The wines of Austria are perfect for summer weather. The varietals have a personality all their own. The whites are crisp and lively and the reds fresh with clean pure fruit. This Saturday we’ll have a cross section of these wines (along with a fine Riesling from Alsace) open to taste. They’ll make you want to Yodel.

2011 Der Pollerhof, Gruner Veltliner 1 ltr $14
Erwin Poller, the current wine maker from this long standing Austrian wine making family is completely hands-on and involved in every aspect of the winemaking, to assure the purity and terroir driven quality of his wines. He uses sustainable methods in the vineyards and hand harvests. In the Cellar the grapes are hand selected three times before being gently pressed. Erwin has created his own yeast culture for use in his wines. The result is a refreshing, crisp and dry wine with wonderful aromas of apples and citrus fruit.

2011 Chateau D’Orschwihr, Riesling Bollenberg $16
Château d’Orschwihr dates back to 1049, but the current owners the Hartmann family didn’t acquire the Château until 1854. Their estate Riesling is a highly aromatic wine, grown on thin limestone soil on the Bollenberg in Alsace. 2011 was a vintage of high fruit and nice concentration. The bouquet is expressive with aromas of lime and grapefruit. On the palate it is well structured with an elegant backbone of ripe acidity and an almost luscious after taste.

2010 Andau, Zweiglet $16
Andau is a winery making wines from the town with the same name. Andau has more sunny days and warmer temperatures than anywhere else in Austria. Located on the Hungarian border, the climate is perfect for making very ripe and bold red and dessert wines. The Zweigelt is aged 12 months in used oak casks and is full-bodied, with hints of dark cherries, spice and chocolate.

2010 Weninger, Franz $17
Blaufranckisch /Merlot
The Weninger family owns vineyards in and around Horitschon in the Mittelburgenland, as well as two estates in Hungary. Since taking over the family estate in 1982, Franz Weninger has been a shining star among Austrian red wine producers. The vineyards are certified organic with an average of 40 year old vines, and are made bio-dynamically without modern oenological intervention. The wine has intense fruit aromas, of ripe red berries, and cherry along with a juicy body and an elegant, structured finish.

2008 Meinhard Forstreiter, St Laurent $27
The Forstreiter family has been making wine since 1868, but it has been the current owner and winemaker, Meinhard Forstreiter, who has brought the vineyard to a new level of quality and reputation. The vineyard is situated in Krems-Hollenburg in the Kremstal, along the right bank of the Danube River, across from the Wachau. There has been wine production in and around Hollenburg since the Roman Empire. The St Laurent is from 50 year old vines. The wine has aromas of dark berries, bitter chocolate, herbs with coffee roast aromas. Its body is well rounded with soft tannins, ripe fruit and beautifully balanced acidity.