Markus Altenburger, Blaufränkisch "Vom Kalk" Burgenland, Austria 2023

The Blaufränkisch Vom Kalk from Markus Altenburger is fun to drink, sappy and cherry-like, but with depths and fruit intensity perfect for any occasion where people come together and enjoy themselves. Can easily age a couple of years.

This wine is a blend of 7 different plots in the Leithaberg DAC, young vines as well as vines up to 40 year old. Some on limestone, some on chalky loam (richer soil with better water supply in the lower parts of the slopes). Dry-farmed, certified organic.

Grapes are hand harvested, destemmed, and macerated as whole berries for 7 days. Spontaneously fermented in stainless steel and wooden fermenters. Aged 9 months in old wood barrels. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, with minimal added sulfites.

Markus started making wine naturally thanks to his childhood memory of snacking on Neuburger grapes – when he couldn’t find this taste in wines as an adult, he realized it was due to all the modern winemaking additives that make the wine taste standardized. His decision to eschew them step by step allowed him to find the pure grape taste again.