The Spätburgunder
Grape
The German name for Pinot Noir, Spätburgunder is renowned for producing elegant, complex red wines with flavors of red cherries, raspberries, and earthy notes, along with a silky texture. It is particularly successful in the cooler wine regions of Germany, such as Baden, Pfalz, and Rheingau, where it can achieve a delicate balance of fruit and acidity.
Spätburgunder
Grape History
Spätburgunder, also known as Pinot Noir in other parts of the world, is a grape variety with a long and rich history that dates back to ancient times. The name Spätburgunder translates to "late Burgundian" in German, indicating its late ripening nature and origins in the Burgundy region of France.
Spätburgunder is believed to have been cultivated by the Romans in the Burgundy region as early as the 1st century AD. The grape eventually spread throughout Europe, first to Germany where it was planted in the Ahr Valley in the 8th century. Today, Germany is the third largest producer of Pinot Noir in the world, after France and the United States.
Germany's Spätburgunder wines are known for their elegance, finesse, and complexity. They are typically lighter in body compared to their counterparts from warmer climates, with flavors of red fruit, earth, and spice. German Pinot Noirs can range from fruity and vibrant to more complex and age-worthy wines.
Spätburgunder is also grown in other cool climate regions around the world such as Austria, Switzerland, New Zealand, and parts of the United States like Oregon and California. These regions offer unique expressions of Pinot Noir due to their specific terroir and winemaking techniques.
In terms of wine styles, Spätburgunder is used to produce a wide range of wines including red wines, rosé, sparkling wines (known as Sekt in Germany), and even white wines (such as Blanc de Noirs). The grape is also used in traditional German wine blends such as Weissherbst, which is a rosé wine made primarily from Spätburgunder grapes.
The future of Spätburgunder looks promising as more consumers around the world are discovering and appreciating the finesse and complexity of German Pinot Noir. Climate change is also playing a role in expanding the regions where Pinot Noir can be successfully grown, opening up new opportunities for producers to experiment with this versatile grape variety.
Overall, Spätburgunder has a fascinating history, and its future seems bright as more winemakers continue to showcase the potential of this grape in different regions and wine styles. Whether you prefer a light and fruity red or a complex and age-worthy wine, Spätburgunder has something to offer for every wine lover.
Introduction
Hello, my name is Franklin Laurel - Welcome!
I started drinking wine in 1992 when I was in my early twenties and recently married. Like many other young Southern Californians, it started out with White Zinfandel. As we were a couple of young DINKs just beginning life together, and on a budget, our go-to-wine was Sutter Home White Zinfandel, which tasted a lot like wine coolers and probably cost at the time $2.49. If we really were going to splurge, we would step it up and buy Beringer White Zinfandel for $2.99. Those were the days....
After a little time, we decided to get fancy. We stepped up our game and bought some wonderful 2-Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's. The Charles Shaw (Trader Joe's Exclusive Label) wine, also known as 2-Buck-Chuck extended our pallet into Reds for only $1.99 a bottle. Over the years we continued to grow in our understanding of wine (finally ran into some good wine) and we slowly kept buying better and better bottles.
Our first wine club purchase was from Kenwood's Vineyards, in Kenwood, California located in Sonoma Valley, right next to the famous Napa Valley. I began to learn about tobacco leather, and earthiness, and lots of other strange terminology when tasting their signature Zinfandels (of the red variety). So that is how it all began.
Fast forward a couple decades, and we have been members of five different wine clubs, and now have a passion for California's red wines. My favorite by far is Cabernet Sauvignon, while my wife fancies a good Syrah, Malbec, or Merlot - but she also loves the smell of a wine barrel room, which is all about the notes of Cabernet Sauvignon.
As I come across great wine resources and useful information that I find in planning my own wine trips, I will share here for anyone that might stumble across my humble website.
Cheers! - Franklin Laurel