You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Grüner Veltliner is the quintessential wine of Austria, but there’s more to discover. Deep Woods Cabernet 2014 Western Australia ($116) – winner of many awards including the coveted Jimmy Watson. The youthful aromas and charming fruitiness of the red wines delightfully complement Italian pasta dishes and spicy casseroles, while velvety tannins excel with roast fowl, rabbit and cooked beef. Get to know more about Austrian wine by seeing the country’s layout and learning about its 3 top grape varieties. Their vines are old and they have won many international awards. The unoaked Leth Klassik 2009 is modelled on the exuberant reds made in Austria before the late-twentieth-century invasion of the fruit snatchers, otherwise known as small oak barrels. You’ll also like: Heathcote – velvety with chocolate notes and smooth tannins. It continues to dominate the Australian wine scene and is equally as popular abroad – featuring at the core of Australia’s tremendous export success. Favourite wines from the tasting Johanneshof Reinisch, Holzspur St Laurent 2004 Thermenregion Jurtschitsch Sonnhof, Pinot Noir 2007 Kamptal K+K Kirnbauer, Das Phantom 2008/Girmer (Zweigelt) 2008/Vitikult Blaufränkisch 2007 Burgenland Leth, Gigama 2008 Donauland Moric, Neckenmarkt Alte Reben Blaufränkisch 2008 Burgenland Muhr-van der Niepoort, Spitzerberg (Blaufränkisch) 2008/Syrah 2007 Carnuntum Pichler-Krutzler, Weinberg Blaufränkisch 2008 Burgenland Pittnauer, Rosenberg Blaufränkisch/Alte Reben St Laurent 2008 Burgenland Prieler, Blaufränkisch 2008 Leithaberg Schiefer, Königsberg*/Szapary/Reihburg Blaufränkisch 2008 Südburgenland Ernst Triebaumer, Blaufränkisch/Cabernet 2009 Neusiedlersee-Hügelland Umathum, St Laurent 2007 Burgenland Wohlmuth, Privat Rabenkropf Blaufränkisch 2007 Mittelburgenland. Some of the best red wines in Australia are as follows: Mac Forbes Pinot Noir Yarra Valley 2017, Dexter Pinot Noir Yarra Valley 2016, pretty much any Penfolds Grange Shiraz, Savaterre Shiraz Beechworth 2013, Peterson’s 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Redman Cab Coonawarra SA 2015, Yarra Yering No.1 2015 Yarra Valley, and more. (The picture below is of vineyards of revitalised producer Alexs leading gently down to the Neusiedlersee.). For this reason it has to be labelled as an EU Tafelwein rather than anything grander. Bushranger wine … how could you say no to that? They can be complex and spicy, elegant and floral or even just juicy and smashable; their versatility makes them one of the best Australian red wines you can buy. The Best Australian Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wines: There is so much fun we Aussies can have with blended red wines, we aren’t restricted by the many rules and regulations of Europe, we are ‘New World’ and it’s party time – often, producing some of the best red wine Australia has to offer. *Schiefer's racy Königsberg Blaufränkisch 2008, at £12.49 from Raeburn of Edinburgh, has to be the bargain. So what is it about Australian red wine that makes it so bloody tasty? The most popular variety of wine in Australia is Shiraz, also known as Syrah. Usher Tinkler Nose to Tail 2017 Shiraz Pinot blend ($25)  – Slurpable and juicy, expect some nice dark fruit and spices. This smooth red wine has spent plenty of time on oak, to balance out the bucket loads of fruit in the taste. Tassie is not known for it’s Cabernet but this drop will blow your brains out. Shiraz is Australia’s stable red grape variety – making it an incredibly popular Australian red wine. It’s definitely a winner in my books and a general crowd-pleaser. By Farr Pinot Noir Geelong 2015 ($75) – Man oh man this is a muscled-up and savvy Pinot. More tannins, more mouthfeel, and a longer finish; something more complex and powerful. The Best of Austrian Red Wines. Any year will do. K+K Kirnbauer's Girmer 2008 is made from 52-year-old Zweigelt vines whose roots burrow as deeply as 25 metres below the Girmer vineyard in Mittelburgenland. This range is similar to cabernet sauvignon and around the average for most reds. When wine connoisseurs around the world think about Australian red wine, more often than not, they will think of Shiraz. By far the most popular and widely produced