ABOUT TO ARRIVE Driver: GRAPE | Process | Place | Crafted Blauburger is one of Austria’s lesser-known red grapes—and this wine comes from a vineyard Michael Opitz originally intended to remove. The old parcel had numerous missing vines when Michael took it over from a retiring grower. Replanting the entire site seemed like the practical solution. Then he tasted his first vintage from it. The wine convinced him to preserve the vineyard and replace only the missing plants. Because the parcel is small and its yields are low, Michael combined three vintages. The components were aged in old barriques, larger 600-liter barrels and a small amount of stainless steel—a combination designed to bring development and freshness together. This is Blauburger shaped by an old vineyard, several harvests and a winemaker willing to change his plans after listening to the wine. Why We Selected It Wine Stop selected this Blauburger because it preserves something that could easily have disappeared. Michael inherited an old, incomplete vineyard that would have been simpler to remove and replant. Instead, the first wine revealed enough depth, structure and character to justify saving it. He retained the established vines and carefully replanted the missing spaces—a slower, more labor-intensive decision that allows the original vineyard to continue while preparing it for the future. The finished wine combines three vintages and three aging environments: old barriques, 600-liter barrels and stainless steel. It is a wine built from preservation, patience and judgment rather than formula. Why Try It? Because Blauburger fills the space between two better-known Austrian red grapes. Blauburger is a crossing of Blaufränkisch and Blauer Portugieser. It shares Blaufränkisch as a parent with Zweigelt, which was created by crossing Blaufränkisch with St. Laurent. Michael describes his Blauburger as deeper than his Zweigelt and more fruit-forward than his Blaufränkisch. That makes it an excellent third step through his Austrian reds: Zweigelt: supple and immediately approachableBlaufränkisch: fresh, defined and structuredBlauburger: deeper, fruitier and more concentrated Taste the three grapes side by side and the differences become something you can recognize—not simply something you have read. Why Buy It? Because this is a genuinely limited wine from a small, low-yielding vineyard that was almost replanted. 100% Blauburger Grown in an old vineyard near Lake Neusiedl Preserved after the first vintage demonstrated the parcel’s quality Missing vines replanted individually Three vintages combined Aged in old barriques and 600-liter barrels A small portion retained in stainless steel Limited by the vineyard’s small size and low yield Made from one of Austria’s less familiar red grapes It offers both discovery and substance: a rare grape, an old parcel and a wine that exists because the vineyard proved it deserved to survive. Wine Term: ‘Old Vines’ and ‘Old Vineyards’ “Old vines” sounds precise, but it usually is not. There is no single international age at which a vine officially becomes old. Some producers may use the term for 25- or 30-year-old vines; others reserve it for vineyards that are 50, 75 or more than 100 years old. Age alone does not guarantee quality. An old vine in the wrong location or in poor condition does not automatically produce better wine. What older vines can offer is an established root system, lower natural yields and greater consistency under difficult growing conditions. “Old vineyard” can be the more accurate description when a parcel contains vines of different ages. That is the case here. Michael preserved the established vineyard but replanted its missing spaces, so older vines now grow alongside younger replacements. The vineyard is old. Not every vine within it is the same age. What matters is why Michael kept it: the wine demonstrated that the site and its surviving vines still had something worth preserving. A Short Note on Michael Opitz Weingut Michael Opitz: No tricks. Just wine. Michael Opitz established his winery in Austria’s Burgenland toward the end of the 2000s. He considers the estate’s relative youth an advantage. Without generations of inherited conventions dictating what must be planted or how each wine must be made, he is free to respond to the vineyard, the grape and the individual vintage. His motto—“No tricks. Just wine.”—summarizes that approach. The vineyards are farmed organically, sustainably and with close attention to their natural conditions. Gravelly sedimentary soils and sites including Salzgründe, Hedwighof and Vierteljoch provide the foundation for wines made from varieties such as Muskat, the Pinot family, Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch. The cellar work follows the same restrained philosophy. Fermentation, vessel and aging are chosen to preserve the identity of the grapes and vineyards—not to force every wine into one house style. Some wines are made for relaxed evenings among friends. Others, such as Iris, demonstrate the estate’s more ambitious side. This Blauburger expresses another part of Michael’s philosophy: when an old vineyard proves its value, preserve it—even when replacement would be easier. No mythology. No cosmetic story added afterward. No tricks. Just wine. Cellar, Serving & Pairing Drink now or cellar for another 4–6 years. Serve slightly cool. This will preserve freshness while allowing the wine’s depth and structure to emerge gradually in the glass. A short decant is recommended, especially when the bottle is first released. Pair with: Roast pork Pork shoulder Grilled sausages Beef goulash Braised beef Roast duck Lamb Mushroom dishes Lentils Paprika-seasoned dishes Roasted root vegetables Aged or smoked cheeses Charcuterie Wine Details Type of Wine: Red WineBrand: Open & EnjoyVintage: Multi-VintageRegion: BurgenlandCountry: AustriaGrape: 100% BlauburgerVineyard: Small, low-yielding old vineyard near Lake NeusiedlFarming: OrganicAging: Old barriques, 600-liter barrels and a small portion in stainless steelProduction: LimitedStyle: Deep, structured Austrian redBody: Medium Recommended serving temperature: 58–62°F / 14–17°C Best In: Broad-Bowl Glass | Every wine is shown in the glass we recommend for it. Hover over the image on desktop or tap the image on mobile to view the glass. Drink Better. Since 2016. Drink Responsibly. Proposition 65 Warning. Taste First. Read Later. Wine is meant to be discovered—not predicted. We provide the information that helps you understand this wine: where it comes from, which grape was used, how it was made, its structure and why we selected it for Wine Stop. What we do not publish before purchase is a list of suggested flavors. Descriptions involving fruits, flowers, herbs or spices can influence what you expect to experience. They can even cause someone to reject a wine before tasting it. We want your first experience with this wine to belong to you. Taste it. Pay attention to its structure, texture and movement. Notice what it reminds you of. Form your own impressions before reading ours. Wine Stop’s tasting notes are available on the wine’s product page, accessible through the QR code on the back label, so you can compare our impressions with your own. There is no single correct answer. The purpose is not to identify the “right” fruit or spice, but to sharpen your senses, expand your palate and discover what the wine expresses to you. We Guarantee the Quality. You Discover the Wine. Every wine we sell has been selected for quality, authenticity and value, and we stand behind every bottle. If a wine is flawed or faulty, we will make it right. If it is sound but not to your taste, that is not a verdict on your palate—and it does not make the wine bad. It simply means that this particular wine is not for you, perhaps not tonight. Wine Stop Tasting NoteAlready tasted it? Now compare notes.(Alvaro's detailed tasting notes will be added after this wine arrives at our warehouse and has rested for a few days.)
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