Zweigelt

2007 growing season:

This is a pure vinifera varietal (pure European parentage) and a challenge for us here in Vermont.

We chose it as our only red vinifera varietal based on its hardiness and its ability to ripen in our climate.

It produces a fine medium bodied red wine with pleasant tannins, somewhat similar to a Pinot Noir.  It's the most widely planted red variety in Austria where it originates.  Its also widely grown in Ontario's, Niagara Bench region.

Until the spring of 2007 we thought it was as hardy as Riesling.  We were wrong.  We planted it first in 1999 but I guess its takes a decade or so to really understand how a given variety will fare in a given area.  On March 6, 2007 the temperature plunged to minus 18 F, the coldest we have seen since our first planting.  It occured after a relative mild winter, at least until that day, with the result that we have no Zweigelt crop this year.   The Riesling vines located in the very next rows will have a reasonable crop and yield this year....SO....March 6 separated Riesling from Zweigelt......we now must conclude that Riesling is a considerably hardier vinifera than Zweigelt.  It took us 8 growing seasons to learn this!!   The Zweigelt vines mostly survived so we will try for a crop next year.