Zweigelt: Back to Winemaking – Back to Grapes – Back to Countries
Top thirteen grapes:
Reds – Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Merlot –
Whites – Chardonnay – Gewürztraminer – Muscat –
Pinot blanc – Pinot gris – Riesling – Sauvignon blanc
Next twenty-five grapes:
Reds – Barbera – Carignan – Gamay – Grenache – Mourvèdre – Petit Verdot –
Sangiovese – Tannat – Tempranillo – Touriga Nacional – Zweigelt
Whites – Albariño – Aligoté – Arinto – Chenin blanc – Malvasia –
Müller-Thurgau – Muscat-Ottonel – Sémillon – Tămâioasă Românească –
Traminer – Ugni-blanc – Viognier – Welschriesling
– and Cava
| Zweigelt: This grape aka as Rotburger (a town near where it was crated), is a hybrid grape variety created in 1922 by Friedrich (Fritz) Zweigelt, at the Teaching and Research Centre for Viticulture and Horticulture (LFZ) at Klosterneuburg, Austria. [Rotberger with an e is a white grape cross of Riesling and Trollinger – created at around the same time in Geisenheim, Germany.] The grape is a crossing between the St Laurent and Blaufränkisch/Lemberger grapes. it was created to be a red grape unique to Austria that would thrive in cool climates, be disease-resistant, and create a red wine of medium-to-full body and flavour. It is best consumed within a few years of release.  Image source: bubblyprofessor.com Pronounced as TSVYE-gelt, it has become the leading red grape planted in Austria, and is grown in every Austrian wine region. |
Image: Taste/smell: It is violet-red in color, medium-bodied, and moderate in tannins with fruit-forward flavors favoring red, black and morello cherry. Oak-aging delivers raspberry, red cherry, red plum, and black pepper, chocolate, cinnamon, and liquorice flavours. From Saint-Laurent it inherited bright, Pinot-like, cherry aromas and creates silky, elegant wines. From Blaufränkisch it received spiciness and good acidity. Varieties/Mutations It is often combined with Cabernet and Merlot to create an Austrian version of the classic Bordeaux Blend. Blauburger was a red grape created by Zweigelt the year after this grape. It has been crossed with Cabernet Franc to create Cabernet Moravia, and with Rathay to create Austria’s Roesler. | Description: It produces large heavy clusters of dark blue-almost-black grapes.  Image source: austrianwine.com It has circular to pentagonal leaves with three to five lobes  Image source: austrianwine.com |
| Zweigelt producing countries: Big Five Producers: (overall 42% of vineyards, 64% of wine production and 41% of wine consumption – OIV 2022) Spain: not detected France: not detected Italy: small USA: some in Washington Chile: not detected Next Ten Largest Producers: (with big five, responsible overall for 75% of vineyards, 88% of wine production, 64% of wine consumption – OIV 2022) Argentina: not detected Australia: Adelaide Hills China: not detected Germany: some India: not detected New Zealand: not detected Portugal: not detected Romania: not detected South Africa: not detected Turkey: not detected Others countries: Austria (largest red grape), Belgium, Canada (British Columbia, Ontario), Czechia (third most planted grape), Hungary, Poland, Slovakia | Grape is also known as: Blauer Zweigelt, Cvaigelt, Cveigelt, Klosterneuburg 71, Klosterneuburg 181-2-71, Rotburger, Totburger, Zweigelt, Zweigelt 71, Zweigelt blau, Zweigelt-rebe (Czechia), Zweigeltrebe blau Austria’s vineyards:  Image source: austrianwine.com |
Image source: Steve Haider, worldoffinewine.com
Zweigelt: Back to Winemaking – Back to Grapes – Back to Countries
Top thirteen grapes:
Reds – Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Merlot –
Whites – Chardonnay – Gewürztraminer – Muscat –
Pinot blanc – Pinot gris – Riesling – Sauvignon blanc
Next twenty-five grapes:
Reds – Barbera – Carignan – Gamay – Grenache – Mourvèdre – Petit Verdot –
Sangiovese – Tannat – Tempranillo – Touriga Nacional – Zweigelt
Whites – Albariño – Aligoté – Arinto – Chenin blanc – Malvasia –
Müller-Thurgau – Muscat-Ottonel – Sémillon – Tămâioasă Românească –
Traminer – Ugni-blanc – Viognier – Welschriesling
– and Cava
