This Wine Wednesday is dedicated to this Austrian variety, Zweigelt, which I haven’t had in a while but had the opportunity to taste this evening at the reception for scholarship winners of awards from Les Dames d’Escoffier’s New York Chapter (LDNY) I have been a member of LDNY since 2014. I was super honored when I was inducted thanks to Melanie Young’s support. Since that time, I have learned so much about the organization and the amazing woman who are part of it. I am currently the organization’s treasurer.

At tonight’s wonderful scholarship celebration, I tasted the wine mentioned above and found out that it is in Jenny & Francois’s portfolio. I sponsored Jenny for Les Dames last year. If felt like a full circle moment. The wine itself is lovely and fun for a summer evening. Reading about the winemaker/producer made me like the wine even more. Christina Netzl, the winemaker, noted that Zweigelt likes wind, warm days and cooler nights. Her winery has been organic since 2013 and certified as such since 2018. She came from a farming family which dedicated itself to natural wines after a time. All of the wines under this label are unfined and unfiltered with a small addition of sulfur.

Christina’s family has lived and farmed in their village since the year 1650. The fun labels of these wines are supposed to call attention to the importance of bugs in the vineyards. They made me smile because I just had a big bug conversation with my son..

Fun to celebrate scholarship winners with this wine and to celebrate Les Dames in general.