Josef “Pepi” Umathum farms his family vineyards biodynamically in the Burgenland growing district called Neusiedlersee (Lake Neusiedl), next to Austria’s border with Hungary. He is a red wine specialist, and this rosé combines his three principal varieties: bläufrankisch, Sankt Laurent, and zweigelt (a.k.a. rotberger). It’s the dark-rosé / light-red color of cherry Kool-Aid, but oh-so-much kooler! There’s a cornucopia of crunchy red fruits with a kiss of spice and savory finish. The wine has enough heft to be treated like a chillable red but not so much that you’ve left rosé territory. It’s a classic fall wine with Thanksgiving written all over it. And it’s not afraid of spicy food.
