Rosenhof

Website: Rosenhof Winery
Country Location: Austria
 

Year after year, the Rosenhof winery has been pulling in many Austrian and International awards to the sweet wine paradise, Illmitz. But Vinzenz Haider and his son, Reinhard, not only excel at producing the 'dolce vita', sweet wines with distinction such as Beerenauslesen (BA), Trockenbeerenauslesen (TBA), and several Eisweine (ice wines). They are also offering an extended portfolio of dry white and red wines made from the grapes they grow in some of the best vineyards around Illmitz on more than 35 acres.


  The Rosenhof estate is set amidst one of the most beautiful European sceneries. It is located near Lake Neusiedlersee on one side and in a district with many smaller, shallow lakes on the other. RosenhofThis special natural environment makes this wine region one of only a handful of regions in the world where the grapes are affected by noble rot on a regular basis. No wonder Illmitz boasts many of the superstars of Austrian sweet wine production, including quite a few members of the larger Haider family.
  
  THE BLESSINGS OF NOBLE ROT FOR SWEET WINE. "The best conditions for growth of the noble fungus botrytis cinerea are a warm summer and a mild autumn as well as the moisture of mists rolling in from a nearby river or lake. A high mean temperature (due to the Pannonian influence) and the regulating effect of large water surfaces (Neusiedlersee) are added factors. Mists and showers trigger the fungus, and in the right temperature the spores can disseminate quickly.
  The fungus penetrates the skin of the individual berries and causes them to dry out, concentrating other constituent elements, such as sugar and various acids, in the berry. At first, there will be individual 'botrytis nests' on the healthy berries then the noble rot covers the entire bunch, causing the berries to shrivel like raisins. Usually the wine producer has to select out the ripe material for the different categories of wine in the vineyard.
  Late harvest wines made predominantly or exclusively from nobly-rotten grapes require several pickings. The Beerenauslese (BA) is by far the most common sweet wine, while the wine to be harvested last is the Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA), which is made practically only from nobly rotten raisin-like berries. These berries must have a very high sugar content (at least 30∞ Klosterneuburger Most Waage, KMW) which means that one third of the must consists of natural sugar. For Ausbruch wines, like the Ruster Ausbruch, suitable berries are "broken out" of the bunch in a very labor-intensive procedure. The fermentation of these sugar-rich musts can take several months." Liquid Gold, Austrian Wine Marketing Board
  
  THE ROSENHOF RESTAURANT AND HOTEL. For wine enthusiasts traveling to Illmitz we have additional good news. An important part of the Rosenhof winery is its excellent restaurant featuring authentic Pannonian cuisine. This is a mix of tasty dishes that originated from cultures across the Pannonian plains. Hungarian, Serbian, Slovakian, and Austrian influences melt into one of Europe's heartiest gourmet delights. As can be expected from an established wine estate you can pair the food with selections from Rosenhof's extensive wine cellar. If you don’t want to end the sumptuous feast early you may chose to stay in one of the comfortable rooms offered here. Next day you can explore the nearby nature park by walking, biking, or by horse carriage, or go sailing or swimming in Lake Neusiedlersee.
  

Awards and Comments


  (a small selection since 1970)
  Pinot Blanc BA 1989, Winner, Austrian Wine Salon, 1990
  Traminer Eiswein 1990, Grand Prix d’Honneur, Bordeaux 1993
  Traminer Eiswein 1990, Gold, London 1996
  Boozier TBA 1984, Prix d’Excellence, Paris 1995
  Blaufränkisch Baroque 1993, Gold, Chicago 1997
  
  WINES. We are very happy that we succeeded in convincing Reinhard Haider to ship us a few cases of their spectacular 1998 Chardonnay and Welschriesling TBAs. 1998 was an excellent vintage for sweet wines in Illmitz and both wines show the wine-making mastery of Vinzenz Haider and his son very well. Here is what the Austrian Wine Marketing Board has to say about this special vintage: "A fairly wet autumn was the reason for an exceptional sweet wine year. … Their strong botrytis note and a high, harmonious level of acidity characterize the concentrated sweet wines from this vintage. 1998 presents a larger than usual variety of sweet wines which will age especially well."
  The American term, Desert Wine, is actually a misnomer; they really are sweet wines that can be paired with different kind of foods, not just deserts. They are ideal company for delicacies such as fois gras or all types of pâtés. These wines also go very well with many international cheeses in particular blue cheeses, such as Rocquefort, Stilton, Gorgonzola, or the reknowned US-made Point Reyes. Finally, these sweet wines can be sipped all by themselves to explore their luciously deep aromas and textures.
 

Wines:

 rosenhof
Chardonnay Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) 1998 (barrique)
Enjoyable nose of peaches and apricots. Exhibits a fine density on the palate, triggers memories of Christmas with ginger bread and nuts and butterscotch. The faint wood supports a wonderful elegant finesse with a finish that radiates for a long time. Will age very well. Give this very special TBA a try if you want to get a completely new picture of Chardonnay.
93 points, A la Carte

rosenhof
Welschriesling Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) 1998
This grape –not to be confused with the Rhine Riesling- makes usually for relatively simple, easygoing wines. In this region it is also known as one of the grapes best suited to produce stylish and well structured sweet wines. The Rosenhof TBA is fragrant, lively and refreshing, stone fruits with almonds and autumn leaves. A very fine wine with lots of personality. People love it.

rosenhof
Zweigelt 2001
Here is a fine example of Austria's most popular red grape, the Zweigelt. Juicy, red fruit and tart cherries combine in a nice bouquet of tasting sensations. This Zweigelt is soft, jammy, and very drinkable now, great value at this price!

rosenhof
Sauvignon Blanc 2001
Austria's answer to the kiwis from the lands-down-under showcases a classic grassy-hay nose, green apples and citrus, with a flinty finish. Another Rosenhof winner, have more at this low price.
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