JOHANNES ZILLINGER Returns

Johannes' father was one of the earliest adopter of organics in Austria (certified in 1984). So, Johannes grew up entirely in the spirit of holistic farming and winemaking.

When Johannes came of age, he spent time working in Georgia studying winemaking in the ancestral cradle of the grape vine. There he immersed himself in the ancient roots of winemaking, especially learning how to work with qvevri. His incorporation of these techniques together with his central European methods has created award winning wines that are as unique as they are delicious.

In just nine years, Zillinger’s talent and ingenuity as a wine grower have gained purchase from Japan to Scandinavia to New York to here in Alberta. It’s with immense pleasure, we greet new vintages of these well-loved wines and introduce three new cuvées as well: Parcellaire Blanc No.1, Velue Riesling, and Velue Grüner Veltliner.

 If you want to know more about the characteristics of this area you can take a look at www.vinerra.com

Hear from Johannes on the Wine Thieves podcast with D'Amato & Szabo and on the  Interpreting Wine Podcast with Lawrence Francis.

2021 “Velue” Muskateller

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2021 “Velue” Grüner Veltliner

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2021 “Velue” Riesling

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2021 “Velue” Rosé

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NV “Revolution” White Solera

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NV “Revolution” Pink Solera

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NV “Revolution” Red Solera

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2020 “Parcellaire Blanc No.1”

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AB CSPC/SKU # 841779

2021 Velue Muskateller

Weinviertel

Such a dazzling, aromatic, dry Muscat, exuding notes of ginger, orange flower water, and peach skins. Crushed by foot in an oak open top vat, this Austrian favourite is über traditional. After sitting on their skins for 5-10 hours to amplify the texture, 95% of the Muskateller juice is pressed and racked to stainless steel while the other 5% continues fermenting on its skins, racked to terracotta qvevri. After fermentation, the blend is aged six months in stainless on the lees with regular bâtonnage, undergoing MLF. The final product has a gorgeous texture, rounded acidity, and a refreshing zestiness that makes you lean in over and over again.

• Varietal/Blend: 100% Muskateller
• Fermentation: Whole-cluster foot tread. After half-day maceration, 95% is pressed over a painstaking 8-hours and racked into stainless steel while 5% of the fruit remains on skins, racked to amphora. Natural ferments with indigenous yeasts.
• Ageing: Six months in stainless steel on lees with bâtonnage and MLF. Unfined & unfiltered.
• Vineyard & Vine Age: Zillinger estate fruit. 15-25 years old. Biodynamic, hand farmed. Vineyards “Haidthal” and “Hohes Eck” — both windy and chilly allowing for late harvesting.
• ABV: 11.0%
• Produced Cases: 600

AB CSPC/SKU # 874209

2021 Velue Grüner Veltliner

Weinviertel

Velue is the ancient name for the Zillinger's home village of Velm and means 'Trees along the river' referring to the willow trees growing along the Sulzbach crossing the village.
The Velue wines are beautifully balanced and well made natural wines fermented spontaneously in stainless
steel on the lees. Beside the vines in these old vineyards grow several types of thyme planted to make teas and medicinal extracts. Johannes's careful farming and long hang times combined with the herbaceous quality his wines pick up from their proximity to these herbs make for wildly unique natural wines that never go sideways on us. Find here all the classical indicators of Grüner Veltliner — yellow fruit, white pepper, savoury salinity — buttressed by a firm herbaceous quality, a hint of skin contact, and a wonderful concentration that never feels overwrought.

• Varietal/Blend: 100% Grüner Veltliner
• Fermentation: Whole-cluster foot tread. After half-day maceration, the fruit receives an extremely gentle 5-hour pressing and is then racked into stainless steel. Natural ferment with indigenous yeasts.
• Ageing: Three months in stainless steel on lees with bâtonnage and MLF. Unfined & unfiltered.
• Vineyard & Vine Age: Hand farmed and hand harvested estate vineyards surrounding Zillinger's village of Velm-Goetzendorf
• with vines 15-55 year old grown on loam, loess, limestone, and sandstone.
• ABV: 12.0%
• Produced Cases: 600

AB CSPC/SKU # 874208

2021 Velue Riesling

Weinviertel

A patently Austrian dry Riesling, that salty and savoury and peppery terroir shining through over intense aromas of nectarine, jasmine, pea blossom, candied lemon, and a hint of petrol. This is a such a beautiful example of Österreich terroir, an effortless treat.

