Variety detail

Veltliner Frührot

About

Synonymum: Malvasier, Malvasia, Frühroter Veltliner 
1.7% of the total vineyard plantings.
Entered in the State Register of Grape Varieties in 1952.

The wine is golden-yellow in colour, of neutral taste, full but with low levels of acidity.

Genetic studies show this variety has its origins in Sylvaner and Roter Veltliner, similar to that of Neuburger, making the two varieties close relatives. It is practically only cultivated in this country and Lower Austria, where it goes under the name of Frühroter Veltliner or Malvasier.

Growth is vigorous, and the wood matures poorly, resistance to frost and all fungal diseases is low. Leaves are large, pentagonal in shape, deeply divided and pale in colour. Bunches are large, conical, dense. Berries are medium, round, light-red, of neutral flavour and with lower acidity. 

Because the wines are lacking in personality, they have fallen from favour. 

Low-lying positions are not suitable for this cultivar, although the vineyard aspect is irrelevant and not demanding. They require poor gravelly soils. In rich soils growth is too vigorous with proportionately low yields. As a grape variety it is slowly disappearing from our vineyards and is being substituted by better regarded varieties. 

The wine is golden-yellow in colour, of neutral taste, full but with low levels of acidity. In wines with higher sugar levels in the must one finds hints of honey. Wines that have lower acidity mature relatively fast, which is why they are used in cuvées, for example with the late-ripening varieties, such as Welschriesling. Because the wines are lacking in personality, they have fallen from favour. 

Most wines made from Frühroter Veltliner can be recommended as accompaniment to everyday cooking and light meat snacks. 

Exceptions to this rule in this country are those wines comimg from northerly parts of southern Moravia, where a certain typicality and unique character is not lacking. 

Most wines made from Frühroter Veltliner can be recommended as accompaniment to everyday cooking and light meat snacks. 

Basic characteristics of quality wines:

Golden-yellow colour, very neutral nose, medium full and well-balanced wine, which does not excel in terms of its personality. 

Translation © Helena & John Baker 2004.