Austria´s red winesAustria´s red winesBoston, May 28th 2014Boston, May 28th 2014

Christian Zechmeister Christian Zechmeister

Austria is in the Austria is in the heart of Europeheart of Europe

Today a small Today a small but successful nationbut successful nation

• Production:Production: 250 Mio Liters250 Mio Liters

• Consumption:Consumption: 250 Mio Liters250 Mio Liters

• Import:Import: 50 – 70 Mio lt50 – 70 Mio lt

• Export: Export: 50 – 70 Mio lt50 – 70 Mio lt

Basic Data - AustriaBasic Data - Austria

Cool Climate Cool Climate ViticultureViticulture

•continental pannoniancontinental pannonian

•mediterranean mediterranean

•cool northern airstreamscool northern airstreams

•Special micro climates:Special micro climates:lake: Neusiedlerseelake: Neusiedlersee

unique climate:unique climate:hot & coolhot & cool

ClimateClimate

• Pannonian climatePannonian climate– warm summerswarm summers– cold winterscold winters– more than 2.000 sun hours/yearmore than 2.000 sun hours/year– rainfall: 500 – 650 mm/yearrainfall: 500 – 650 mm/year

• climate regulator: lake Neusiedlclimate regulator: lake Neusiedl

Austria Australia

45.000 ha 164.000 ha

6.000+ bottling estates

2.200 bottling estates

Structure of EstatesStructure of Estates

Quality Wine – Quality Wine – Original bottlings with sealOriginal bottlings with seal

Red wine areasRed wine areas

• [Einfügen: Karte Burgenland][Einfügen: Karte Burgenland]

Red winesRed wines

Red winesRed wines

Important varietiesImportant varieties– Blaufränkisch – Zweigelt – St. Laurent – Pinot Noir – Merlot

Wine styleWine style– deep aromasdeep aromas– various dark fruit notesvarious dark fruit notes– well-structured wines with an intense well-structured wines with an intense

tannic finishtannic finish

Vineyards in Vineyards in Austria (in ha)Austria (in ha)

Flight 1 Flight 1

Indigenous grape Indigenous grape varietiesvarieties

ZweigeltZweigelt

• Blaufränkisch x St.Laurent Blaufränkisch x St.Laurent

• Zweigelt is Austria‘s most Zweigelt is Austria‘s most important red grape variety important red grape variety

• 12 % of the total production in 12 % of the total production in AustriaAustria

ZweigeltZweigelt

• The creation of the Zweigelt variety in the The creation of the Zweigelt variety in the 1920's by Professor Fritz Zweigelt, a crossing 1920's by Professor Fritz Zweigelt, a crossing between Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent, only between Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent, only really gained recognition after the Second really gained recognition after the Second World War. World War.

• The spectrum of Zweigelt as a varietal is wide, The spectrum of Zweigelt as a varietal is wide, ranging from easy drinking, unoaked wines to ranging from easy drinking, unoaked wines to rich and full-bodied single vineyard wines aged rich and full-bodied single vineyard wines aged in small oak barrels. in small oak barrels.

• As a blending partner, it pairs well with its As a blending partner, it pairs well with its parent varieties Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent, parent varieties Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent, as well as Cabernet & Co. as well as Cabernet & Co.

ZweigeltZweigelt

• The fruity, traditionally Austrian home-style of The fruity, traditionally Austrian home-style of Zweigelt displays charm with pronounced Zweigelt displays charm with pronounced cherry aromas, a mellow palate and delicate cherry aromas, a mellow palate and delicate spice. spice.

• The opulent internationally produced Zweigelt The opulent internationally produced Zweigelt is recognisable by sour cherry and berry is recognisable by sour cherry and berry aromas, deeply set fruit and more tannin, aromas, deeply set fruit and more tannin,

complexity and a harmonious structure.complexity and a harmonious structure.

BlaufränkischBlaufränkisch

• Unique concentrationUnique concentration

• Fine bouquetFine bouquet

• Fine racy acidityFine racy acidity

• Great potentialGreat potential

• 6,5 % of total 6,5 % of total production in Austriaproduction in Austria

BlaufränkischBlaufränkisch

• The Blaufränkisch is a thoroughly central The Blaufränkisch is a thoroughly central European variety. European variety.

• The typical bouquet of this late-ripening variety The typical bouquet of this late-ripening variety is deep aromas fruits of the forest, cherry and is deep aromas fruits of the forest, cherry and herbal spice. The taste profile is focused and herbal spice. The taste profile is focused and lively, with its characteristic high acidity. lively, with its characteristic high acidity.

