Heinrich Pinot Noir 2006 750ml

Winery: Heinrich

Varietal: Pinot Noir

Whilst the Pinot Noir grape varietal has its origins in France, and is most closely associated with fine Burgundy wines, it is now grown in almost every wine producing country in the world. There are many reasons for this – the densely packed, deep black bunches of fruits are responsible for making a wide variety of excellent wines, generally agreed to be amongst the most drinkable and accessible one can find. With flavors ranging from currants and red and black berries, to more earthy, spicy notes, Pinot Noir is a versatile varietal which is revered for its relatively light body and beautifully vivid red color However, the grapes themselves are notoriously susceptible to various diseases, and struggle in fluctuating climates. This has not stopped wineries planting and cultivating these vines, though, as Pinot Noir, when grown carefully and treated properly, is a grape with a wide and increasing fan-base, and more often than not produces wonderful wines.

Region: Burgenland

The ancient Austrian wine region of Burgenland has been home to the country's red wine industry for centuries, and historically, this region was considered enormously important under the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary, as its fine red wines were the toast of many aristocratic banquets and formal occasions. Unlike the rest of Austria, Burgenland receives an impressive amount of sunshine, meaning vintners can confidently grow their Pinot Noir, Zwiegelt and Blaufrankisch grapes to full ripeness, and rely on them expressing much of their beautiful terroir in the bottle. The region's closeness to some enormous Austrian lakes also means that the vineyards can remain moist and well hydrated, again resulting in the region's flavorful and characterful red wines which remain popular with those seeking something fine and unique to this day.

Country: Austria

Austria has a wonderfully long and illustrious history of wine production which stretches back over four thousand years, and reached its zenith under the Austria-Hungary dual monarchy in the late 19th century, when Vienna was one of the most important centers of culture and fine living in the world. Today, Austria's fertile soils and long, hot summers help the fifty thousand hectares of vineyards in the country achieve exceptionally high quality yields, which are used primarily for the production of the elegant dry white wines for which the country is renowned. The most important grape varietal is still Grüner Veltliner, although many wineries are beginning to expand their repertoire and experiment with many imported grapes from France and further afield, including Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.