The Astor Wines & Spirits Glossary

Zweigelt

Zweigelt, modestly named by Fritz Zweigelt of the Federal Institute for Viticulture and Pomology at Klosterneuburg, Austria in 1922, is a crossing of Blaufränkisch and St.-Laurent. It has risen to fame in its homeland and beyond, and now is the single most widely grown red grape variety in Austria. Offering some of the best attributes of both its parents, Zweigelt is very resistant to frost (an important trait to have when growing in chilly Austria) and ripens relatively early. It combines the ripe, fruity character of Blaufränkisch with the round body of St. Laurent, resulting in a wine at times reminscent of Gamay or a very light-textured Zinfandel.
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