Tryanuary - Why not try Austrian Wine?
Arnold Holzer is the young winemaker at one of Austria's most exciting wine estates, Eschenhof Holzer. His modern approach to running the winery see's him give each wine its own distinctive identity, an identity that is tied to the very soil the grapes grow in and is the key to his success.
Based in Wagram, Arnold's vines grow deep into the loess soils, laid down as marine deposits 100,000 years ago. These soils are what give the wines their character and clean crisp elegance, they have also helped put Wagram on the map as a quality wine producing region.
Austria's most famous varietal, Grüner Veltliner, grows very well in Wagram. Arnold Holzer's Grüner is particularly good - with a fragrant nose of apple, and grapefruit, crisp acidity and a beautiful long finish. This is the perfect Tryanuary wine, something different that you will immediately fall in love with!
Arnold recently released his 'Invader' Orange wine, a happy accident (most probably), extended skin contact for a few weeks led to the Muller-Thurgau taking on an intensely aromatic quality, while still being expressive of its loess soils and regional identity. This is beautiful but different wine, a style that may well be completely new to you! Dry and crisp, there is huge depth of flavour and a finish that is long and complex. Great with food or on its own, it offers a real alternative for those of you who want to push your wine drinking experience.
If black cherry, cassis and dark chocolate describes your perfect red wine then you certainly need to try Arnold's Zweigelt. The vines grow on the southern slope of the 'Eisenhut' hill. This is an especially warm area which aids in the ripening of the grapes. This Zweigelt is especially good with food, we love it with our smoked venison and cherry jam!
The indigenous white grape variety of Wagram is Roter Veltliner, a pink skinned grape that producers a richer style of wine, honey notes and mouth-watering acidity define its character, Holzer's stunning Roter Veltliner is no exception to this. It is a wine that offers complexity with a long finish, a wine that is elegant and expressive, a wine that for me, sums up everything Arnold Holzer is doing with his winery.
Try something different this January!