Austria

About a dozen or so years ago, we introduced a selection of top-quality Austrian wines which, although well received by the press and critics, took us almost a decade to sell! We were very definitely ahead of the times with our original Austrian selection as, today, the white and red wines of Austria are fast gaining a large and loyal following in the UK.

There can be no doubt that Grüner Veltliner, although the most widely planted varietal, is capable of producing some world-class whites. Early-drinking versions of this variety are zesty-fresh, crisp and often just a touch spicy whilst the richer, keeping styles develop an almost minerally, classic white Burgundy character. The heartland for Grüner Veltliner are the regions of Kremstal, Kamptal and Wachau, all situated in what is known as Lower Austria. The other variety that can achieve greatness in Austria is Riesling which seems to be particularly at home around the shores of Lake Neusiedlersee in Burgenland. The finest Austrian Riesling is something of a cross between a slatey, minerally Rhine-style combined with the weight of a Clare Valley dry Australian style.

Grüner Veltliner, Kamptaler Terrassen, 2005 - Weingut Bründlmayer, Langenlois, Kamptal

Grüner Veltliner is regarded as having its home in Langenlois and Bründlmayer’s style leans towards the light, pure and crisp style but with surprising complexity. The Grüner Veltliner Kamptaller Terrassen is designed to be drunk young and has a punchy, full-flavoured fresh and minerally fruitiness. With a little over sixty hectares under vine, Weingut Bründlmayer is one of the most important wineries in Austria and is regarded as one of the finest in terms of quality as well. Their best vineyard sites are in the region where the Kamp Valley opens up like a shell towards the Danube valley to the south. Since 1980, Willi Bründlmayer has managed the estate along with the help of his family. The Bründlmayer vineyards are all managed in an unquestionably eco-friendly manner, using organic fertilisers, the total absence of herbicides and Lyre-training for over a third of the vines whereby all growth is kept close to the soil so that the grapes can benefit from its warming influence. CHICKEN/QUICHE/PATE

Riesling, 2001 - Jost Höpler, Winden, Burgenland

Light yellow, elegant nose, charming bouquet with hints of peach and lemon. Soft crisp Riesling fruit on the palate and refined harmony of fruit and acid. Riesling derives its destinctive character from the vineyard soils. Planted in slate-prime rock type soils. The slopes are south east facing which look onto Lake Neusiedlersee. The vines benefit from the mirror effect created by the lake which allows the grapes to ripen earlier and more evenly. The Hopler winery is located in Winden on the western banks of lake Neusiedl, in the Austrian province of Burgenland. They have 14 hectares of cultivated vineyards face south east between the 'Leithagebirge' hills and lake Neusiedl. This creates a microclimate in which grapes of the highest quality flourish. In addition the contrasting soils of chalk, gravel and sand are rich in calcium as well as in slate and contribute to the unique complexity and character of the wines. Wines mature in either stainless steel tanks or large oak vats. Some red wines and a small quantity of white wines mature in French oak barrels. FISH/SHELLFISH/QUICHE