I found this wine among my “stock” of wines. The further from the Austrian border, the greater the problem with quality Austrian wines. That’s why I’m always happy when someone gives me a bottle of quality Austrian red wine, as was the case in this case.
The Grande Cuvée 2021 wine from Keringer Winery is one of the representative red wines of Austria, from the Burgenland region, which has long been considered one of the most suitable areas for maturing full-bodied, structured red wines. This is a cuvée created with the ambition to show the potential of local and international varieties in the conditions of the Pannonian climate, with an emphasis on concentration, ripeness and long-term storage ability.
The basis of the Grande Cuvée are the Zweigelt and Ráthay varieties (40%). The first variety used is Zweigelt, the most important blue variety in Austria, the second variety is Ráthay, a less common but historically important Austrian blue variety, bred in the late 19th century.
The Ráthay variety is known for its higher tannin structure, dark color and ability to give the wine depth and archival potential. In this cuvée, it acts as a structural skeleton that complements the fruitiness of the Zweigelt. The name Ráthay comes from its breeder, Emmerich Ráthay (1860–1936), who came from Hungary and was the director of the enological and pomological institute of the Klosterneuburg viticultural school from 1893 to 1900, where this vine was bred. Ráthay was created by crossing Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent, the same parents that Franz Zweigelt later used to breed his Zweigelt in 1922. It is this genetic proximity that is the reason for the frequent comparison of these two varieties, although historically Ráthay is older
Zweigelt was bred in 1922 by Franz Zweigelt (1888–1964) also by crossing Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent. In Burgenland, Zweigelt reaches a high ripeness, providing dark fruit tones, juiciness and a subtle spiciness.
The Keringer winery is located in the village of Mönchhof and was founded in 1983 by Franz Keringer. From the beginning, it profiled itself as a winery oriented towards full-bodied red wines with an emphasis on maturation and long-term potential. At a time when most Austrian wineries were building on white wines, Keringer purposefully developed red cuvées and barrique styles. Today it is one of the respected wineries of Burgenland and the Grande Cuvée has long been considered its reference wine. The interesting thing is the consistent style across vintages and the willingness to let the wines mature for a longer period before being released on the market.
The Grande Cuvée wine production technology includes hand-harvesting the grapes, separate processing of the individual varieties and fermentation at a controlled temperature. After alcoholic fermentation, malolactic fermentation takes place, after which the wine matures for approximately 18 months in barrique barrels, mainly made of French oak. The cuvée itself is composed only after the individual components have matured, which allows precise control over the resulting balance of the wine.
Wine description:
The wine has a very dark ruby to garnet color with high density, typical of the combination of Zweigelt and Ráthay.
The aroma is concentrated and layered. There are notes of blackcurrant, sour cherry, dark plum, complemented by hints of cocoa, tobacco, dried herbs and fine wood. The barrique is present but integrated.
The taste is dry, full and firmly structured. Zweigelt brings fruity juiciness, Ráthay adds tannins and depth. The wine has balanced acidity, ripe tannins and a long, dry finish with a spicy aftertaste.
The alcohol content is around 14.0%, which corresponds to the style of the wine and is well integrated into the overall structure.
The optimal serving temperature is 16–18 °C, and it is ideal to decant the wine 60 minutes before serving.
It is suitable for beef, game, lamb, stews and mature hard cheeses. A pleasant feeling is also achieved in combination with dishes with a higher fat content.
Keringer’s Grande Cuvée wine is regularly awarded at international competitions and consistently achieves high scores in expert tastings focused on Austrian red wines from Burgenland.
Grande Cuvée 2021 is a mature, serious red cuvée with a clear regional identity. It stands on the strength of the domestic varieties Zweigelt and Ráthay, offering structure, concentration and potential for further maturation. This is a wine for the consumer who is looking for an authentic Austrian red wine without unnecessary effects, built on precision and balance.
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