Luge Rod

LYSROD N34 2023

Region: Styria, Austria

Grape: 80% Blauer-Wiltbacher, 20% Zweigelt

Category: Rosé

Pale pink appearance.
A pleasant fruity flavor reminiscent of cherries and wild strawberries, with a refreshing acidity.
And clear minerals.
Great balance of flavours and drinkability.

Usually, Schilcher has a sharp acidity,
This wine undergoes malolactic fermentation
It has a mellow acidity and a soft, savory flavor.
"This wine is not Schilcher!"
In response to the criticism from the certification body,
It was named the current "Ryuuji Rod."

This is the 34th time we've made this cuvée!
It is the place where Franz's history is most prevalent.
Franz has undergone many changes in recent years.
This cuvée is where that change really shows up.
It may be presumptuous of me to say this, as I have only drunk 5VT since joining the company.
But listen.
This year's Ryuji rod is the best ever in terms of gentleness and clarity.

[Producer information]
Head of family: Franz Stromeyer

Originally, Franz's father grew grapes, but he did not make wine and instead sold the grapes to an agricultural cooperative.
After graduating from brewing school, he returned to Steins and began making wine. 1989 was his first vintage.
What I learned at school was basic wine-making methods, and the result is classic wine that is far from natural.
Since 2000, the vineyards have been gradually converted to organic farming, the amount of sulfurous acid added has been gradually reduced, and in 2005, the first sparkling wine was produced without added sulfites.

As a child, Franz would often ride on the tractor with his father and help out in the fields.
After spraying pesticides, he suffered from severe headaches even when wearing a mask, and felt that the pesticides were not suitable for his body.
He believed that not using pesticides would be better for his own health and that of his family, and that was what prompted him to start organic farming.

Styria is located in the southeast of Austria and is one of the coolest wine-growing regions in the country.
Cold winds constantly blow from the 2,000m Alpine mountains, making this a high-altitude area with the latest harvest in Austria.
The village of Sankt Stefan, where Franz's home is, is about 30 minutes by car from Graz, Austria's second largest city, and about 40 km from the Slovenian border.
He owns a total of four fields: a 3-hectare field he inherited from his father near his home, and three other fields in an area called Badgum.
The fields where Blauerwirtbacher, a local grape variety, is planted in 1975, are barely pruned and are completely uncultivated.
It's a jungle that everyone is amazed by...
It's as if the energy of being one with nature is reflected directly in the wine.

In 2022, a total of 30,000 bottles will be produced, and exports are currently to 35 countries, with the popularity of the product growing overseas (15 years ago, it was only exported to two countries).

The former top sommelier at NOMA, which has been ranked number one in the world's best restaurants many times, is also a big fan and friend of Franz.
He even stayed at Franz's house for about three months.
At the 2023 French wine event "Dives Bouteil," Franz's booth was packed with people, demonstrating its overwhelming popularity.
The staff working at the top wineries in the Jura region also looked up to Franz and tasted his wines with great respect...

*For more detailed information, please see our brewery visit report.