The Fallstaff RotweinGuide 2013, a wine guide for Austrian red wine, was released in December 2012 in Vienna, Austria. In the Fallstaff RotweinGuide 2013, more than 1000 wines of almost 400 winemakers are described on 306 pages. This key reference for Austrian wine was released for the 16th time by Peter Moser. The focus of the Falstaff RotweinGuide 2013 is on the 2010 vintage. The Falstaff RotweinGuide 2013 awarded prizes in 11 categories.
For previous years see:
Austria’s Best Red Wines - Falstaff RotweinGuide 2010/2011
Wine ratings: Austria - Falstaff Top Red Wines 2009/2010
Austria’s Red Wine Boom
At first thought one might think of Austria’s climate as being quite cool for red wine. In the Alps and the western and northern reaches of the country this tends to be true. The eastern plains that border Hungary and Slovenia, however, are a different story. Yes, Austria has an international reputation for its white wines, but the reds have been improving. Like in Germany, in Austria there has been a revolution going on in terms of red wines in recent years. In both countries, red wine now accounts for about 1/3 of the wine production.
There are 3 key Austrian red grape varieties, although others are also grown, including international grapes. Zweigelt accounts for 9.0 % of Austria’s total production, Blaufraenkisch for 5.5 % and Blauer Portugieser 5.0 %. All other red grape varieties - including the international grapes Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah as well as St. Lauren - are below 2 percent each of Austria’s wine production.
Zwiegelt: The most abundant red grape; makes good wines ranging from simple cherry fruit reds to more substantial reds destined for aging.
Blaufränkisch: Common in Burgenland, this makes spicy, sturdy, berry fruited reds which can have some tannic structure. Probably Austria’s best red grape.
Blauer Portugieser: This red grape makes soft, approachable, juicy wines mainly for early consumption. The most widely planted red grape but not for top quality wines.
St. Laurent: Came from France in the mid-19th century, and seems to have substantial Pinot Noir parentage. It makes soft, slight herby, expressive reds; it’s a bit like Pinot Noir.
See more:
Wine Producer Austria - Not Only Gruener Veltliner
The Fallstaff 2013 Awards
Falstaff-Sieger 2012
These are the 3 overall winners, with the highest scores (Punkte).
1. Pannobile 2010 – Weingut Anita und Hans Nittnaus, Gols (94 Falstaff-Punkte)
2. Rosenberg 2010 – Weingut Gerhard Markowitsch, Göttlesbrunn (94 Falstaff-Punkte)
3. Blaufränkisch Spiegel 2010 – Weingut Paul Achs, Gols (94 Falstaff-Punkte)
Weingut Anita und Hans (John) Nittnaus
The Neusiedlersee region has seen quite a bit of national and international recognition in recent years and the good work and wines of Anita und Hans (John) Nittnaus are one of the reasons, why this has happened.
Nittnaus is a very common name in the Burgenland. I believe there are at least 3 Hans Nittnaus in the Neusiedlersee, producing wine, which creates a problem for the consumer. So, one way of distinguishing themselves from the others is via their spouses (Anita) and the other one is via nicknames (John).
Weingut Anita and Hans (John) Nittnaus is located in Gols on the east side of Lake Neusiedl. The history of Weingut Anita and Hans Nittnaus goes back to the 17th century. Since then, the family has always been in agriculture and viticulture. The winery as you see it today was constructed in 1927 by Hans’ grandfather. Two generations later, in 1985, Anita and Hans Nittnaus took over the family business. They had met in Vienna, where they both were studying. Together they decided to continue with the family business. Anita and Hans (John) have four children.
Today, the vineyard area totals 35 hectares, with about 90 percent planted with red wine. The plots are widely scattered. The main varieties are Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt, but there is also Pinot Noir, St. Laurent, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
The winemaking philosophy of the Nittnaus' is very simple: terroir-driven and naturally produced (in the sense of as little intervention as possible) wines of the highest quality. Since 2007, Anita and Hans (John) Nittnaus have fully switched to biodynamic viticulture.
Hans (John) Nittnaus clearly is a wine pioneer. With his cuvees he has set new standards in the Burgenland wine culture. If you would want to write a book about the red wine revolution in Austria, you could take Weingut Anita and Hans (John) Nittnaus as a case study.
See also:
Meeting “John” Nittnaus from Gols, Burgenland, Austria
Vienna Insurance Group – Falstaff Reserve-Trophy 2012
This award is for wines that have spent more time aging before being released.
