Zweigelt

Zweigelt was born in 1922 by crossing two grape varieties, Saint Laurent and Blaufränkisch. Its name comes from Friedrich Zweigelt, who successfully improved the variety. It is also called Rotburger.

It is the most widely planted red wine variety in Austria and can be found throughout the country, but is especially prevalent in the east.

The clusters are medium to rather large, cylindrical in shape, and the kernels are dense, round and dark blue in colour.

It is highly valued because it is resistant to winter frosts and grows well in any soil. In fact, in fertile soil, it tends to produce too much yield, so it is necessary to adjust the yield by pruning and trimming the leaves.

They have low resistance to grey rot, and in some areas they are susceptible to grape wilt, a disease discovered in the 1990s that causes the berries to wilt after ripening.

Zweigelt wines are made with not too much yield and well-ripened fruit, and are deep in color and rich in fruit flavor. They have soft tannins and a black fruit aroma like blackcurrant and blackberry. Barrel-aged wines also have a vanilla aroma. The acidity is well-balanced.

It goes well with pork dishes and dishes that feature the aroma of spices. Its aroma and rich fruity flavor also make it a good pairing with Asian and Chinese cuisine. It is well-balanced and satisfying to drink, so it can be paired with a variety of main dishes.