• Varietal/Blend: 100% Riesling
• Fermentation: Foot-tread whole cluster. After a short maceration time, spontaneously fermented at 23-25°C in stainless steel.
• Ageing: Five months in stainless steel on lees with bâtonnage and MLF. Unfined & unfiltered.
• Vineyard & Vine Age: Zillinger estate fruit. 15-25 years old. Biodynamic, hand farmed. From the eastern facing slope for the “Haidthal” vineyard, windy and chilly, allowing for late harvesting.
• ABV: 12.0%
• Produced Cases: 600

AB CSPC/SKU # 841780

2021 Velue Cabernet Rosé

Weinviertel

95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Syrah. 5-10 hours of skin contact in stainless for the Cabernet Sauvignon. Syrah is fermented on its skins in Georgian qvevri then blended back into the Cab for six months on the lees in stainless with bâtonnage and full MLF. A rich and deeply coloured rosé full of juicy watermelon and raspberry notes accentuated by herbaceous elements and a delightful texture.

• Varietal/Blend: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon 5% Syrah
• Fermentation: Natural ferment with brief maceration in stainless for Cab Sauv, Syrah in amphora (qvevri).
• Ageing: Three months in stainless steel on lees with bâtonnage and MLF. Unfined & unfiltered.
• Vineyard & Vine Age: Zillinger estate fruit from bottom of SE aspect slope near the forest where his reds ripen slowest. 25 years old. Biodynamic, hand farmed.
• ABV: 11.5%
• Produced Cases: 500

AB CSPC/SKU # 841786

NV Revolution White Solera

Weinviertel

2020's bottling is roughly 50% Chardonnay from 2019, 25% Riesling from 2013-2019, and 25% Scheurebe from 2017 & 18. Scheurebe whole-cluster pressed and fermented in stainless for elegance, fruit, and freshness. The Chardonnay is fermented on its skins in Georgian qvevri amphorae, bringing structure and body. The Riesling solera is the oldest and contributes the greater character and complexity to this cuvée year after year. All of the wine was aged on the lees. Unfined & Unfiltered. Zero SO2 added. Riesling is the bones of the house, Chardonnay the furnishings, and Scheurebe knocks on the door with flowers!

• Varietal/Blend: 50% Chardonnay 25% Riesling 25% Scheurebe
• Fermentation: Natural fermentation, Scheurebe 2017 & 2018: whole cluster pressed for more elegance, fruit and freshness; fermented in stainless steel with handpicked berries // Chardonnay 2019: short time fermented on the skins for structure and body // Riesling 2013-2019 (small quantities of NUMEN Riesling) in solera system
• Ageing: Six months stainless steel before bottling. Non-Vintage/2020 bottling. Unfined & unfiltered.
• Vineyard & Vine Age: Steinthal vineyard, Hohes Eck vineyard, 20-40+ years old. Biodynamic, hand farmed.
• ABV: 12.5%
• Produced Cases: 833



AB CSPC/SKU # 841787

NV Revolution Pink Solera

Weinviertel

This year's bottling sees about 50% Rösler from 2019, 40% Syrah from 2018 & 19, and 10% St. Laurent from 2016-18. The Rösler is whole-cluster pressed, fermented into stainless steel for fermentation, then matured in old 500L oak barrels. Syrah is whole-berry fermented and matured in 500L oak. A portion of the St. Laurent solera is blended in for nuanced character. The blend's then aged on lees, full MLF, bottled hazy as, no sulfur added. Just throw out the cork. Johannes says the "combination of soleras shows my favourite wine style; a combination of fruit and freshness paired with structure, ripeness, and a lot of glou-glou."

