Cool transition: Austrian wine from summer to fall

While back to school and back to work don’t usually thrill anyone, there is something to be said about transitional “summall” food. Markets are chock-full of local produce, and foodies and home cooks get excided about tomatoes and squash. You know what else makes its triumphant return? Oysters! That’s right; it’s time to get shucking again come September and beyond. But what wines can handle this seasonal transition, you ask? There are classic pairings of course, but we’re here to shake things up a bit and turn your attention to Austria. Fresh, lively, distinctive yet fuss-free, Austrian wines can take you from summer sips on the patio to oyster party with ease. Here are suggestions to prove our point.

Get Grü-Ve and bubbly

While Riesling may come to mind for some, the title of king grape in Austria actually goes to Grüner Veltliner. Increasingly popular in Quebec, it delivers a fresh, mineral and citrusy profile (with some variations, obviously) that customers can’t get enough of. Such personality pairs perfectly with anything seafood, but if you’re looking for something different to accompany crab dishes and oysters, we’ve got a bubbly rosé suggestion sure to get some wows, too.

Esterhazy Klimt Burgenland

This wine made from Grüner Veltliner offers maximum freshness due to a unique passage in stainless steel vats. Vibrant, mineral, fruity, it's easy to approach. Great quality for the price, plus customers and employees give it rave reviews. And who could resist that label?

Crazy Creatures

Located a mere one-hour drive outside Vienna, the Weingut Malat wine estate has been mastering its art and building its strong reputation for over three centuries. A pioneer in the Kremstal region, this domain is among Austria's most respected. With four different labels featuring strange insects, this Grüner Veltliner-based white is from its Crazy Creatures range! Beautifully biting, it offers charming minerality, citrus and spice notes.

Weszeli Felix Niederosterreich Grüner Veltliner

With an expressive minerality both on the nose and the palate, this Grüner Veltliner is a delicate wine whose notes of green apple and lime give personality to a set that does not lack pep! Nice work from this Austrian estate located not far from the city of Langenlois. Davis Weszeli keeps a long family tradition alive that goes back to 1679.

Domaine Wachau Gruner Veltliner

This is the kind of white to always have in the fridge. Delicate, tense, it awakens our sensors with its lemon and mineral notes. In an ice bucket as an aperitif or at the table paired with salads, white fish or sushi, this Grüner Veltliner imposes its versatility every time. Plus, this is just an appetizer of Domäne Wachau. Imagine!

Meinklang Prosa

Meinklang is an Austrian family estate with the wind in its sails, where everything is produced according to the precepts of organic and biodynamic farming. A pleasant cuvée that involves a few local grape varieties with the well-known Pinot Noir, this wine is a real feast on the palate. It's light (10.5% alcohol) very dry, and above all, harmoniously tasty.

August pairing 

Crab cakes

Preparation 15 min
Cooking time 20 min
Servings 4

September pairing 

Oysters with sweet and sour salsa

Preparation 10 min
Cooking time None
Servings 24 oysters

No seafood, no problem

We get it, not everyone’s a fan of oysters. Lucky for you, Austria also produces some great reds. In fact, the proportion of red grapes planted in the country has doubled in the last 20 years. The popular Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch and Saint-Laurent can produce fresh, easy-drinking reds with crisp fruit and varying degrees of body.

Weingut Pittnauer Pitti

Meinklang is an Austrian family estate with the wind in its sails, where everything is produced according to the precepts of organic and biodynamic farming. A pleasant cuvée that involves a few local grape varieties with the well-known Pinot Noir, this wine is a real feast on the palate. It's light (10.5% alcohol) very dry, and above all, harmoniously tasty.

August pairing 

Mexicans burgers

Preparation 20 min
Cooking time 14 min
Servings 4

September pairing 

Spiced rack of pork with apples

Preparation 15 min
Cooking time 1 h 30 min
Servings 4 to 6

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In partnership with Weingut Pittnauer, Domaine Meinklang, Domäne Wachau, Esterhazy, Crazy Creatures and Weingut Weszeli GmbH.