The 13th Annual Conference of the American Association of Wine Economists (AAWE) which took place in Vienna, Austria, July 14 – 18, 2019, included 2 wine tours: Tour Burgenland and Tour Lower Austria (Wachau, Kamptal, Kremstal, Wagram).
During the Tour Burgenland my group (there were 3 groups) visited Weingut Sommer in Donnerskirchen in the morning and Weingut Esterházy, Trausdorf and der Wulka, in the afternoon. This posting covers the visit of the former. Leo Sommer, owner and winemaker, was our host at Weingut Sommer.
I am preparing 5 postings:
Vienna, Economics and Wine: The 13th Annual Conference of the American Association of Wine Economists (AAWE) in Vienna, Austria, July 14 – 18, 2019Vienna, Economics and Wine: The 13th Annual Conference of the American Association of Wine Economists (AAWE) in Vienna, Austria, July 14 – 18, 2019
Vineyard and Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Sommer, Donnerskrichen, Burgenland, Austria, with Leo Sommer - The 13th Annual Conference of the American Association of Wine Economists (AAWE) in Vienna, Austria, July 14 – 18, 2019
Vineyard and Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Esterházy, Trausdorf and der Wulka, Burgenland, Austria, with Mag. Gerald Rouschal - The 13th Annual Conference of the American Association of Wine Economists (AAWE) in Vienna, Austria, July 14 – 18, 2019
Tasting in the Vineyard at Weingut Jamek, Joching, Wachau, Austria, with Herwig Jamek - The 13th Annual Conference of the American Association of Wine Economists (AAWE) in Vienna, Austria, July 14 – 18, 2019
Vineyard and Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Geyerhof, Furth bei Göttweig, Kremstal, Austria, with Josef Maier - The 13th Annual Conference of the American Association of Wine Economists (AAWE) in Vienna, Austria, July 14 – 18, 2019
Weingut Sommer Wines in Upstate New York
Sommer wines are not yet available in the USA. But, while we visited Weingut Sommer, the FLXcursion took place in the Finger Lakes Region in Upstate New York and Kelby Russell presented Sommer wines there with a view of finding an US importer.
Kelby Russell on facebook: One of the real joys of #FLXcursion was the chance to showcase wines that are under-the-radar and introduce them to a wide audience. No more so than this astonishing #burgenland Riesling from @leo.sommer, who I have the distinct honor of calling a good friend since we crossed paths working the 2010 NZ harvest. What a stunner.
“Our next wine comes from the best Riesling winemaker in Austria who isn’t known... yet.” - @stuart.pigott
Burgenland
wine-searcher: Burgenland is a large wine-producing region on the eastern border of Austria. Despite the country's image as the producer of some of the world's finest white wines, Austria is also home to a thriving red wine culture: Burgenland, with its sunny, continental summers, is the country's key red wine region, with its wines based mainly on the Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt grape varieties. Sweet, botrytized wines are also a specialty of the region, particularly in the terroir surrounding the Neusiedlersee lake.
The region occupies a narrow strip of land that runs from the Danube River down to Steiermark in the south. On its eastern side is the border with Hungary, and to the west lies the most eastern foothills of the Alps. Steiermark aside, Burgenland is one of Austria's southernmost wine regions, and topographically is more aligned with Hungary than with much of the rest of Austria.
Burgenland is divided into 6 sub-regions: Neusiedlersee, Leitharberg, Rust, Rosalia, Mittelburgenland and Eisenberg. Weingut Sommer (as well as Weingut Esterházy) are located in the Leitharberg sub-region.
Vineyard and Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Sommer, Donnerskrichen, Burgenland, Austria, with Leo Sommer
Weingut Sommer is a family-run winery in Donnerskirchen, on the southeast slopes of the Leithagebirge. The Sommer family has been making wine there since 1689. Currently the vineyard area totals 30 hectares, with Leo Sommer junior, our host, at the helm of the winery.
Cellar Tour
We started with a cellar tour. Then spent some time in the vineyard and came back for a sit down tasting in the courtyard of Weingut Sommer.
In the Vineyard
We then spent some time in the vineyard.
Tasting
We moved back to the courtyard for a seated wine tasting with Leo Sommer.
The Wines Leo Poured
Leo poured 5 wines, including the 2017 Weingut Sommer Handwerk Riesling, which was presented at the FLXCursion in Upstate New York.
2017 Weingut Sommer Grüner Veltliner Klassik
2017 Weingut Sommer Himmelreich Leithaberg DAC
2017 Weingut Sommer Handwerk Riesling
Handwerk versteht sich als beständiger Dialog zwischen Hand und Kopf. Spontan vergoren, im großen Holzfass ausgebaut und unfiltriert gefüllt. Riesling Handwerk – substanziell und individuell.
wineanorak.com (Jamie Goode): Stony and mineral with lovely texture, showing citrus fruit and a bit of yellow plum. Lovely mouthfeel. Very fine with a hint of mint, and some mandarin brightness. Lovely stuff. 94/100
2016 Weingut Sommer Blaufränkisch Leithaberg DAC
Nach allen Reisen weiß man die Erde wieder rund. Doch man erkennt ihn mehr. Den Wert der eigenen Heimat. Man spürt sie mehr. Die eigenen Wurzeln der Herkunft. Man freut sich mehr. Über diesen Blaufränkisch vom Leithaberg. Und das Wichtigste: man genießt wieder mehr. Diesen Stil. Mit Weltklasse.
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Vienna, Economics and Wine: The 13th Annual Conference of the American Association of Wine Economists (AAWE) in Vienna, Austria, July 14 – 18, 2019