Zweigelt grape variety

Zweigelt is a highly successful new red variety from Austria, whose parents are Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent. It produces violet/red wines with a deep colour and intense aromas such as cherry, red and blackcurrant or blackberry, as well as spicy notes such as vanilla or cinnamon. Zweigelt generally shows soft, silky tannins when young and is therefore often ready to drink early. However, it also benefits particularly from ageing in barriques, developing depth and complexity. In its native Austria, it can be found both as a single-varietal wine and as part of a cuvée. Due to its powerful stature, it is suitable as an accompaniment to spicy dishes such as game or intensely flavoured stews such as ox cheeks.