Austrian Bubbles, Dry As A Bone

This bubbly wine comes from Weingut Peter Schandl in Rust, in the Austrian state of Burgenland, where bubbles are called sekt. The city was made official in 1681 in exchange for a passel of money and 500 buckets of wine. Nice deal! 

The 2021 Mint Furmint Extra Brut was made in the traditional method, just like Champagne, except there is no dosage. That's the addition of a sugary liquid which is part of the production of most sparkling wines. Mint is a single variety (Furmint) and a single vintage (2021). The grapes were harvested from vines which were planted in 2002. This bubbly was aged on the lees for more than 40 months. Alcohol sits at 13% abv and the retail price is $23. 

This wine shows a nice, white froth which dissipates quickly, leaving a pale yellow-green color under the frizzante. The nose has lemon, lime, and stone fruit aromas. On the palate, intense carbonation and acidity put the mouth a-tingle. Flavors of apple and pear are draped in a bitter nuttiness, and the absence of sweetness is noticeable. This Furmint sparkler will pair with anything. 

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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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