Anton Bauer 2017 Zweigelt

The Wine

Zweigelt is a genetic cross between two of Austria's top red grapes - Blaufränkisch and Sankt Laurent. The result is this light-bodied, low-alcohol red wine featuring notes of tart cherries and pleasant spices - a hit in today's marketplace seeking leaner styles of red wine. Visually, the wine is dark ruby-garnet with violet edges. On the nose, inviting aromas of cherries, pepper and subtle herbs and spices. On the palate the wine shows a medium body with red cherries with a mineral note and a finish featuring a delicate touch of chocolate.

The grape juice tuned into wine during a temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks before flowing into large oak barrels and used barriques for 16 months prior to bottling. This time in neutral oak allowed the wine to integrate and soften but not take on the aromas and flavors of a lumber yard.

Alc 13.0% ABV.  Drink now through 2025

The Winery

When Anton Bauer wa born in 1971, he became the fourth generation to manage the family's vineyards, now almost 70 acres in size. After completing his degree at Krems and an internship in Burgundy, he spent more than four years as an oenologist at a renowned Austrian winery before coming back home to transition into his family business - a classic European approach to 'succession' that may not make for exciting TV, but helps new generations learn essential skills without fighting with family members.

By 1992, Anton started working with the family vineyards, which were just under 8 acres at the time. As he took on more control he began implementing a strategy of quality over quantity. Long before today's "Natural" movement brought this technique to the fore, Anton focused on a winemaking style that allowed the region's typicity or 'terroir' to define the character of each wine - cutting back on ripeness and oak to create unique expressions with every wine.

Anton Bauer and his various vineyards are in the Wagram region, long known for its exceptional white wines (Grüner Veltliner in particular). So when he started promoting red wines from the region a couple decades ago, you can imagine the push-back he received from neighboring growers. But he persevered, and today his reds are equally respected in the global market.