Zahel Orange T 2023

As skin-contact wines go this is at the delicate and refined end of the spectrum - a great place to start if you fancy trying these out. It's made from a little known Austrian grape variety called Orangetraube and this is what gives rise to its moniker. Zahel reckon they're one of the very few in Austria (or anywhere else) to produce a single varietal expression of this grape and it's one that's certainly worthy of attention. Fermented in stainless steel, on the nose it's got quite intense peach and apricot aromas while on the palate the tangy fruit is complemented with a touch of honeysuckle sweetness, balanced with a hint of spice, a fresh acidity and cool minerality. Full of character this is a really interesting and worthwhile wine.

Delightful by itself, it also makes an excellent accompaniment to spicy Thai dishes.

Weingut Zahel has a total of 33 hectares of vines spread through Vienna's main wine zones which are looked after by owner Richard Zahel. Richard’s nephew, Alex, together with his American wife Hilary, run the winery. They've long been one of the pioneers in bringing the local wine, Wiener Gemischter Satz, to the international stage. It's a field blend of wines, traditionally made from the vineyards in and around Vienna and was (and still is) drunk as a jug wine in the city's heurige. Since the mid-2000s Zahel along with other like-minded winemakers have transformed its image to where it's now seen a quality product and is seen on a larger stage.