Christoph Edelbauer
Zweigelt From Austria
STORY
Located in the Kamptal region of Austria, the Edelbauer estate sits right along the 150km Kamp river, creating a mix of dusty soil blown through the valley during the ice age, and fertile loamy soil along the banks of the river. Travel to the winery and you’ll see strikingly geometric architecture that somehow blends perfectly into the beautiful environment surrounding it. It’s a perfect reflection of Edelbauer’s vision to respectfully integrate modern winemaking into the existing terroir without compromising its delicate ecosystem. Committed to sustainability, Christoph views his vineyards as wild, which is why he makes “every effort to work in harmony with nature.”
HOW TO
Zweigelt is the most commonly planted red grape in Austria, but this bottle is anything but ordinary. With notes of stewed berries, tobacco and spice, this wine is thirst-quenching and intellectual. You’ll want to let this decant for a while before enjoying it with some venison stew, as this bottle only gets more interesting as it opens up. As it says in German right on the bottle, this wine is both “powerful and enchanting,” so cozy up and enjoy!
Christoph Edelbauer
Riesling From Austria
STORY
Christoph Edelbauer will be the first to preach quality over quantity, which is why he and his team purposely keep their yields low in order to ensure every drop of wine that goes into their bottles is top-notch. This ‘conscious reduction’ involves hand-sorting only the best grapes at their peak ripeness, and letting the vineyard guide the winemaking process first and foremost. He views every vine, root, wildflower and earthworm as an equally important and individual component of his vineyards, with their own unique personalities that reveal themselves in the bottle. It’s hard not to fall in love with his commitment to his surroundings, and if you’re not convinced, tasting the final product will seal the deal.
HOW TO
It’s not a trip to Austria without tasting a glass of lush, aromatic riesling, and this bottle is sure not to disappoint. Like the charming pastoral countryside the grapes were grown in, this bottle will taste like a flowering orchard, backed up by some light nuttiness. This is a natural with a traditional Austrian pork dish with stewed apples, or would be a hit with some light, spicy noodles.
