GRAPES: SAUVIGNON BLANC/MUSKATELLER
SKIN CONTACT: 1 YEAR
REGION: STEIERMARK, AUSTRIA
Producer information: Franz Strohmeier is a very philosophical winemaker – always making the decisions that expresses his terroir in the most natural way. He is constantly tinkering with his 8-hectares of vines to find better and more natural methods. An example most recently was his use of whey (the liquid part of milk produced in cheese production) to spray his grapes, instead of copper sulfate. He has some portion of his grapes growing wild, without pruning, that produce very small intensely flavored grapes.
Vinification method: "Trauben, Liebe and Zeit." Grapes, love, and time. To winemaker Franz Strohmeier, that's the only possible way to produce wine.
The grapes are hand-harvested and carefully selected in the vineyard, keeping only very healthy and ripe grapes and picking out any damaged berries – this stage is crucial for having a top-quality material for the prolonged skin contact that follows. The grapes are fermented as whole bunches, stems included, in 500 and 600 liter barrels for 12 months. The mash is then pressed and the wine matures further 24 months in neutral barrels before bottling. Unfiltered, unfined, zero sulfur added.
Tasting notes: medium-bodied, hypnotic, exciting, mesmerizing, crunchy tannins, apricot, saline
Pairing: spiced duck breast
Mix and match 3, 6 or 12 bottles!