grape in Austria, the wine Zwiegelt produces has an almost sticky, plummy taste. Wohlmuth, Privat Rabenkropf Blaufränkisch 2007 Mittelburgenland. Grüner Veltliner, which covers more than a third of Austria’s vineyard acreage, is justly identified with Austrian wine culture. Glühwein is enjoyed at traditional Christmas Markets or after a day on the Austrian slopes at one of the huts. See my tasting notes on a wide range of Austrian reds. I fear the most obvious initials are unlikely to work the same magic on the variety that might eventually come to be seen as its red wine counterpart. Ripe, plump and fresh for the picking. Australia has many wine regions that each specialise in a particular variety of wine. Starting from humble beginnings at MTV, she is now a reporter for RPM, Network Ten’s Motorsport program and contributes her musings about wine to Man Of Many. I’m yet to meet a red lover who’s not a fan of Shiraz. It’s all kinds of goodness, like a beautiful mystery in a glass vase. Whether it’s a summertime Pinot by the sea, or breaking out the roasting pan (or slow cooker) with a big, peppery Shiraz when the mercury drops, there’s little denying that red wine in Australia is more than just a passing fad. The best red wines to use in cooking include Merlot, Pinot Noir and Cabernet varietals on … More tannins, more mouthfeel, and a longer finish; so… Last August a high profile blind tasting was held with the top tasters of Singapore, who ended up preferring Austrian Pinot Noirs to many a famous red burgundy. Earthy and savoury with uplifting red and black fruit. Heuriger (translating to mean ‘this year’s wine’) are cosy wine taverns run by local grape growers, offering guests the chance to sample some locally produced wines alongside traditional Austrian cuisine. See my tasting notes on a wide range of Austrian reds. One of many exciting examples I tasted recently in London, Pala 2009, was made from grapes grown across the border in Hungary by the specialist in the variety Schiefer. From easy-drinking, fruity red wines to inspiring regional blends from locations throughout the country, we’ll show you the best red wine Australia has to offer. It’s a quality wine, everytime. The Ott Grüner Veltliner Rosenberg EL 2016 (EL stands for Erste Lage, or Premier Cru, in Austria) rated 96 and was our No. The greatest concentration of fascinating Blaufränkisch is in Burgenland, with the wine produced in Leithaberg on the western shore of the Neusiedlersee being so distinctively mineral-soaked that it has earned its own special appellation. If you’re going to keep it, buy a case so you can have half now and half later. But the grape variety that is probably most likely to put Austrian reds on the map is Blaufränkisch, known as Kékfrankos over the border in Hungary, and Lemberger in southern Germany and Washington state. I was recently in Tasmania and here I found my perfect breed of Pinot — Gutsy Pinots with more depth, something I could tuck into with my steak. Man of Many participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we sometimes earn commissions from qualifying purchases. There are many good red wine brands making ripping Pinots in Australia, and they can be made in so many marvellous ways. Australian red wine is revered the world over for its quality (and, usually, fair price point). Austria’s greatest-value wines are its sweet ones. Follow this simple recipe to conjure up a touch of winter magic in your own kitchen. The worlds’ oldest productive Cabernet Sauvignon vines are thought to be located in the northern Barossa at Penfolds and were planted in 1886. Blaufränkisch, an Austrian Red Just Waiting to Be Discovered The panel tastes 20 bottles of Austrian blaufränkisch from the vintages 2010 through 2013. One of them, Zweigelt, is capable of making exuberantly fruity wines that, in their usual unoaked form, can provide charming, easy drinking for less than £10 a bottle. Peterson’s 2015 ($50) – Dark as the night; spicy and rich. Austrian wines are mostly dry white wines (often made from the Grüner Veltliner grape), though some sweeter white wines (such as dessert wines made around the Neusiedler See) are also produced. Barossa and McLaren Vale – the big guns of South Australia, from the heart of Aussie wine