A Taste Of Old Vienna, With Bubbles

Stift Klosterneuburg Abbey Winery is Austria's oldest wine estate, says the label. It is a monastery just outside Vienna, where Augustinian canons have lived for 900 years. The winery is just one of the ways the abbey holds onto tradition. It is a cultural center as well, and it makes an impressive mark on the landscape around it. 

The non-vintage Stift Klosterneuburg Gruner Veltliner Brut is a sekt, the German and Austrian word for sparkling wine. It is made in the traditional method, just like Champagne. Its alcohol level is 12.5% abv and it sells for around $25.

This sparkling wine pours up frothy, with a white set of bubbles which dissipate quickly. The nose brings a ton of apples, pears, and minerality. The palate is quite refreshing, with lots of acidity and carbonation. Fruit is the star in the flavor profile, and the mouthfeel is clean, light, tingly, and just a bit peppery. There is just a trace of toast, but you won't mistake it for Champagne. It's just as much fun, though. 

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