Austrian Wine Tasting: Birgit Eichinger

Birgit Eichinger and her daughter Gloria visited London this week for the annual Austrian Wine Tasting. Great wines are close to Birgit Eichinger's mind and heart, and she is deeply rooted in her homeland. Austrian wines are highly acclaimed by experts and wine lovers alike and Austria has become increasingly recognised as leaders in artisanal, hand-crafted wines with distinctive character and expression of terroir. 

Austria has a very unique geographic profile, with beautiful landscapes and a wide variety of complex and challenging soils that are a key factor influencing the individuality, regional typicity and amazing tension between ripeness and freshness. Sitting in a transitional zone between the mild and damp Atlantic climate and the continental Pannonian climate, warm, sunny summer and autumn days with northerly cool nights are the key to the development of fresh, aromatic wines with good body and fine character. 

According to the Austrian Wine Board "There is simply no other place on earth where fresh wines are so compact and dense, where opulent wines taste so nimble." 

A world leader in organic farming, Austrians' love nature and treat it with great respect, so it is no surprise that many Austrian winemakers' favour indigenous grapes and small, artisanal production methods. Austria boasts a precious portfolio of local grape varieties such as Grüner Veltliner, Welschriesling, Nueburger, Rotgipfler, Zierfandler and Roter Veltliner. 

Birgit Eichinger producers a combination of international grapes and indigenous grapes; Reisling, Chardonnay, Roter Veltliner and Grüner Veltliner. The winery consists of six distinct single vinayards, each with very unique soil and terrain. Birgit works tirelessly to cultivate and honour the characteristics of each individual vineyard, remaining true to the terroir and allowing the natural individuality to shine through. She descibes the Grüner Veltliner as the "Diva of the grapes" both challenging and temperamental, but perfectly balanced and beautiful when treated with care. 

2014 Grüner Veltliner Lamm Reserve Erste Lage, Weingut Eichinger, Kamptal, Austria

Tasting Notes:
The geological elements of the soil in this site, makes Lamm unique and guarantees expressive, elegant Grüner Veltliner. The almost velvety nose of subtle sweet spice and profound yellow fruit aromas combines with a smokiness reminiscent of bees wax. The palate offers texture, transparent and balanced honey melon flavours and just a touch of residual sugar. The finish is long, with notes of tobacco and hints at a very good potential for ageing.
Armit Wines.

Full, almost velvety nose with subtle sweet spice and profound yellow fruit aromas, smoky, reminiscent of bees wax; deliciously juicy, supple texture, transparent and balanced, honey melon flavors, a touch of residual sugar, very long finish with notes of tobacco, very good ageing potential.  Birgit Eichinger, Winemaker.  
Food Pairing: "If you take oysters, take Grüner Veltliner." Birgit Eichinger.