• 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 long can you keep Zweigelt wine - bottles of Zweigelt wine
    Austria

    How long can you keep Zweigelt wine?

    Zweigelt is a new variety selected in 1922 by Dr. Fritz Zweigelt, LFZ Klosterneuburg, from St. Laurent and Blaufränkisch. Its dissemination is due to the fact that Lenz Moser planted the variety in high culture on a large scale and recommended it to other winegrowers. Towards the end of the last century, when areas cultivated for red wines were extended,…

  • 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…