2018 Weingut Tement ‘IZ’ Ried Zieregg Sauvignon Blanc Reserve STK, Steiermark, Austria

The Zieregg “IZ” is a very special and limited wine. Manfred was very interested in achieving the greatest expression of origin in a bottle of wine. In 2005, he and Armin decided to experiment with intracellular fermentation. The grapes undergo an intracellular fermentation, hence “IZ” for IntraZellulare, for 100 days. This means that enzymes start the fermentation; the maximum fermentation they can achieve is five to six percent alcohol. The grapes are then pressed and finish fermentation from the natural yeasts in cask for six months. It’s aged for up to five years before being released.