Austrian wine takes a bow at expo

Austrian winemaker Stefan Potzinger was proud and a little surprised at Prowine China 2013, held in Shanghai for three days in November. Eight of the wines he brought to the wine expo won medals at the China Sommelier Wine and Spirit Challenge.

Potzinger and his wife hail from a small vineyard of 18 hectares in Sudsteiermark, a region in south Austria. They focus on making white wine, which the region is famous for, handpicking grapes of 10 varieties to make wines that taste fruity and mineral.

Gelber Muskateller 2012, for example, is an aperitif wine Potzinger suggests to pair with Chinese food, because of its acidity, fruitiness and good balance. Many of the wines are considered good because of the freshness.