St. Laurent, Blaufränkisch, and Zweigelt (often known as Rotberger) are the holy trinity of Austrian crimson wine. These three grape varieties — Zweigelt being a cross between St. Laurent and Blaufränkisch — share lots of traits. They are typically medium-bodied with grippy tannins, refreshing acidity, and vivid berry notes. They will additionally supply savory qualities like notes of earth, pepper, and smoke that add complexity.
These grapes also can possess an unbelievable vary of expressions, as each single-varietal bottlings or blends. Relying on area and winemaking fashion, they are often light-bodied, quaffable liter bottles or deep, age-worthy powerhouses that decision for meats, cheeses, and charred greens.
This checklist focuses totally on the wine zones of those varieties’ native soils, with some examples from neighboring nations like Slovenia, and even a number of bottles that show these grapes can thrive within the U.S. as nicely. From their dwelling in Austria to the highest of Michigan and the shores of the Finger Lakes, listed here are the 12 finest Austrian reds for 2024.
Felix Austria R&B NV
Thanks, Austria, for being the land of liter bottles. A rustic that may give us each scrumptious, age-worthy wines and informal, easy-drinking wines, and never compromise on high quality in both class, is a win-win. This mix of 85 % Rotberger and 15 % Blaufränkisch is prepared for an enormous meal, good pals, and lengthy conversations. It has a juicy nostril with concentrated fruit and a touch of herbs. The palate is barely wealthy with nice supportive acidity, giving a snug medium weight to the wine.
Common Worth: $15
Ranking: 90
Landhaus Mayer Zweigelt 2022
With a lake on one aspect of the winery and a forest on the opposite, this Zweigelt from Decrease Austria enjoys a reasonable local weather. What does all this imply? Simply strive the wine and see. The nostril gives notes of untamed berries and juicy cherries with a pop of savory herbs. The palate has deep fruit and tender tannins brightened by good acidity.
Common Worth: $16
Ranking: 93
Sattler Zweigelt 2021
This Zweigelt from Austria’s Burgenland area showcases the contemporary, savory aspect of this grape. It has earthy, brambly berry notes with the slightest trace of pepper on the nostril. The mouthfeel is wealthy and smoky with medium fruit and nice pure acidity, holding the wine up on the palate.
Common Worth: $18
Ranking: 93
Glatzer Carnuntum Blaufränkisch 2022
Midway between the cities of Vienna and Bratislava is Carnuntum, an historic metropolis that dates again to the time of Gaelic Rome — and even earlier. That is the place Glatzer makes wine. That is its informal, village-style wine that will match proper into the on a regular basis lifetime of the Roman homes excavated there. It has peppery fruit on the nostril with a slight floral trace. There’s a pleasant grip on the palate with medium fruit and a superb dose of acidity. This isn’t essentially probably the most advanced wine, however that’s not what it desires to be. Fairly, it’s nice for informal occasions, and chillable all day.
Common Worth: $20
Ranking: 90
Prieler Oggau Johanneshöhe Blaufränkisch 2020
Blaufränkisch is usually a massive, daring crimson wine. However right here in Burgenland, on the jap fringe of Austria, the extremely draining soils and ample sunshine create an ideal steadiness. This wine has that daring vibe however with good lifting acidity. Darkish berries and saline with an earthy edge on the nostril. The palate is tender and juicy with a pleasant medium focus of fruit.
Common Worth: $21
Ranking: 91
Dorcha Carbonic Frankinja 2023
With Austria simply to the north it is smart that this Slovenian winemaker works with Blaufränkisch — referred to as Frankinja in Slovenia. It’s barely completely different from its counterparts to the north, however a scrumptious instance nonetheless. Made with the carbonic maceration methodology, it’s delightfully fruit-forward with ripe strawberry and plum notes. The intense fruit is complemented by extra savory notes of pepper and herbs.
Common Worth: $22
Ranking: 91
Schwarz ‘The Butcher’ Zweigelt 2021
This Zweigelt sits proper within the consolation zone between a chillable, easy-drinking crimson and a well-structured, food-friendly bottle. The nostril has spiced meat and wild berries with a touch of soil. The palate is scrumptious with good medium fruit and ample acidity.
Common Worth: $22
Ranking: 90
Fox Run Vineyards Lemberger 2021
New York is understood for its cool-climate white wines like Riesling, however in addition they work with cool-climate crimson varieties like Lemberger (one other title for Blaufränkisch). It is a leaner expression of the variability, and it really works. Aromas of ripe berries and black pepper fill the nostril. The palate finds a terrific steadiness between fleshy fruit and vivid acidity.
Common Worth: $25
Ranking: 91
Rosi Schuster Sankt Laurent 2022
Hannes Schuster took the reins of the wine property from his mom in 2007 and dedicated to natural agriculture and considerate winemaking practices. The outcomes are wines like this Sankt Laurent (often known as St. Laurent) that present each magnificence and depth concurrently. The nostril is mineral-driven and tart with savory fruit and a lean, herby edge. The mouthfeel has nice medium focus of fruit with a pleasant quantity of acidity that lifts up the wine on the palate however nonetheless maintains depth.
Common Worth: $26
Ranking: 91
Hermann J. Wiemer Blaufränkisch 2022
This winemaker is known for his or her work with Riesling within the Finger Lakes, however wow, do they make a scrumptious Blaufränkisch. Like, very scrumptious. The nostril is wealthy and darkish with deep berry notes balanced by minerality. The palate is full of tender, plush fruit and wonderful pure acidity, however with a slight grip across the edges. An incredible instance of an American Blaufränkisch.
Common Worth: $32
Ranking: 93
Aurora Cellars Blaufränkisch 2021
Michigan has a cool local weather — to say the least — and this cool-climate grape from Austria thrives within the state’s northern Leelanau Peninsula. This is without doubt one of the most expressive examples of Blaufränkisch within the U.S. The nostril has deep, darkish fruit aromas with slight notes of cured meat and pepper. The palate is spherical and juicy with a powerful fruit depth. One other nice instance of what this grape can do stateside.
Common Worth: $48
Ranking: 92
Schwarz Rot ‘Icon’ Zweigelt 2021
When you’re a fan of Zweigelt, it is a bottle value looking for out. This selection can yield vivid, punchy wine in addition to wines like this. Deep, wealthy, and fragrant. It has an expressive nostril with darkish cherry fruit, cured meats, fennel, and bay leaf. The palate is deep and weighty with wonderful acidity and absolute steadiness.
Common Worth: $75
Ranking: 94
FAQs
What Are Austrian Crimson Wines?
This class consists of a number of crimson grape varieties which might be native to Austria and the broader space of Central Europe, together with Blaufränkisch, St. Laurent, and Zweigelt (which is a cross between Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent).
The place Do Austrian Reds Come From?
Despite the fact that they’re native to Austria, these grapes will also be present in bordering nations like Hungary and Slovenia beneath completely different names, Kékfrankos in Hungary and Frankinja in Slovenia. These grapes are additionally seeing an elevated presence in new areas throughout the globe, particularly cool-climate areas just like the Finger Lakes and Michigan within the U.S.
What Do Austrian Crimson Wines Style Like?
The three major crimson varieties present in Austria (Blaufränkisch, St. Laurent, and Zweigelt) are sometimes medium-bodied with barely grippy tannins and contemporary acidity. They are often fruit-forward with juicy blackberry and raspberry notes, however typically additionally present hints of savory character like pepper, earth, and smoke.
