are the most famous wine regions in Austria - map of the Austrian wine regions
    Austria

    A Quick Guide to Austria’s Top Wine Regions

    If you weren’t so good in geography at school, let me come with a key reminder : Austria is nestled in the heart of Europe. A lot of people are surprised when I remind them that Austria is renowned for its picturesque vineyards, diverse grape varieties, and exceptional winemaking traditions. Indeed, it has a rich and vibrant wine culture that…