WTN: Wieninger's lovely entry-level field blend from Vienna

• 2008 Wieninger Gemischter Satz - Austria, Wien (7/28/2009)
  c.12€; 12% abv; 5.7 g/l acidity; 1.7 g/l sugar. This is the entry-level field blend - of about 15 grapes. Unoaked, clean aromas with quite a floral perfume, perhaps a little reminiscent of Muscat or Gewurz or some such very aromatic grape. But these sweet aromas are countered by citrus and minerality. The mix of grapes seems a perfect success as the bright, crisp acidity is countered by strong, peachy fruit. A substantial, even full bodied wine despite its relatively low alcohol, with a wonderfully long finish. Dangerously moreish.

Posted from CellarTracker

'crisp acidity'!! not at the level you list. that is very low acid - very, very low!

'crisp acidity'!! not at the level you list. that is very low acid - very, very low!

Are you sure? Most acidities listed for whites in Alko are from about 4,5g/l (Rhones) to about 6.5g/l for shrill German Rieslings. This sits comfortably in the middle. And I guess it doesn't see malo or only partially, because it seems crisp.

5.7 grams/liter in tartaric acid terms (which is the standard used in Austria and most of the European Union) is the equivalent of 8.6 grams in sulfuric acid terms (which is the traditional standard France clings to). It's indeed not very high for a young crisp white - Mosel riesling is usually between 8 and 9 grams in tartaric terms, Alsace riesling between 7 and 8.

[David M. Bueker]

Of course any discussion about acidity has to involve the overall interplay of the acid/sugar/extract in the wine (i.e. the balance). With sugar at a low 1.7 g/l the acidity of under 6 grams might make for a crisp drink. Given that it's a field blend with some grapes of likey naturally high acid and others of natually low acid I would think that the 5.7 g/l could indeed come across as a crisp wine.

And yes, most German Riesling these days hovers between 7 and 9 g/l of acid. Back in the good old days we had wines with 11, 12 or even 15 g/l. Those were some shrill wines!

Numbers don't matter - only taste!

Weininger is definitely a top Vienna producer, and they have a cute little heurigen where you can taste their wines and have a nice lunch or dinner in the north part of the city. They make a surprisingly nice chardonnay and pinot noir (Grand Select), and their many wines from the Nussberg vineyard in particular are very good.