2022 Franz Strohmeier, Lys-rd 33 Steiermark, Austria

Lysegrn means light green in Danish, in a nod to the special relationship that Franz has with its Danish importer and customers, esp. Noma, whose appreciation for his then-unusually natural wines kept the Strohmeier winery afloat when their Austrian customers turned their backs on their zero-sulfur approach.

Grapes: Weissburgunder (aka Pinot Blanc)

Vineyard: Bad Gams and Stainz. Gneiss with important iron and silica content.

Making of: the grapes are harvested by hand with a careful selection of only very healthy and ripe bunches. Free-run juice only, spontaneously fermented and matured for 12 months in used 500-liter wooden oak barrels. Unfined, unfiltered, no sulfur added.

Personality: superb structure and elegance of the grape. Serve at 15 degrees Celsius in big glasses to fully appreciate it.