country. Expect intense and earthy flavours with spice and dark fruits. Here are some regions that won’t let you down. This is a longer version of an article also published in the Financial Times. Think bright, fun fruits, smashable breakfast vino or perhaps a little nod to our old-school authorities with some great backyard Bordeaux blends that could easily rival some of France’s best tasting red wines. About the Author: Meet Kate Peck. Delicious! I can report that these wines must be particularly absorbing because my tasting speed seemed to be only about half what it usually is and I ended up for the first time ever being shooed out of the tasting room by the men from Sensible Wine Services ostentatiously gathering up bottles, glasses, spittoons and ice buckets around me. It’s one of the most complex and fascinating wines of this grape we encountered. Savaterre Shiraz Beechworth 2013 ($72.99) – If you ever get a chance, visit this place. So without further ado, here are some of our favourite varieties that will knock your socks off and keep you toasty on these cooler nights. A Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon dominant with Merlot, Malbec, and a little Petit Verdot. Lucas and Johanna Pichler of FX Pichler in the Wachau who’s dry riesling Unendlich 2017 topped out Top 100 Austria in 2018. Ruggabellus Efferus Barossa ($45)  – Ruggabellus can SRSLY do no wrong. The Pinot Noir grape needs a cool climate, like Burgundy, so you’re making a safe bet with producers from Victoria (specifically Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula) and Tasmania. Old Austrian varieties are grown with abandon and gaining worldwide popularity. 12 Best Australian Gins You Need to Try Now Chock full of energy, it was aged for 18 months in barrels made from oak grown in a forest owned by the same family, making it truly a local product. The Best Pinot Noir In Australia, According To People Who Drink It For A Living. Luscious red fruits, pretty floral notes, and a subtle undertone of game and minerals. Dexter Pinot Noir Yarra Valley 2016 ($55) – Perfumed, dark berries, silky tannins with a sprinkle of sassy spice. It’s a steamroller of intense fruit, finesse and bright acid with stunning oak handling and husky tannins. But to throw tradition into the wind I’ve thrown in a couple of other best Australian cabernet producing curveballs below. It’s decadent and luxurious with big velvety tannins. You will get sweet black fruits on the nose with herbs like eucalyptus and mint, chocolate and game on the palate. What will make a big difference in your fine drop is where it’s grown, and the climate. Clonakilla O’Riada Shiraz Canberra 2016 ($36) – Rich, intense dark berries, it’s potent, spicy and smooth; an unreal bottle of plonk. Sure, the Europeans do a fantastic job and have a few thousand years’ experience on us, but in terms of quality and bang for your buck, Australian red wine is where it’s at. Rich fruit, thick tannins, and a slightly gritty Straya’n finish. There are many good red wine brands making ripping Pinots in Australia, and they can be made in so many marvellous ways. There was a time where Austrian wines were shadowed with doubt. Known as the ‘King of Red Wine’, which will make sense after you crack that bottle! Check out these suggestions for cooler climate, Austrian wines. Austrian white wines have been the darlings of the world's more sophisticated sommeliers for some years now, but are wine drinkers ready for Austrian reds? Its owner and winemaker, Keppell Smith, is a top-notch human, and you really get a sense of him and the sunburnt, bushranger landscape in this wine. About 30% of the wines are red, made from Blaufränkisch (also known as Lemberger, or as Kékfrankos in … Snooth. (Just over the border into Hungary, in Sopron, Raspi makes another sumptuous Zweigelt.). 21 Austrian wine. What is Zweigelt wine? Riesling also does brilliantly in Austria, though unlike so many of its German counterparts, like the famously sweet trockenbeerenauslese dessert wines of that country, Austrian Riesling is a generally dry expression of the grape. I loved this and all four Austrian Blaufränkisch bottlings presented by Schiefer at the Institute of Directors. 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