Wine Club: November 2026
This month we travel back to Austria to dig into two of Central Europe’s classic grapes: Grüner Veltliner and Zweigelt, one of each from two very different corners of the country - Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) along the Danube in the north, and Burgenland way out east on the Hungarian border.
Grüner Veltliner is far and away the main Austrian grape, covering roughly a third of the country’s vineyards. We’ve had Grüners in the shop since it opened so there’s a good chance you’ve stumbled into a bottle at some point already. Crisp, mineral-driven and refreshing, it’s a wonderful white for most occasions. Zweigelt, on the other hand, is in its infancy by wine standards. It was created in 1922 at the viticulture school in Klosterneuburg by crossing Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent (both delicious in their own right). Fun fact - named after one Dr. Zweigelt, its creator, there’s currently a push to rename the grape because the good doctor had some not so good political affiliations in the 1930s/40s.
Burgenland and Niederösterreich shape these grapes in pretty distinct ways. Niederösterreich is Austria’s largest wine region, straddling the Danube in the northeast corner of the country. Cool air drains down from the forests to the north at night, keeping the wines crisp and mineral-driven. Our Lower Austria wines come from Schloss Gobelsburg in the Kamptal and Hermann Moser in neighboring Kremstal. Gobelsburg is one of the oldest wine estates in the country - its vineyards were first documented in 1171 by the Cistercian monks. The Moser family, based in the village of Rohrendorf, have been making wine for something like 26 generations. These are very old, very classic Austrian estates. Another fun fact - Gobelsburg’s Rosé was one of the wines in our first ever wine club back in 2022.
Burgenland is a different animal than Niederösterreich. Warm, sunny and influenced by the Pannonian plain to the east, it’s Austria’s red wine country. Lake Neusiedl, a huge, shallow steppe lake (which you may remember from last year’s Austria club) helps moderate the temperature with cooling breezes in the summer. Here, Grüner comes out rounder and riper and Zweigelt gets plusher. Thomas and Claudia Hareter farm in Weiden am See on the north shore of the lake, working organically and using very minimal intervention. The Hareter’s wines show great depth and are quite fun counterpoints to the classic deliciousness of the Niederösterreich wines.
Prost!
Schloss Gobelsburg Grüner Veltliner
Niederösterreich (Lower Austria)
The Grapes
100% Grüner Veltliner
Tasting Notes
Crisp green apple, white peach and lemon zest with a dash of white pepper. Light and zippy on the palate with fresh herbs and wet stone.
Pairing Suggestions
Schnitzel for sure yum yum yum
Can it Age?
Yes, up to three years
Weingut Hareter Grüner Veltliner
Burgenland
The Grapes
100% Grüner Veltliner
Tasting Notes
Yellow apple, pear sauce and ripe lemon on the nose with savory notes of thyme and dried herbs. A touch of texture on the palate, gentle acid and a crisp, mineral finish with a hint of pepper.
Pairing Suggestions
Backhendl (Viennese fried chicken)
Can it Age?
Drink now!
Weingut Hareter Zweigelt
Burgenland
The Grapes
100% Zweigelt
Tasting Notes
(chillable if that’s your thing - 20 mins in fridge)
Juicy and bright: red cherry, raspberry and red plum with crushed violets and a pinch of black pepper. Light tannin, lively acid and a touch of earth on the finish.
Pairing Suggestions
Brettljause - it’s a charcuterie board, but Austrian! (we have alpine cheese in the shop that would go very well on such a board)
Can it Age?
Drink now.
Hermann Moser Zweigelt
Kremstal
The Grapes
100% Zweigelt
Tasting Notes
Fresh black cherry and red plum on the nose with violet and a touch of baking spice. More cherry and brambly blackberry on the palate with a bit of black pepper, nice tannin and a bright, juicy finish.
Pairing Suggestions
Wiener Saftgulasch - good with this wine and also seasonally appropriate
Can it Age?
Up to three years.
