Blauburger is a black grape from Austria used almost only for blends.
Characteristics
The grape is low on acidity as well as on tannins, hence varietal wines are rare to find. Instead it contributes with deep dark colour in blends.
It is a grateful variety to work with as it does not have any high demands when it comes to soil or choice of site.
Wines
Blauburger varietal wines will have a very dark colour. Generally, the wine will be neutral and have soft, red berry aromas.
Due to the low tannin levels, also a young wine will offer a velvety palate.
Food pairing
A nice pairing will be with a pasta dish or with white meat. Serve at 12-14°C/54-57°F.
Where is it grown?
With plantings of 897 ha/2,217 ac, Blauburger was the eleventh most planted grape in Austria in 2010.
It grows mainly in the region Niederosterreich (701 ha/1,732 ac), especially in the sub zone called Weinviertel or the “Wine Quarter” in the region’s north-eastern part.
¨The grape is represented in all of Austria’s wine regions.
Blauburger can also be found in Hungary, where there are plantings of 435 ha/1,075 ac. These are to the largest part found in Eger, 287 ha/709 ac.
There also some very small plantings in New Zealand.
In 2000, there were 105 ha/259 ac reported in the UK. They are not reported in 2010.
History
Blauburger was created in 1923 when Fritz Zweigelt at the research centre Klosterneuburg Wienbauinstitut in Austria crossed the two varieties Blauer Portugieser and Blaufränkisch.
The intention was that the grape should be an Austrian variety for making high quality wine. It was however quickly surpassed by another variety created at about the same time, the grape today known as Zweigelt.