DAN'S WINE BLOG HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZWEIGELT

November 11, 2022

This year is the 100th Anniversary of the creation, of the sensational native Austrian red variety, Zweigelt – hard to say and remember, but very easy to drink!! It is a delightful, juicy, ubber tasty, red berried grape that is somewhat akin to a Pinot Noir that has been seriously working out in the gym – slightly stouter and definitely musclier.

?It is also known as Blauer Zweigelt or the rather unfortunate name of Rotburger. Imagine asking for a “glass of Rotburger please”. ?Created by and modestly named after, Dr Fritz Zweigelt, in 1922 by crossing two popular native Austrian red varieties – Blaufr?nkisch and St. Laurent. Over the century it has become the most widely planted red variety in Austria with over 6,200 hectares planted, which is the equivalent of 14% of the total land planted to grapes in Austria. The white superstar Grüner Veltliner occupying just over 30% of all vineyard space.

?Viticulturally, when compared to Pinot Noir, Zweigelt grapes are slightly darker coloured, ripen a couple of weeks earlier and produce a slightly heavier/larger crop, making it more popular than Pinot Noir in cooler more marginal sites.

?The wine is bright violet coloured, juicy with soft, elegant tannins and full of the aromas and flavours of raspberries, blackberries and morello cherries, making it a very appealing, lighter-style of red wine. While it makes a great Rosé wine, if the yields are kept low and quality oak is used in the maturation, it can produce a serious, complex medium-bodied wine capable of considerable aging potential, such as those made around the shore of Lake Neusiedl, in Austria.

Traditionally paired with local Austrian food such as Vienna Schnitzel, its juicy flavours and subtle tannins make it an ideal accompaniment for many, if not most Asian dishes, as well as all but the oiliest of Italian dishes. The lighter versions, when slightly chilled to around 10-12oC, are exceptionally well matched with pizza and antipasto. This culinary versatility has been instrumental in making the variety the most popular red wine in Austria.

?In recent times, Zweigelt has spread to new wine producers – Belgium, Washington State USA, Niagara Peninsula and British Columbia in Canada, Slovakia, Hungary, New Zealand and of course Australia.

?So far there appear to only be two producers of Zweigelt in Australia. The sensational Hahndorf Hill Zsa Zsa Zweigelt which they have been producing since 2012 (10th Anniversary). The current release is the 2020 which has won a Silver Medal in the home of the variety – the 2022 AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge – no mean feat for an antipodean interloper to achieve! It has a beautifully perfumed bouquet of freshly squeezed cherries and raspberries along with a smidge of spice. The palate is juicy, lively and full of red berries, a hint of cloves and fresh acidity.

?The other producer, who’s Zweigelt I have not tasted as yet is Andrew Peace Wines from Victoria.

?I am firmly convinced that it is only a matter of time before other producers get on the bandwagon and plant this exciting, extraordinary red grape variety.

?I am sure that the next 100 years will be much more salubrious for this outstanding, lighter-style variety than the first. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZWEIGELT!