Blaufrankisch Ice Wine Vermentino Austria Burgenland Sudburgenland

The Vermintino grape varietal has been grown in northern Italy for centuries, but is perhaps most closely associated with the island of Corsica, where it is the most widely planted grape varietal and is one of the key flagship grapes on the island. Thought to have originated in Spain, the Vermentino grape quickly spread to other countries, and is now found in many parts of Mediterranean Europe and the New World. The grape itself is prized by wineries due to the crispness of its acids, and the wide bouquet of refreshing flavors it carries. Most commonly, Vermentino is known for holding flavors of green apple and lime, and for having a relatively light body with a low alcohol content. As such, it makes a perfect match for a wide range of foods, and is particularly popular when paired with shellfish.

Archaeological evidence suggests that grapevines have been grown and cultivated in what is today modern Austria for over four thousand years, making it one of the oldest wine producing countries in the world. Over the centuries, relatively little has changed in Austrian wine, with the dominant grape varietals continuing to be Grüner Veltliner, Zweigelt, Pinot Noir and others. Austria is renowned for producing excellent and characterful dry white wines, although in the eastern part of the country, many wineries specialist in sweeter white wines made in a similar style to those of neighboring Hungary. Today, Austria has over fifty thousand hectares under vine, split over four key wine regions. The domestic wine industry remains strong, with Austrians drinking their local produce outside in the summer, and people around the world are beginning to once more rediscover this fascinating and ancient wine culture.

Austria is a fascinating and ancient wine producing country, which once was heralded by the royal families and aristocracy of Europe as one of the finest and most important centers of viticulture in the world. Indeed, the wines of this central European country are home to many of the most surprising and seductive wines available today, and the eastern region of Burgenland is perhaps one of the finest regions Austria has. Whilst most of Austria is renowned for its off-dry and flavorful white wines, Burgenland is home to the country's red wine producers, with vineyards there being full of Pinot Noir, Zwiegelt and Blaufrankisch grapes, resulting in a wide palate of delicious and juicy reds. This is perhaps due to the relatively large amounts of sunshine and heat the region enjoys each year, and the proximity to one of the country's largest lakes, which helps red grapes reach their full potential.