“RED BEACH WINE?”
HOSTING BLAUFRANKISCH
Here I have another wine driven by the explosive “Natural Wine” movement. There’s no clear definition at this point and won’t be for a long time! For me, the label sends out vibes of the Beach Boys anthology song “Good Vibrations” and this one Bonfire beach party wine; Fun, funky, and soulful. If you Like Cru Beaujolaise, you are in for a real delight with this wine made from Blaufränkisch. High-spirited siblings, Alexander and Maria Koppitsch began making wine in Burgenland after they inherited their parents’ winery. They realized instead of selling their grapes, making their own wine would prove to be a more successful turnout.
THE LIFE OF THE PARTY
Their vineyards in the Neusiedlersee wine-growing region of Austria overlook the lake along with the eastern end of the Leitha Mountains on limestone soils. The three conditions combined sum up this delicious wine with edge and poise. I say this is accepted on its outer limits because not only it is a very political region but a designated DAC meaning a quality wine-growing region. However, most importantly, you have black grapes approved in a region that’s 90% known for white wines!
Like their father and grandfather before them, the Koppitsch do not believe in introducing any additives into the grapes or the wine. They use a “hands-off” approach meaning minimal intervention. I suppose this is why they are within the “Natural Wine” category; so why not the “Vegan Wine” category? I don’t know about you but the whole idea is confusing.
MANY FACES ONE PERSONALITY
This festive hardy grape has many alias names being a very important variable to grow to make wine in the cold countries of Eastern Europe.
Names from traditional growing regions include Franconia or Frankonia (northern Italy), Frankovka (Croatia, Czech Republic, Serbia), Gamé (Bulgaria), Burgund Mare (Romania), Frankovka Modrá (Slovakia), and Modra Frankinja (Slovenia).
Really, who can keep track! Because since it originates within what was the Austro-Hungarian empire, the name was used to designate a family of wine grapes considered superior, was declared so by Charlemagne, King of the Franks. Its spiritual birthplace is Germany where it goes by Lemberger not to be confused with Limberger the cheese. Blaufränkisch means Blue Frankish, for its super dark skin, so black it almost looks like midnight blue. I like to refer to the grape as the “Blue of the Danube ” since this grape is grown within all the countries that stretch along the Danube river. You can taste the dark inky blackberry fruit on the attack, loud acid, and spicy character for a kick on the long finish. Even though this grape is bold in flavor and full-bodied, It’s balanced by sharp acid that acts as the skeleton of the wine, and the flavors and aromas just wrap around it like a blanket.
Political region, whatever category it’s pigeonholed in, or how many faces it has, I don’t care. It’s a damn good wine, and I savored every last drop. Would it be shameful of me to say, I did finish it in one day? NAWH!!!!
WHO HAS HAD A Blaufränkisch????
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