The Blauburger is the successful crossing of Blauer Portugieser x Blaufränkisch, created in Klosterneuburg by Professor Fritz Zweigelt. The idea was to plant the Blauburger in traditionally white wine regions, and where red wine varieties had problems ripening.
Origin
Austria, LFZ Klosterneuburg
Parentage
New breed from Blauer Portugieser x Blaufränkisch
Vineyard area
Red wine grape variety
Parentage
New crossing between Blauer Portugieser and Blaufränkisch, created in 1923 by Dr Fritz Zweigelt at the LFZ in Klosterneuburg.
Vineyard area
Blauburger is grown mainly in Niederösterreich and is particularly widespread in the Weinviertel.
Important ampelographic features
Important ampelographic features
Leaf
five lobes, overlapping petiole
Grape cluster
medium-sized, medium density, cylindrical, shouldered, often with secondary clusters; berries have a very pruinose, bluish black skin
Ripening
Ripening
Significance & conditions
One distinctive feature is the deep, dark colour of the wine, which also makes Blauburger a good blending partner for pale-coloured red varieties. While it can have a mediocre image as a monovarietal wine, it can really come into its own when grown in the right vineyard and the volume of fruit is restricted. Blauburger is not a demanding variety in terms of location or soil.
Area under vine in Austria
(as a proportion of the variety’s total area)
Link
Source varietal specifications: Höhere Bundeslehranstalt und Bundesamt für Wein- und Obstbau (Federal College and Federal Office for Viticulture, Oenology and Fruit Growing) in Klosterneuburg, “Austria’s Qualitätswein grape varieties and their clones“ („Österreichische Qualitätsweinrebsorten und deren Klone“), 2nd, reviewed edition, September 2015
Source area under vine: Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism according to IACS (as at 31 May 2022)
