Region: Styria, Austria (Wein aus Österreich)
Grapes: Blauer Wildbacher, Zweigelt
Body: Light to Medium
Notes: Sour wild red currants, crunchy cranberries, pomegranate juice, pink grapefruit pith, and damp slate, with an intense, laser-like alpine acidity and a raw, chalky mineral frame
Pairing: Smoked trout, continuous charcuterie boards, blood sausage, pork belly bao buns, or a rich mushroom tart
The Wine
The "Lys-Rød" #35 (Danish for "Light Red") is a brilliantly electric, highly scannable multi-vintage rosé that shatters all conventional tropes of the category. The core of this cuvée is built around Blauer Wildbacher—the notoriously high-acid, fierce native red grape of Styria traditionally used to make the bracingly tart Schilcher wine—harmoniously balanced with a portion of juicier, softer Zweigelt. The grapes are sourced from organic and biodynamic vines rooted in the region's unique, iron-rich Gneiss and crystalline slate soils. Rather than using standard commercial direct-pressing, Franz allows the grapes a brief, gentle maceration to isolate a deep, glowing ruby-pink hue and subtle structural components. True to the Strohmeier style, the wine is aged on its fine lees in neutral wooden casks and bottled strictly zero-zero. Numbered sequentially as batch #35 to reflect its multi-vintage solera-style blend rather than a single calendar year, the wine delivers a masterclass in structural tension; it effortlessly pairs an explosive, high-toned core of wild forest berries and citrus peel with a piercing, mouthwatering alpine acidity and a crystalline, sea-salted mineral length.
Region: Styria, Austria (Wein aus Österreich)
Grapes: Blauer Wildbacher, Zweigelt
Body: Light to Medium
Notes: Sour wild red currants, crunchy cranberries, pomegranate juice, pink grapefruit pith, and damp slate, with an intense, laser-like alpine acidity and a raw, chalky mineral frame
Pairing: Smoked trout, continuous charcuterie boards, blood sausage, pork belly bao buns, or a rich mushroom tart
The Wine
The "Lys-Rød" #35 (Danish for "Light Red") is a brilliantly electric, highly scannable multi-vintage rosé that shatters all conventional tropes of the category. The core of this cuvée is built around Blauer Wildbacher—the notoriously high-acid, fierce native red grape of Styria traditionally used to make the bracingly tart Schilcher wine—harmoniously balanced with a portion of juicier, softer Zweigelt. The grapes are sourced from organic and biodynamic vines rooted in the region's unique, iron-rich Gneiss and crystalline slate soils. Rather than using standard commercial direct-pressing, Franz allows the grapes a brief, gentle maceration to isolate a deep, glowing ruby-pink hue and subtle structural components. True to the Strohmeier style, the wine is aged on its fine lees in neutral wooden casks and bottled strictly zero-zero. Numbered sequentially as batch #35 to reflect its multi-vintage solera-style blend rather than a single calendar year, the wine delivers a masterclass in structural tension; it effortlessly pairs an explosive, high-toned core of wild forest berries and citrus peel with a piercing, mouthwatering alpine acidity and a crystalline, sea-salted mineral length.
What is natural wine?
Natural wine is wine made with minimal intervention from the winemaker, using organically or biodynamically grown grapes and without the addition of chemicals or additives such as sulfites. The result is a wine that is unique, expressive, and often has a more complex and nuanced flavor profile than conventional wines. Natural wine is also often associated with sustainable and ethical farming practices, making it a popular choice for those interested in environmentally friendly and socially responsible products.