Beverage
Zweigelt
Zweigelt is Austria’s most planted red—a Blaufränkisch × St. Laurent cross with juicy cherry fruit, soft-to-medium tannin, and easy charm that ranges from light café reds to denser reserve styles. It ripens reliably and drinks earlier than Blaufränkisch while keeping Central European acid. The glass is typically bright, purple-tinged, and food-friendly rather than austere. Use Zweigelt for weeknight pan sauces, pork schnitzel pairings at the table, and light braises where cherry fruit is welcome without heavy tannin. It reduces cleanly for mushroom and onion gravies. Keep oak-heavy reserves for richer meat dishes and fresher bottles for poultry and vegetable cooking.
Also known as: Zweigelt, Zweigeltrebe
Track this ingredient
Characteristics
Preparations
Traits
History
Fritz Zweigelt crossed Blaufränkisch with St. Laurent at Klosterneuburg, creating the variety later named Zweigelt.
Post-war Austrian plantings made Zweigelt the country’s volume and quality workhorse red.
Site-focused and reserve Zweigelt styles proved the cross could be more than simple quaffing wine.