2013 Umathum Zweigelt Classic

Price: $22Region: Neusiedlersee < Burgenland < Austria Grapes: ZweigeltVineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming; fermented and aged in large neutral oak casks, with a portion of stems added back into the wine as it ferments; 12.5% ABVWinemaker: Josef “Pepi” Umathum Austria, for good reason, is better known for its white wines than its reds. It’s hard to compete with such an incredible wealth of Riesling and Grüner Veltliner that thrive in the mineral rich, stony soils. And the local red Zweigelt, often makes simple, fruity wines that honestly have never thrilled me. Pepi Umathum is working to change this perception. A disenchanted landscape architecture student, Pepi jumped at the chance to take over his parents’ winery, which they founded in 1958. From the initial 10 acres of land outside of Frauenkirchen, near the vast lake Neusiedlerse in Austria’s center, Umathum grew his family’s holdings to nearly 90 acres. He has been practicing strict selection massale (a method of propagat