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SOMMWINE GRAPE LIBRARY
Zweigelt
Also known as Rotburger, Blauer Zweigelt, Zweigeltrebe
Zweigelt is Austria’s leading red grape, bred at Klosterneuburg in 1922 from St. Laurent and Blaufränkisch. Its style can be easy and cherry-fruited for early drinking or fuller and more age-worthy when yields are restrained. Austrian official sources describe dark sour-cherry and berry aromas, while also noting that crop management is important to quality.
ColourRed
ClassificationVitis vinifera subsp. vinifera
Typical bodyRanges from light early-drinking wine to full, powerful wines under low-yield conditions.
Typical acidityAustrian ministry describes a pleasant acidity structure; perceived acidity varies with ripeness and style.
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At a Glance
Fresh, light red wines for early drinking
Typical tannin: Austrian ministry describes restrained tannins in its typical profile; the cultivar sheet notes that high-quality examples can have firm tannin. This variation is style dependent.
Aromas and Flavours
- cherry, especially dark sour cherry
- berries
- light spice in ministry description
Where It Grows
- Niederösterreich
- Weinviertel
- Kamptal
- Wagram
- Kremstal
- Carnuntum
- Burgenland
- Neusiedlersee
- Mittelburgenland
- Steiermark
- Austria
- Germany
- Hungary
- Czech Republic
- Slovakia
- Switzerland
- Canada
Climate and Winemaking
Bred for Austrian conditions, including cooler Lower Austria, and widely planted in eastern Austrian wine regions. Site and vintage still affect style.
Early budbreak and medium ripening; reliable, often high yields require crop control. The official profile reports winter frost resistance but poor spring-frost recovery, moderate fungal tolerance, and risk of berry splitting after autumn rain; quality suffers with excessive crop.
Used as a single variety and as a blending partner; sources document stainless steel, large cask and barrique, as well as rosé and sweet-wine formats. Lower yield is associated with fuller, more concentrated reds.
Food Pairings
- Roast poultry or pork with fresh Zweigelt (editorial recommendation)
- Lamb or game with fuller, oak-aged examples (editorial recommendation)
- Soft or semi-hard cheese with lighter styles (editorial recommendation)
Ageing Potential
- Some structured, concentrated or oak-matured examples are made for further ageing; many lighter fruit-led wines are intended for earlier drinking. This is a style distinction, not a universal ageing guarantee.
Test Your Knowledge
- Which two varieties are Zweigelt’s parents?
- Why is crop control relevant to Zweigelt quality?
- How can Zweigelt’s cellar treatment change its style?
