What I Learned
There are three districts of Austria’s Steiermark wine region, but only the Weststeiermark vintners produce Schilcher wine. This unique wine is a delicious rosé with unique characteristics. The name Schilcher stems from an old Germanic word meaning to shimmer (as in: with color).
This wine is made from the Blauer Wildbacher grape, an ancient varietal which is named after a village in the region. While it does grow nowadays in other nearby areas, and a tiny amount in northern Italy, the Weststeiermark is its homeland and production epicenter. The Blauer Wildbacher ripens later than most other grape varietals, and can produce a rather tart wine, with higher acidity than most other red varietal wines. (While usually vinified as a rosé wine, there are red Blauer Wildbacher varietal wines as well.)
When drinking Schilcher wines, note the wide variance in rosé color. While all are pink-ish in color the pink can range from light to dark, from shades with hints of orange to a color resembling cranberry juice. On the nose, strawberry is often detected, along with other red berry scents. More unusually, serious noses have reported slight nettle notes.
In summertime, wine lovers’ thoughts often turn to rosé wines. I hope this post inspires others to give Schilcher wines a taste.
What I Tasted
2018 Schilcher, Ried Langegg, Weststeiermark DAC, Weingut Langmann (Langegg): A dry rosé wine with dark minus salmon color; a floral and red berry nose, with wood, floral and cherry flavors; medium tannins, with a tart finish.
2018 Weststeirischer Schilcher Klassik, Qualitaetswein aus Oesterreich, Winzerhaus Sierling Eins (Stainz): A dry rosé wine with dark minus cranberry color; a smoky, red berry nose, with flavors of spice, red berry and smoke; medium tannins and a slightly tart finish.
2018 Schilcher Klassik, Weststeiermark DAC, Weingut Reiterer (Kitzeck): A dry rosé wine with medium cranberry color; with herbaceous and slight floral nose, with floral and peppery spice flavors; medium tannins with a tart-tangy finish.