• Varietal/Blend: 50% Rösler 40% Syrah 10% St. Laurent
• Fermentation: Natural Fermentation, Rösler 2019: whole cluster pressed for more elegance, acidity and freshness; fermented in stainless steel, matured in used 500 lt barrels of oak // Syrah 2019 & 2018: short time fermented on the berries and matured in 500 lt barrels for minerality and body // St. Laurent 2016, 2017, 2018 (small quantities of NUMEN Rosé) in solera system.
• Ageing: Six months stainless steel before bottling. Non-Vintage/2020 bottling. Unfined & unfiltered.
• Vineyard & Vine Age: Steinhal 20-110+ years old. Biodynamic, hand farmed.
• ABV: 11.5%
• Produced Cases: 400

AB CSPC/SKU # 841788

NV Revolution Red Solera

Weinviertel

2020's bottling includes Cab Sauv from 2017, Roesler from a solera stretching back to 2016, and Zweigelt from 2019. Each year the Rösler receives a short maceration during fermentation before being combined in large old oak barrels for maturation. The Zweigelt too is briefly macerated before maturing in 500L oak. The Cab, however, sees a long maceration as it ferments in 1000L terracotta amphorae, bringing structure to the blend. Bottled hazy with no added sulphur, this wine has a startling density, tart and fragrant. The Cab Sauv’s time in qvevri lends that signature potter's texture to the leaner more angular Austrian varieties. The resulting wine is a bewildering pleasure, greater than the sum of its parts. Notes of cherry, cassis, blueberry, and huckleberry play against tarragon, sage, fresh cut grass, and dried cranberry. A delight for mind and palate alike.

• Varietal/Blend: 50% Rösler 25% Zweigelt 25% Cabernet
• Fermentation: Natural fermentation, Rösler 2016-2018 (solera system): short time skin fermented and matured in big old barrels of oak // Zweigelt 2019: short time fermented on the berries and matured in 500 lt barrels for fruit and acidity // Cabernet 2017: long time skin fermented in 1000 lt amphoras
• Ageing: Six months stainles steel before bottling. Non-Vintage/2020 bottling. Unfined & unfiltered.
• Vineyard & Vine Age: Steinhal vineyard, Sonnberg vineyard, 20-40 years old. Biodynamic, hand farmed.
• ABV: 12.5%
• Produced Cases: 583

AB CSPC/SKU # 874211

2020 Parcellaire Blanc No.1

Weinviertel

This wine is so Zillinger, at once extremely unique and extremely delicious, beautifully farmed and site specific fruit (in this case his coolest climate, north facing, latest ripening plots) combined with a wildly creative élevage. Parcellaire Blanc No.1 is equal parts Chardonnay and Welschriesling. The Welschriesling is whole cluster fermented in qvevri amphoras on the skins then pressed and matured in 500 litre Oak barrels while the Chardonnay is pressed whole cluster and fermented aged in Acacia barrels for eight months under naturally occurring flor. It is difficult to describe this wine — rich, clean, and unique fruit profile in the vein of white peach, yellow apple, yellow pear, and quince but with baking spice, crème fraîche, pie shell, savoury herbs, and a distinctive salinity. The texture from the time on skins and the textured acidity create a fuller body than its gentle alcohol would imply. This wine is truly one of a kind.

• Varietal/Blend: Chardonnay & Welschriesling
• Fermentation: The Welschriesling is whole cluster fermented in amphoras on the skins with indigenous yeast. Chardonnay is pressed whole cluster and fermented in Acacia barrels under naturally occurring flor.
• Ageing: The Welschriesling is aged in Oak. The Chardonnay is aged in Acacia. 8 months. The two are blended 1 month before bottling. Less than 15ppm SO2. Unfined & unfiltered.
• Vineyard & Vine Age: The Parcellaire range is a further development of Johannes's previous single vineyard wines. For his three Parcellaire wines Johannes selects only the coolest parcels of his oldest vineyards, those close to forests, facing north and northeast and on windy hilltops. All of these plots are situated on lime-sandstone soils and produce wines of unique cool climate personalities. Vines at least 35 years old.
• ABV: 11.5%
• Produced Cases: 416