Burgenland, Austria 

A vibrant, herbaceous and terroir-tickled Austrian blau that’s ready for dinner.  Bernadette and Markus Altenburger are based in the village of Jois, on the slopes of Leithaberg overlooking Lake Neusiedl. Since Markus took over his family’s estate fifteen years ago, the winery has transitioned to certified organic farming, a low-intervention winemaking philosophy, and even has a biodynamic certification on the way! With blaufränkisch as their centre focus, they farm 17 hectares of regionally beloved vines, most notably including their limestone-packed Gritschenberg vineyard, which is formed by the outer edges of the Alpine mountain range and was planted with blau vines in 1969! ’Vom Kalk’  is their blau from Leithaberg, made from vines under 45-years-old and sourced from seven, organically farmed, limestone and chalk-filled vineyards. The grapes were hand-harvested, fermented and aged for nine months in old wood barrels before being bottled. Cherry juice, blackberries, fennel, soil, pepper crack, twigs, tobacco, rum spices & plum preserves. Pour alongside a simple meal of roasted poultry, potatoes and roasted brassicas.