Wieninger > Vienna

VIENNA

Now that the wine critics have for the most part looked beyond the fact that Fritz Wieninger was named one of Vienna’s “most eligible bachelors”, they have once again focused on the work of the king of Viennese winemaking. Though Vienna is known for patisseries, opera, music, and glistening pedestrian shopping plazas, the city is still a player in the agricultural sector. Wieninger works with the traditional grapes of Austria with excellent results. Of particular note is his Gruner Veltliner from cru Herrenholz, an abundantly spicy and charming wine with just the right texture and a lingering finish. It is the most typical of Austrian wines, and is sublime.

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Pinot Noir Rosé

100% Pinot Noir. 20 year-old vines. Sandy/loamy soil. Whole grape pressed, short skins contact to provide color. Temperature controlled stainless steel fermentation. Brief lees contact in tank, then racked, aged another 6 months in tank before bottling. Alcohol: 12.5%. Acidity: 6.5 g/l. Residual Sugar: 1.3 g/l.

Light pink in color with extremely delicate Pinot character. Mostly fresh berry and currant on the nose and palate chased by a subtle texture from lees contact on the fresh clean finish.

Vienna Blend

60% Gruner Veltliner, 20% Welschriesling, and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. Fermented in stainless steel tanks. Alcohol: 12%.

Gruner and Sauvignon grapes provide lively citrus fruit, mouth watering acidity, and faint grassy/herb characteristics; while the Welschriesling in the cuvee adds nuances of heavier fruit, spice, and refined mineral character to the clean finish. Ideal as an aperitif, or with salads and vegetable dishes. Also works to cut through the heavy richness of foods like pate, duck, and grilled sausages.

Grüner Veltliner "Leicht and Trocken" (Light and Dry)

100% Gruner Veltliner. Fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel. Alcohol 12%.

This offering is Wieinger's nod to the "Liecht & Trocken" or light and dry style of Gruner Veltliner. It is highly aromatic with good fruit and peppery spice on the nose. It is a step up in concentration and more focused than a blended wine and has an elegant, clean finish.

Grüner Veltliner Herrenholz

100% Gruner Veltliner. 30+ year-old vines. Restricted yields. Harvested before the beginning of October (2004 very hot year) in two batches to maximize ripeness. Hand sorted for best cluster before vinification. Temperature controlled fermentation in stainless steel. Aged 6 months in stainless steel prior to bottling. Bottled without filtration. Alcohol: 12.5%.

The Herrenholz vineyard is Wieninger's premium Grüner Veltliner bottling. It shows a complex play of floral, fruit and spice aromas, but the palate reveals lentil, earth, herb and mineral notes. Medium to full-bodied and suitable to a wide variety of foods, especially fresh water fish, pork dishes, and foul.

Riesling "Riedencuvée"

100% Riesling. Macerated and brief skins contact before temperature controlled fermentation at 19 degrees Celsius. Bottled after 6 months of maturation. Alcohol: 12.5 %.

This bottling is a blend of three small vineyards which combine a range of charcateristics. The warmer site with sandy soil provides a light, fresh and fruity profile, while old vine growth brings more elegance and power through a full bouquet, exceptionally concentrated fruit, and structured mineral component to the finish.

Nussberg Alte Reben (Old Vine Blend)

This old vines vineyard is densely planted to 13 different varietals, from Gruener to Zierfandler. Field blend of Weissburgunder, Neuberger, Welschriesling, Gruner Veltliner, Sylvaner, Zierfandeler, Traminer, and Riesling. Minimal to no skins contact. Occasion slight botrytis. Fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel. Alc. 13.5%.

Nussberg is one of the most famous vineyard sites in Vienna and 'Alte Reben' loosely translates as old vines. The vintage photo on the label of this bottling is from the early 1900's, and features current owner Fritz Wieninger's grandmother in the lower left hand corner. This multi-varietal white known as a “field blend” is a traditional blend from the Vienna region. It is full-bodied and concentrated, yet the peach, lentil and grapefruit flavors are delineated by the electric structure. Richly textured, and crisp on the finish, this would be ideal with stuffed roast pork.

Trilogie

70% Zweigelt, 15% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Each grape is fermented individually. Macerated and fermented in stainless steel with pumping over. Racked into large wood casks for malolactic fermentation. Racked again for 12 months aging: Zwiegelt into 1-3 year-old barriques, and Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot into new barriques. Finally blended together and bottled one month later. Alcohol: 13%.

Primarily red fruit and spice from Austria's native Zwiegelt, but also married to the dry, structured body of Merlot, and the intense color and tannin of Cabernet Sauvignon. This delicious blend of red grapes benefits from some solid oak aging and is accessible enough for tonight's dinner party, but also offers intriguing aging potential.