Zweigelt

Vintage & format: 2022 in 750ml · 2021 in 375ml Demi

Zweigelt is one of Austria's native red varieties, and this bottling gives its fruit a generous place in the glass. It is made entirely from Zweigelt grown on old vines at Neckenmarkter Hochberg in Mittelburgenland, with 15 months in oak barrels before dealcoholisation.

Blackberry and cherry lead, followed by vanilla, nougat and fine wood spice. Rosemary and black tea give the fruit a savoury edge, with fine, tea-like tannins shaping a full, juicy palate. The wine is dry, with the freshness that makes another sip welcome alongside food. There is fruit to enjoy straight away and enough texture to spend time with it.

Vacuum distillation removes the alcohol, then aroma recovery returns aromas from the extracted portion to the wine. The care is in keeping the character of the variety and the oak maturation in the finished glass.

Give it half an hour to an hour in a decanter and serve at 14 to 16°C in a Burgundy glass, although it also drinks beautifully chilled! Try it with Australian beef burgers, tomato and onion, or soy and ginger chicken skewers from the barbecue or, pour with roast capsicum, tomato and mozzarella focaccia. Cherry fruit, savoury spice and freshness make this a red to explore with a table where everyone is eating something different.

Wine details: Mittelburgenland, Austria · 100% Zweigelt · Dealcoholised red wine · Under 0.5% ABV · Vegan · Low calorie · Low sugar · Acidity 4.8 g/l · Per 100 ml: sugars 2.1 g; 50 kJ / 11.9 kcal

Recognition: Zweigelt 2022 received 89 Falstaff points in April 2025. John Szabo MS scored the 2021 demi 90 on WineAlign; the public record does not show the review date.