Three Wines from Austria's Höpler - And A Wine Club

Weingut Höpler from Austria's Burgenland

Burgenland is the lower-lying corner of south-east Austria near the Hungarian border and Lake Neusidl; warmed by southerly breezes, the region produces perhaps Austria's greatest variety of wines, with reds, whites and dessert wines all performing well.

The hallmark Burgenland wines is a generous, southerly warmth and ripeness that is very different to, say, the steely, poised focus of the Wachau.

Family-owned winery Höpler, based in Burgenland, has just launched the Höpler Wine Club; twice a year, the club will provide the opportunity to discover a selection of six exclusive wines from Höpler, not yet widely available in the UK.

I tried out a white, red and a sticky.

Gruner Veltliner 2016 (£12.50, Great Western Wines) classic gruener aromas of white pepper, elderflower and puy lentils with ripe, fleshy stone fruits, substantial texture and a fresh, mineral backbone.

Good.

Match with a plate of antipasti, meaty white fish or roast white meats.

Blaufrankisch 2013 (£12.95, Great Western Wines) fresh dark cherry and elderberry fruits with complex roasted spices and fine tannins. Fresh, long and mineral.

Good.

Match with meaty fish or darker game.

Höpler, TBA (37.5cl) , 2015 (£22.50, Great Western Wines) oily and viscous late-harvest, botrytised sticky, full of roasted peaches, clove and nutmeg spice, beeswax and honey only just held in check by a mineral freshness.

Good.

Match with rich desserts, such as sticky toffee pudding or pecan and date tart.

For more details on Wine Club membership visit: http://www.hoepler.at/files/uk_membership_details_1.pdf