🍷 Strohwein

Strohwein is an Austrian sweet wine made from grapes dried on straw or reed. The name comes from the German word "Stroh", meaning "straw". It is a kind of straw wine and one of the Prädikat (quality by sugar) styles of Austria. The method is this. Healthy, ripe bunches are laid on straw mats or hung from reed stalks in a well-ventilated room after picking. The berries lose water and shrivel, and the sugar concentrates. Austrian rules require drying for at least three months. The grapes are then pressed and the juice ferments slowly. The result is a thick, sweet wine with notes of dried fruit, honey, apricot and raisin. Thanks to its high sweetness it keeps well. The volume is small, because much water has gone, so Strohwein is expensive. Strohwein is made in Austria, mainly in Burgenland and Lower Austria. A related method is the Italian Vin Santo. Strohwein is served in small portions with desserts.