Hopler Trockenbeerenauslese 37.5cl half bottle

Description

Hopler Trockenbeerenauslese is one of the very best examples of Austrian dessert wine. Trockenbeerenauslese (or TBA), which literally translates as “dry-berry-selection”. It is made from grapes that are 100% affected by Noble Rot (Botrytis Cinerea). It is a Pradikatswein, nothing can be added—no must, no chaptalisation. Most Pradikatswein wines may not be released until 1st May after harvest. As well as having to be made from 100% Botrytis grapes, a TBA must have a >30°KMW (KMW or the Klosterneuburger Zuckergrade scale measures the exact sugar content of the grape must).

Hopler Wines is a family-owned company. They outgrew their old winery in Winden am See and, in 2004, they moved to a new state-of-the-art winery in Breitenbrunn, Burgenland. This region is known for its wide and shallow lake, which can lose more than half its volume due to evaporation. The mists created by these lakes provide a very conducive climate for noble rot to shrivel grapes. Hopler’s vineyards are situated at various sites in the Leithaberg Hill, on the shores of  Lake Neusiedl. There are 46 hectares of vineyards situated on the most prized sites in Burgenland: Kirchberg, Jungkirchberg, Schanz, Hirschäcker, Altvierholzer and Rosenberg.

Hopler Trockenbeerenauslese is a rich and complex dessert wine. The 2015 is a blend of 35% Sämling 88 (also known as Scheurebe), 35% Welschriesling and 30% Riesling. The residual sugar is 201.6 g/L.

Fun fact: Hopler makes the house wines for the Trapp Family Lodge of Sound of Music fame!