• Blaufränkisch can develop to become great Blaufränkisch can develop to become great wines with a dense structure and prominent wines with a dense structure and prominent tannins, that can seem quite astringent at first, tannins, that can seem quite astringent at first, yet soften and become more silky as the wine yet soften and become more silky as the wine matures, and fine examples have long aging matures, and fine examples have long aging potential. potential.

St. LaurentSt. Laurent

• Descendant of Pinot NoirDescendant of Pinot Noir

• Deeper in ColourDeeper in Colour

• Full body Full body

• Black cherry fruitBlack cherry fruit

• 800 ha (800 ha (<2%) in Austria<2%) in Austria

St. LaurentSt. Laurent

• The high quality St. Laurent variety belongs to the The high quality St. Laurent variety belongs to the Pinot family, and the synonym Pinot St. Laurent Pinot family, and the synonym Pinot St. Laurent suggests a pinot seedling. suggests a pinot seedling.

• The yield is often below expectation and it can be The yield is often below expectation and it can be demanding in the vineyard, being not the most demanding in the vineyard, being not the most popular variety. popular variety.

• In the course of a more quality orientated In the course of a more quality orientated thinking in recent years, the variety has thinking in recent years, the variety has experienced a revival in all wine-producing experienced a revival in all wine-producing regions, particularly in Thermenregion and regions, particularly in Thermenregion and northern Burgenland as a varietal or valued northern Burgenland as a varietal or valued blending partner. blending partner.

St. LaurentSt. Laurent

• The name St. Laurent originates from Saint The name St. Laurent originates from Saint Laurent's name day on 10 August, when the Laurent's name day on 10 August, when the veraison or reddening of the green grape berries veraison or reddening of the green grape berries occurs. occurs.

• The memorable aromas feature a burst of fruit, The memorable aromas feature a burst of fruit, especially blackberries, sour cherries and plums. especially blackberries, sour cherries and plums. As St. Laurent matures in the bottle, typical As St. Laurent matures in the bottle, typical developing Pinot aromas evolve, of stewed berries developing Pinot aromas evolve, of stewed berries and spice. A natural sweetness over bitter and spice. A natural sweetness over bitter chocolate and firm, silky tannins are harmoniously chocolate and firm, silky tannins are harmoniously packaged, making the wine a diverse and packaged, making the wine a diverse and rewarding partner to food.  rewarding partner to food. 

Red winesRed wines

Flight 2 Flight 2

Blaufränkisch terroirBlaufränkisch terroir

Right side of lake Right side of lake NeusiedlNeusiedl

Right side of lake Right side of lake NeusiedlNeusiedlParndorfer Platte soft slopes various soil types

• gravel• sand• chalk

• SeewinkelSeewinkel– sandy soilssandy soils– salted lakes between the vineyardssalted lakes between the vineyards– rapid and intense development of botrytisrapid and intense development of botrytis

Leithaberg Leithaberg DACDAC

Leithaberg Leithaberg DACDAC

• high amount of mineral high amount of mineral componentscomponents

• slopes of slate & shell slopes of slate & shell limestonelimestone

• well-structured white well-structured white and red winesand red wines

Mittelburgenland Mittelburgenland DACDAC

Mittelburgenland Mittelburgenland DACDAC

„Blaufränkischland“

Horitschon Horitschon • clayclay• powerful wine characteristicspowerful wine characteristics

Neckenmarkt Neckenmarkt • slopesslopes• gravel and claygravel and clay• full-bodied wines with a spicy touchfull-bodied wines with a spicy touch

DeutschkreutzDeutschkreutz• warmer, lighter soilswarmer, lighter soils• heavy and powerful winesheavy and powerful wines

LutzmannsburgLutzmannsburg • higher altitudehigher altitude• gravel, mineral components and claygravel, mineral components and clay

Eisenberg Eisenberg DACDAC

Eisenberg Eisenberg DACDAC & & SüdburgenlandSüdburgenlandRechnitzRechnitz• white wine islandwhite wine island• mineralic winesmineralic wines

EisenbergEisenberg• steep slopessteep slopes• deep heavy soildeep heavy soil• clayclay• „„Grauschiefer“ slate Grauschiefer“ slate • ironiron

„„Uhudler“Uhudler“

Flight 3 blind tastingFlight 3 blind tasting(at least one pirate)(at least one pirate)