Photo via: www.steirischerwein.at
Austria’s Styria presents: Junker Wine 2018!
First things first: It’s pronounced yun-ker.
There have been some significant changes to the wine regulations of Austria’s Steiermark (Styria) region this year. For instance, all three of the wine-producing regions within the Federal State of Styria—Vulkanland Steiermark, Südsteiermark, and Weststeiermark—were declared to be Districtus Austriae Controllatus (DAC) regions. And just like that, the Schilcherland DAC, which was approved as a DAC for dry rosé produced using the Blauer Wildbacher variety in October of 2017, is now gone (poof!) although the famous Schilcher Rosé will continue to be produced under the new Weststeiermark DAC.
Specific details (and EU approval) of these new DACs is still in the works, so more details—as well as changes—are expected in the next few months. We’ll do our best to keep you posted.
However, it’s good to note that one thing remains unchanged, and that is the tradition of Der Steirische Junker (the release of the year’s first wines of Styria) on the Wednesday before Saint Martin’s Day (November 11). This year, the release fell on Wednesday, November 7.
Photo via: www.steirischerwein.at
Junker is a wine you’ll most likely need to travel to experience. These young, fresh, and fruity “nouveau” wines are produced in red, white, and rosé versions and may be made using any of the approved grapes of the region.
The release of Junker wine has been accompanied by huge Präsentationen held (since 1995) in Graz (the capital of Styria) and Wien (Vienna) to celebrate the new wines of the year produced in Styria. This year, over 200 Junker wines were released, including included those produced using the following varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay (known here as Morillon), Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder), Welschriesling, Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder), Traminer, and Blauer Wildbacher (Schilcher).
From the looks of the pictures on the Junkerpräsentation website, it might be worth a trip.
References/for more information:
- https://www.austrianwine.com/our-wine/wine-growing-regions/steiermark-styria/
- https://www.austrianwine.com/our-wine/glossary/?tx_a21glossary%5Bletter%5D=J&cHash=811f21096db518a3e201d9a63e068541
- https://www.steiermark.com/en/styria/destinations-for-day-trips/styrian-junker-presentation_p905227
- https://www.steiermark.com/en/holiday/food-and-drink/delicatessen-stores/wine/grape-varieties