Heidi Schröck took over her family winery in 1983, in the historic village of Rust in Austria’s southern Burgenland region near the steppe lake of Neusiedl. She is now joined by her twin sons, Johannes and Georg, who, like their mother, continue to produce classic Ruster wines, while experimenting with other varieties and winemaking styles on the side.

As Heidi explains “South-facing vineyards in a softly rolling landscape form an amphitheater around Rust on Lake Neusiedl bringing forth some of the best and most tradition-rich wines in Austria. Yearly hours of sunshine much higher than the Austrian average, combined with sandy soils mixed with clay and high calcium content, provide the ideal prerequisites for impressive, full-bodied wines.” 

This dry white is made entirely of Furmint from the Ried Turner and Ried Vogelsang vineyards in the Leithaberg sub-region of Burgenland. Grapes are fermented in a combination of stainless steel and large 1,500-liter acacia barrels. The nose shows delightfully flinty reduction with lemon and chervil aromas atop a bright, citrusy palate with plenty of verve and energy.

Pairing:  Cabbage and sausage stew

Grape: 100% Furmint

Soil: Ruster Schotter, a gravelly sandy loam with bits of mica slate and limestone

Viticulture: Sustainable, Practicing organic