2020 Peter Wetzer Kékfrankos Spern Steiner

Kékfrankos (known in Germany as Blaufränkisch or Lemberger) is cultivated in a 60+ year-old vineyard in Sopron, Hungary—an estate regarded as a grand cru since the 15th century. The vineyard’s vines thrive on nutrient-poor, kargen Schieferböden enriched with Quarzit, mica schist, gneiss, and quartz. These extreme conditions, characterized by high soil heat retention and a long growing season, promote optimal ripeness despite low yields. The vineyard is managed biologically through selective hand harvesting, and the grapes are typically destemmed with a small percentage of stems retained to introduce additional aromatics and a hint of bitterness. Following a three-week skin contact in open-top vats (or open bottich enclosures) that encourages spontaneous fermentation, the must is pressed and transferred to neutral wooden barrels (ranging from 300 to 1,000 liters, with many wines aged in Hungarian 500L barrels). Minimal sulfur additions are applied prior to bottling, and the wine’s release is further delayed to allow tannins to settle naturally. The entire process adheres to natural and vegan practices without additional enological interventions.