Although the selection of Austrian red wines in our market remains somewhat limited, local retailers do seem to be carrying a growing number of Austrian dry rosés made from red grapes. Often these pastel-colored wines may include one or more of the following: zweigelt, also known as rotburger, Austria’s most-planted red wine grape variety, and its parent grapes, blaufränkisch and St. Laurent. The following are two very different styles made from these varieties.
Brunn 2022 Blauer Zweigelt Rosé, Niederösterreich, AustriaBought • Parker’s Table, 7118 Oakland Avenue, in April for $15.99 (1 liter)
Description • This pale copper wine comes from a small family-owned winery located in Kamptal, about 35 miles northwest of Vienna. Like the winery’s white grüner veltliner wine, the Brunn rosé comes in a 1-liter bottle rather than a standard 750-milliliter one. Although the wine is made entirely of zweigelt, it’s much more citrusy than many other rosés that have dominant flavors of red berries. Because of that, it tastes more like a crisp lemony white with hints of bakery spice. It’s a lively patio sipper, and the larger size makes it a good buy for parties. It would also pair with seafood and other light dishes.
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Höpler 2022 Pannonica Rosé, AustriaBought • Parker’s Table, 7118 Oakland Avenue, in April for $13.99
Description • Höpler, a family-owned winery located southeast of Vienna in Burgenland, is famous for making the house wines for the Trapp Family (as in Sound of Music fame) Lodge in Vermont for many years. Its light pink Pannonica rosé is a blend of 40% pinot noir, 35% St. Laurent and 25% blaufränkisch. The resulting wine is more complex and flavorful than the Brunn rosé. Very easy to drink, the Pannonica tastes of strawberries and raspberries and ends with a long, refreshing citrus finish. This lovely wine can be enjoyed on its own, and it would go also go well with fish, white meats and spicy Asian cuisine.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch lists the best-reviewed wines of 2022. The list has been divided into sparkling, white and red wines.
Follow Gail on Twitter @GailAppleson.
Follow Gail on Twitter @GailAppleson.