2020 Matthias Warnung 'Espere' Rose

WINEMAKER: Matthias Warnung
REGION: Kamptal, AU
VARIETY: Zweigelt
VITICULTURE: Organic 

VINEYARDS: 45-year-old Zweigelt vines planted around Etsdorf in the Kamptal Valley, Lower Austria. The vineyards are farmed organically by the Warnung family, now in its fourth generation. Soils are a mix of brown earth and clay with chalk inclusions, combining the warmth of the Pannonian climate with the cooling influence of winds from the northwestern Waldviertel. Yields average around 35 hl/ha (approx. 1.75 tonnes per acre).

VINTAGE: The 2020 growing season in Kamptal began with a mild winter and early budbreak, followed by a warm, dry spring. Summer brought alternating periods of heat and rain, allowing even ripening and preserving natural acidity. Harvest timing was key, with cooler nights helping retain freshness and aromatic precision in the fruit.

TECH NOTES: Hand-harvested and whole-bunch pressed, the juice underwent spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in old oak barrels at ambient temperatures. The wine matured in barrel for 24 months, undergoing full malolactic fermentation. Bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with only a minimal addition of sulfur at bottling.

TASTING NOTES: A layered, textural rosé showing wild strawberry, blood orange, and crushed herbs. There’s a savoury edge balanced by fine acidity and chalky minerality. Clos Cibbonne-esque texture and finish.