1. Blaufränkisch Reserve Oberer Wald 2009 – Weingut Günter und Regina Triebaumer, Rust (96 Falstaff-Punkte)
2. Blaufränkisch Tannenberg 2009 – Weingut Anita und Hans Nittnaus, Gols (96 Falstaff-Punkte)
3. massive a. rot 2009 SY/ZW/ME – Weingut Artner, Höflein (96 Falstaff-Punkte)
Zweigelt-Grand-Prix 2012
1. Zweigelt Alte Reben 2011 – Weingut Paul Achs, Gols (92 Falstaff-Punkte)
2. Zweigelt Rubin Carnuntum 2011 – Weingut Trapl, Stixneusiedl (92 Falstaff-Punkte)
3. All Red 2011 – Weingut Vinum Pannonia Allacher, Gols (92 Falstaff-Punkte)
Blaufränkisch
1. Blaufränkisch Spiegel 2010 – Weingut Paul Achs, Gols (94 Falstaff-Punkte)
2. Blaufränkisch Perwolff 2010 – Weingut Krutzler, Deutsch Schützen (94 Falstaff-Punkte)
3. Blaufränkisch Bärnreiser 2010 – Weingut Hans und Philipp Grassl, Göttlesbrunn (94 Falstaff-Punkte)
Cabernet Sauvignon
1. Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 – Weingut Erich Scheiblhofer, Andau (91 Falstaff-Punkte)
2. Cabernet Sauvignon Tribun 2010 – Weingut Taferner, Göttlesbrunn (91 Falstaff-Punkte)
3. Cabernet Sauvignon Aubühel 2010 – Weingut Franz und Christine Netzl, Göttlesbrunn (91 Falstaff-Punkte)
Cuvée
1. Pannobile 2010 – Weingut Anita und Hans Nittnaus, Gols (94 Falstaff-Punkte)
2. Rosenberg 2010 – Weingut Gerhard Markowitsch, Göttlesbrunn (94 Falstaff-Punkte)
3. Xur 2010 – Weingut Werner Achs, Gols (94 Falstaff-Punkte)
Merlot
1. Merlot Bärnreiser 2010 – Weingut Franz und Christine Netzl, Göttlesbrunn (92 Falstaff-Punkte)
2. Merlot Rotundo 2010 – Weinbau Gottschuly-Grassl, Höflein (92 Falstaff-Punkte)
3. Merlot Reserve 2010 – Weingut Anton Bauer, Feuersbrunn (92 Falstaff-Punkte)
Weingut Franz und Christine Netzl
The Netzl Estate is located in the small town of Göttlesbrunn in the Carnuntum. The family has been involved in wine production since 1820. Weimgut Christine and Franz Netzl is regarded as one of those responsible for the red wine boom in Austria.
The vineyard area totals 26 hectares, with holdings in the Aubühel, Bärnreiser, Haidacker, Holzweg, Kräften and Neuberg sites. 80% of the area is planted with the red varieties Zweigelt, St. Laurent, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, while the remaining 20% is planted with the white varieties Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay and Welschriesling. A bottle-fermented sparkling wine is also produced. Annual production is around 80.000 bottles of wine, which includes the wine made from grapes on the market, equivalent to about 5 hectares.
See more:
Visiting Christine, Christina and Franz Netzl in their Weingut Netzl in Carnuntum, Austria
Welcome to America: Franz and Christine Netzl Estate, Carnuntum, Austria
Pinot Noir
1. Pinot Noir Holzspur 2010 – Weingut Johanneshof Reinisch, Tattendorf (93 Falstaff-Punkte)
2. Pinot Noir Reserve 2010 – Weingut Gerhard Markowitsch, Göttlesbrunn (93 Falstaff-Punkte)
3. Pinot Noir Best of 2010 – Winzerhof Landauer-Gisperg, Tattendorf (93 Falstaff-Punkte)
St. Laurent
1. St. Laurent Reserve 2010 – Weingut Hans und Philipp Grassl, Göttlesbrunn (92 Falstaff-Punkte)
2. St. Laurent Reserve 2010 – Weingut Juris, Gols (92 Falstaff-Punkte)
3. St. Laurent Zagersdorf 2010 – Weingut Rosi Schuster, St. Margarethen (92 Falstaff-Punkte)
Syrah
1. Syrah 2010 – Weingut Toni Hartl, Reisenberg (92 Falstaff-Punkte)
2. Syrah 2010 – Weingut Erich Scheiblhofer, Andau (92 Punkte Falstaff-Punkte)
3. Syrah Schüttenberg 2010 – Weingut Franz und Christine Netzl, Göttlesbrunn (92 Punkte Falstaff-Punkte)
Zweigelt
1. Schwarz Rot 2010 – Schwarz Wein, Andau (92 Falstaff-Punkte)
2. Zweigelt Salzberg 2010 – Weingut Vinum Pannonia Allacher, Gols (92 Falstaff-Punkte)
3. Zweigelt Haidacker 2010 – Weingut Franz und Christine Netzl, Göttlesbrunn (92 Falstaff-Punkte)
schiller-wine: Related Postings
Dinner with Wine Maker Gerhard Wohlmuth sen., his Wines and the Food of Steierland’s Chef Ruth Stelzer, Austria
Schiller’s Favorite Wine Bars and Other Wine Spots in Vienna, Austria
Producing Wines in Austria and Hungary - Franz and Franz Reinhard Weninger
With the WienWein Winemakers in Vienna in the Heurigen Drinking Gemischter Satz Wine
Visiting Leo Hillinger, Michael Hoeffken and Edgar Brutler at the Leo Hillinger Winery in Jois, Austria
Wine Producer Austria - Not Only Gruener Veltliner
Meeting “John” Nittnaus from Gols, Burgenland, Austria
At the Forefront of Biodynamic Winemaking: Visiting Werner and Angela Michlits and their Weingut Meinklang in Austria
Visiting Christine, Christina and Franz Netzl in their Weingut Netzl in Carnuntum, Austria
Austria’s Best Wines and Winemakers - Falstaff WeinGuide 2010
Austria’s Best Wines and Winemakers - Falstaff WeinGuide 2011
Austria’s Best Wines and Winemakers - Falstaff WeinGuide 2012
Austria’s Best Red Wines - Falstaff RotweinGuide 2010/2011
Wine ratings: Austria - Falstaff Top Red Wines 2009/2010