Birgit Braunstein Pinot Sonnen (750ml)

The grapes are sourced from a single vineyard on the slopes of the Leitha Mountains. The unique climate to this area has a continental influence that is moderated by Lake Neusiedl. The region has cold, wet winters, hot dry summers and a long mild autumn. High sunshine hours, cool nights and protection of the Leithaberg forests make the perfect microclimate to ripen grapes while maintaining good acidity.  The soils are complex with gneiss, mica, slate, chalky limestone, marl and clay all to be found across her different vineyards. After hand-picking and sorting the grapes, fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks with fourteen days maceration. This is followed by twelve months in small used oak barrels and large wooden cask.

*This wine was previously called and labbeled “Vom Berg” and recently had a name change to “Sonnenberg.  It’s the same wine, but because of Austrian beaurocracy surrounding appellation laws, grapes and labelling it had to change.  For the wine “geeks” out there, here’s the reasoning; “Berg” means mountain and Austrian wine law didn’t Birgit Braunstein to continue with this name, so they took the name of an area – “Sonnenberg” – sunny mountain.  Which is the official synonym of the aera Leithaberg, but in the Leithaberg appellation there is only Blaufränkisch allowed, and this wine is Blaubergunder (Pinot Noir), so they could not use Leithaberg on the label!