Zierfandler
Encyclopedia
Zierfandler is a grape
variety used to make white wine in the Thermenregion of Austria
. It is also known as Spätrot ("late red") because it turns red just before harvest time. It is traditionally blended with Rotgipfler
but is increasingly being sold as a single varietal wine. Zierfandler wines are typically elegant and quite sweet, but with lots of balancing acidity and a nutty bouquet of pistachios and almonds. They are capable of ageing well.
and something like Traminer. A "weiss" (white) form is found in Hungary.
Zierfandler may be the inadvertent origin of the name Zinfandel
, which has its roots in a Croatian grape collected by the Habsburg monarchy
in Vienna. George Gibbs, a horticulturist on Long Island
, received several shipments of vines from the Imperial nursery in the 1820s, one of which he called "Black Zinfardel of Hungary". This doesn't correspond to any known grape, but Webster suggests that Zinfandel is a corruption of tzinifándli (czirifandli), a Hungarian word derived from the German word Zierfandler. Since Zierfandler is very different from Zinfandel, someone must have mixed up labels along the way.
in that region. These wines, known as Spätrot-Rotgipfler
, are a particular speciality of Gumpoldskirchen
, south of Vienna.
It is grown in Hungary under the name Cirfandli and in Slovenia as Zerjavina.
. The leaves are large and 3-5 lobed. The bunches are large, conical and sometimes winged.
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
variety used to make white wine in the Thermenregion of Austria
Austrian wine
Austrian wines are mostly dry white wines with some luscious dessert wines made around the Neusiedler See. About 30% of the wines are red, made from Blaufränkisch , Pinot Noir and locally bred varieties such as Zweigelt...
. It is also known as Spätrot ("late red") because it turns red just before harvest time. It is traditionally blended with Rotgipfler
Rotgipfler
Rotgipfler is a grape variety used to make aromatic white wine. It is almost exclusively found in the Gumpoldskirchen district of the Thermenregion in Austria. It is often blended with Zierfandler to make "Spätrot-Rotgipfler". It is also increasingly used for quality wines...
but is increasingly being sold as a single varietal wine. Zierfandler wines are typically elegant and quite sweet, but with lots of balancing acidity and a nutty bouquet of pistachios and almonds. They are capable of ageing well.
History
Zierfandler is probably a cross between Roter VeltlinerRoter Veltliner
Roter Veltliner is a grape variety used to make white wine. It is found in Austria. Some of the better wines come from the Wagram district of Donauland.It is believed to be a very old variety, but its parentage has so far not been possible to determine...
and something like Traminer. A "weiss" (white) form is found in Hungary.
Zierfandler may be the inadvertent origin of the name Zinfandel
Zinfandel
Zinfandel is a variety of red grape planted in over 10 percent of California vineyards. DNA fingerprinting revealed that it is genetically equivalent to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kaštelanski, and also the Primitivo variety traditionally grown in Puglia , where it was introduced in the 18th century...
, which has its roots in a Croatian grape collected by the Habsburg monarchy
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
in Vienna. George Gibbs, a horticulturist on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, received several shipments of vines from the Imperial nursery in the 1820s, one of which he called "Black Zinfardel of Hungary". This doesn't correspond to any known grape, but Webster suggests that Zinfandel is a corruption of tzinifándli (czirifandli), a Hungarian word derived from the German word Zierfandler. Since Zierfandler is very different from Zinfandel, someone must have mixed up labels along the way.
Distribution and wines
There were 98.24ha in Austria in 2005, less than 0.3% of Austria vineyards, of which 85.03ha were in Thermenregion. It is traditionally blended with RotgipflerRotgipfler
Rotgipfler is a grape variety used to make aromatic white wine. It is almost exclusively found in the Gumpoldskirchen district of the Thermenregion in Austria. It is often blended with Zierfandler to make "Spätrot-Rotgipfler". It is also increasingly used for quality wines...
in that region. These wines, known as Spätrot-Rotgipfler
Spätrot-Rotgipfler
Spätrot-Rotgipfler is a wine produced in the Thermenregion in Austria, particularly in the Gumpoldskirchen district. It is a blend of the two varieties Zierfandler and Rotgipfler. Zierfandler is said to contribute finesse, while Rotgipfler contributes with strength and a higher alcohol, and the...
, are a particular speciality of Gumpoldskirchen
Gumpoldskirchen
Gumpoldskirchen is a town in the district of Mödling in the Austrian state of Lower Austria. Gumpoldskirchen borders on the municipalities Mödling, Guntramsdorf, Gaaden, Pfaffstätten and Traiskirchen. The municipal area extends from the flats in the Vienna Basin to forest areas of the Anningers in...
, south of Vienna.
It is grown in Hungary under the name Cirfandli and in Slovenia as Zerjavina.
Vine and viticulture
The characteristic of the grapes is the way the sides exposed to the sun turns red as they ripen. Zierfandler ripens late, and is prone to noble rotNoble rot
Noble rot is the benevolent form of a grey fungus, Botrytis cinerea, affecting wine grapes. Infestation by Botrytis requires moist conditions, and if the weather stays wet, the malevolent form, "grey rot", can destroy crops of grapes...
. The leaves are large and 3-5 lobed. The bunches are large, conical and sometimes winged.