2019 Zahel 'A Wild Glass' Rosé

Region: Vienna < Austria

Grapes: Blaufränkisch, Pinot Noir

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Demeter certified biodynamic + certified organic farming, sandy loam and Flysch sandstone soils with chalk-rich Dolomite limestone in the subsoil; extended skin contact, fermented in stainless steel, aged in neutral oak and stainless then bottled unfined/unfiltered with minimal So2; 12.5% ABV

Winemaker: Alex Zahel

Fun fact: Vienna is the only city in the world that has real wine production within its city limits! The 4th generation Zahal family estate cultivates 25 acres of organic vineyards throughout Vienna proper, a little bit in each of the city's 5 wine-growing zones. Its current leader, Richard Zahel, joined the family business in 1989 after a brief stint as a race car driver.

This pretty rosé is part of Alex's passion project, the "A Wild Glass" series, which is a group individual natural wines from favorite vineyard sites.  While all Zahel wines are are biodynamic with minimal added So2, the wines in this series have long skin contact, no fining or filtering, and zero to teeny amounts of added So2.  The Blaufränkisch &  Pinot Noir here comes from the Satzen Vineyard in the Mauer, in Vienna's southwestern-most winegrowing region where the unique terroir is influenced by the warm thermal region to the south, and the cool Viennese Forest to the west.  With juicy red fruit, like a bowl of cherries, a chewy texture and a salty minerality from those rocky soils, this one toes the line between rosé and baby red, making it super versatile and perfect with all sorts of food pairings.  A very unique and delicious wine for Spring.