The Beaune Yard

Sitting in the quintessential European café one night in July, I ordered a glass of the red.   The hotel bar was closing and the bartender brought me a bottle of the Heinrich.  Not having had it and wanting to savor the experience of Europe I took a sip and was not in any way disappointed.  I am sure that the ambiance of a damp night in Switzerland’s back country (Zofingen) was part of the allure but the wine did really drink well and had one of the stronger berry tastes that I can remember.

This is one of those wines that I doubt you will find in your local store but if you do, give it a try.  The moral of this story is that when you are traveling in a new area, try the local flavor.  Don’t stick with the known when you can explore the unknown.  It is only one glass of wine so what is the harm if it is not as good as you hoped.  What if you missed that one wine that made the entire trip come together because you wanted something from France or California?

This is on the good wines I have tasted list and you should try it, Zofingen or not.

Remember that life is too short for bad wine or bad friends.

Now for what the experts say:

Mittelburgenland is Austria’s red wine paradise par excellence. An ideal mix of pannonian climate, the warm stabilizing influence of Lake Neusiedler and deep loam and loess soils that retain water make the lovely rolling hills a showcase for Austrian red wine culture. The Blaufränkischland is part of the flatlands, in eastern Austria, near the Hungarian border. The inspired climate with up to 2,000 sun hours per year and an annual mean temperature of 50°F are the most important factor for the vineyards. The winters here are not too severe and the summers are hot and dry. The first vines were planted in Mittelburgenland over 2,000 years ago, and during the middle Ages the town of Deutschkreutz was an important center of viticulture.

The Heinrich family has been making wine for 300 years. Their winery is located in Deutschkreutz, the heart of "Blaufränkisch Country" of eastern Austria. The Blaufränkisch grape lies close to the hearts of the Heinrich family. More than fifty percent of their vineyards are planted with Blaufränkisch. They embrace both traditional winemaking and see perspectives for the future in this local Austrian grape variety. True to local traditions, they also produce Pinot Noir and Zweigelt. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah add an international flair to their flagship blends "terra o." "Elegy" and "Cupido". Heinrich’s wines shine through their soft round tannins, concentrated fruit and great richness.
Although the family has making wine for 300 years, Johann Heinrich and his wife Gerti managed within a decade to become known as one of Austria’s leading red wine producers. In the beginning of the 90’s his wine was sold in bulk bottles, now they are among the elite of Austrian red wines. The cornerstone of this impressive track record is first-class single-vineyard sites with vines some of which are over fifty years old. This transformation also required completely new state-of-the-art technology in the wine cellar. Johann Heinrich used no less than Chateau Cheval Blanc, the famous winery in Bordeaux as his model. The Heinrichs were determined to use barrique aging from the very beginning. Today some 400 small oak barrels are found in the squeaky clean new cellars of the winery.
The hypermodern "mini-Chateau"is now being run by two generations: Johann and his daughter Silvia. In addition to the long family wine tradition, Silvia Heinrich Kayak has worked in estates at home and abroad. In Italy she worked at Giacomo Bologna in Piedmont and in Germany at Müller-Catoir in Pfalz. Silvia Heinrich returned to the family winery in 2002 after doing media and advertising for the Austrian Wine Marketing Board in Vienna. She brings new energy and ideas into the Heinrich winery and has focused on restructuring the product line and strengthening the marketing of the winery. Her personal passion is the Austrian native varietal, Blaufränkisch. She wants to show the potential of this grape and make it known internationally.

Dense purple in colour, the nose gives off scents of herbs, spices and a touch of vegetable – like grilled pepper – followed by a fruit basket of lingonberry, blackberry and cherry. A characteristic thrust of acidity, overlapped by charming fruit, marks the palate. Mature tannins and an elegant structure. The finish is long and deep with broad, full flavours. Pair with game, lamb and grilled red meats.