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Varietal: Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is responsible for some of the world’s finest wines. Famed for producing the red wines of Burgundy and the Côte d’Or in particular, it is now widely grown in cool climates across Califonia and Oregon, and with increasing success in New Zealand. Although typically used to produce varietal wines, Pinot Noir makes a significant contribution in the wines of Champagne, where it is vinified as a white wine and blended with Cardonnay and Pinot Meunier. On the whole, fresh summer fruit of strawberries, raspberries and red cherries tend to be the identifying qualities, however richer versions express darker fruit including black cherries (kirsch), cherry cola, leather and violets to name a few.
Country: Austria
Austria's reputation for its wine has progressively matched that of its great stem ware (Riedel and Schott Zwiesel, to name a couple) and is now offering some of the best values at all price points. Split up into three main regions, the majority of production occurs in the flat fertile plains of Niederösterreich, or Lower Austria, in the north east corner of the country. The sub-regions of Kamptal, Kremstal, and Wachau offer some of the finest Rieslings and national specialty, Gruner Veltiner, Austria's number one grape which accounts for a third of vines across the country. Burgenland is Austria's second largest and sunniest region. Known for its reds and sweet botrytized whites, red grapes Zweiglet and Blaufränkisch is increasing popularity producing light wines similar to intensity to Pinot Noir. Although most white wine varieties are diminishing in prominence Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat are on the up. Lastly, Seiermark or Styria, the country's most southerly and smallest region accounting for about 7% of output. A lot of which is consumed locally at Huerigen, or bars, set up by the winemakers. Welschriesling is the most popular however Sauvignon Blanc is quickly catching up.
Region: Burgenland
The "Red Wine Quarter" receives almost 2,000 hours of sunshine per year. Add to that, the warm winds from the Pannonian Plain and you can understand the regions reputation as a red-wine producer. Its most prominent red grape varities are Zwiegelt, Blaufränkisch, St.Laurent and Pinot Noir. The Lake Neusiedl region in the northen area of the region is known for fine Prädikat-level dessert wines produced from Welschriesling, Chardonnay and Scheurebe.
Sub-Region: NA
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Type: Red
Red wine is wine made from dark-coloured grape varieties. The color of red differs based on the grapes variety or varieties used.
Interestingly, black grapes yield a juice that is greenish-white. The actual red color comes from anthocyan pigments (also called anthocyanins) from the skin of the grape (exceptions are the relatively uncommon teinturier varieties, which produce a red colored juice). Most of the production centers around the extraction of color and flavor from the grape skin.