Still not sure what went wrong back in the day with Austrian tourism PR, but why did they push Grüner so hard?...

Still not sure what went wrong back in the day with Austrian tourism PR, but why did they push Grüner so hard? Forget the polite, semi-spicy, peppery Grüner, Furmint is the real firestarter. Think freshly opened jar of jalapeños and a cup of ginger tea. That was literally one of my tasting notes. This bold energy of wine is exactly why we keep pushing the conversation around terroir and character, even when it’s easier to settle for something familiar. Like we still dare to talk about terroir and character with our 14% buttery Meursault, maybe more than we should. Yet Furmint shows what true character means: a pure, unmistakable sense of place and grape. We have tried Furmint from sandy stones, quartz, limestone, volcanic soils, they all showed austere minerality. Some did very well with aging in barrels too, but it was never about “barrel spice.” Furmint has its own heat and wild herb energy to shine through. Pure attitude. And yes, *character* forgive the overused wine word, but if Furmint doesn’t have it, what white grape does? Easily one of the most distinctive varieties. It once crafted the world’s most prestigious sweet wines for good reason. Today, it also shines in dry, energetic styles across Hungary, Slovenia, and Austria. Go explore it - like we did! Big shoutout to @crisskreutz lining up incredible bottles. I’m only sharing a few as an appetiser. #furmint #winediary #winestudy