2017 Pfneiszl Blaufränker (1L)

Price: $18
Region: Sopron < Hungary
Grapes: Blaufränkisch
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Certified organic farming; dry farmed, slate and sandstone soil; fermented and aged in stainless steel; 12% ABV
Winemaker: Birgit Pfneiszl

NEW VINTAGE ALERT:  We featured the 2016 last fall, now the 2017 1L jug is in the house!  And who doesn’t love a 1-liter bottle? Especially when it is this fun and delicious! A little like Gamay, a little like Cab Franc, Blaufränkisch is a noble grape native to Austria and Hungary. From a young sister duo, Birgit and Katrin Pfneiszl, who branched out from their family’s successful winery in Austria to start their own project when they were given the opportunity to take over the family’s original vineyards just over the border in Hungary. Birgit and Katrin’s father fled Hungary to escape Communism and decided to stay in Austria even after the opportunity arose to move back to his homeland. Enter Birgit. With university and several vintages under her belt in places like Italy, Australia and New Zealand, she was drawn back to Hungary and produced her first vintage in 2004. She has been farming organically ever since, and the vineyards are now certified. We believe this sort of wine is the ‘new’ Hungary, and Birgit and Katrin are poster chicks for this movement. Blaufränkisch has been around for thousands of years, but through their eyes we see it in a new light – fresh, fun, with just the right about of cherry spice mixed in. And this one goes down real easy, so the supersized jug is much appreciated.