WTN: Weingut Jöbstl Strohwein vom Schilcher 2003

[MichaelJ]

There is a wonderful little restaurant in Sankt Wolfgang, Joseph's, which sits at the feet of the church, just up the hill from the Hotel Weisses Rössl. I had this wine paired with a cheese course.

Delightful. The nose is floral, with a bit of cedar and even perhaps some lead pencil. In the mouth, there are more flowers and some silky cherry fruit. Slightly sweet, but with a good amount of acid, and drying in the finish. A pleasant discovery that went very, very well with the cheese.

[Arnt Egil Nordlien]

Thanks a lot for the note. I love schilcher, but don't find any of these around.

Note that there are confusingly many producers around with the name Jöbstl.

[MichaelJ]

Thanks a lot for the note. I love schilcher, but don't find any of these around.

Note that there are confusingly many producers around with the name Jöbstl.

Arnt,

Thanks. I determined as much when attempting to do some research into this wine. I do know that it's from Steiermark, but I'm sure that doesn't provide much help either.

Michael

[Michael Pronay]

No, it really doesn't help, since by law Schilcher has to come from Steiermark. The grape variety is Blauer Wildbacher. 99% is vinified in rosé, and most comes from Weststeiermark, the traditional home of the grape. A little is grown in Südsteiermark, much to the anger of Weststeiermark growers who in vein wanted to protect "Schilcher" for their region only.

[Arnt Egil Nordlien]

Note that there are confusingly many producers around with the name Jöbstl.

I have a feeling this wine might have been from Luise & Johannes Jöbstl from Wernersdorf. They made a wine named strohwein vom Schilcher in 2003. And it is not a regular thing to make strohwein from schilcher. You can have a look at their homepage http://www.joebstl.st/wine_schilcher/index.cfm

[MichaelJ]

Arnt -- You are very good. That is it, exactly. Thanks for the website.

[MichaelJ]

And perhaps while I have your attention, what does "schilcher" mean? I had gotten the varietal as Blauer Wildbacher, and "strohwein" refers to the technique of drying the grapes, but schilcher, I haven't found a good answer.

[Michael Pronay]

And perhaps while I have your attention, what does "schilcher" mean?

"Schilcher" is the name of the dry rosé vinified from Blauer Wildbacher grapes.

[MichaelJ]

And perhaps while I have your attention, what does "schilcher" mean?

"Schilcher" is the name of the dry rosé vinified from Blauer Wildbacher grapes.

And sometimes the answer is right there. Thanks, Michael.

[Arnt Egil Nordlien]

what does "schilcher" mean?

It's an old name. I think I heard it derives from schillern. Which would mean shimmer in english.

[Marc D]

Can you tell me a little more about schilcher? Are they typically dry or do some wineries make an off dry rose? What is the usual percent alcohol of these wines? Does anyone import them to the US?

Thanks in advance,

[Michael Pronay]

Schilcher normally is totally dry. There are a few eperimenting with off-dry to medium sweet versions, but without real success.