2019 Meinklang Osterreich Weisser ‘Mulatschak’

Region: Neusiedlersee < Burgenland < Austria
Grapes: Welschriesling, Pinot Gris, Traminer

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Certified biodynamic farming (Demeter); sandy loam soils with rocky topsoil; 5-7 day maceration on skins, spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts, then 4 months in stainless steel sur lie; bottled unfined/unfiltered with 25ppm added SO2; 11.5% ABV
Winemaker: Werner, Hannes and Lukas Michlit

WHY IS THIS A UNICORN?  Everything about it screams Unicorn! Fuzzy, peachy opaque in color! Certified biodynamic skin-macerated aromatic orange wine from Austria!

 The Michlit family were farmers on this land before World War I, when this part of Austria still belonged to Hungary. They have always worked a fully integrated farm with animals (cows, chickens, pigs, sheep and horses), orchards and grains in addition to grapes. They practice crop rotation, and nothing goes to waste. After the war, the farm was broken in two and their village ended up across the border in Austria meaning they had to give up their parcel in Hungary. Parents Anneliese and Werner proudly reclaimed this after the fall of communism, which worked out very well when it became clear that not just one, but all of their three sons would stick around to carry on the family business! Mulatschak (which means Fifteen Down, a card game in Austria) is a skin-contact white, on the light side (5-7 days), using very aromatic varietals, which seem to work really well for an orange wine – the time on the skins tames the aromatics, highlighting the savory, salty qualities, and tends not to pick up too much tannin.  Hazy and fuzzy like an apricot, this wine hits you with a delicious salty wave of cantaloupe, apricot and goldenberries.  And just 11.5% alcohol!