Red wine

At ginusslande.com, red wine doesn't mean Barolo and Bordeaux, but rather a selection that focuses on Central European origins. 184 red wines from winemakers in Germany, Austria, and Italy — grape varieties that show fruit and structure without drowning in oak.

Three Grape Variety Worlds

Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) is Germany's red wine calling card. The German red wine assortment is dominated by Palatinate (Knipser, Rings, Friedrich Becker, Philipp Kuhn) and Rheinhessen (Gunderloch). Burgundian in style, medium-bodied, with cherry and forest floor notes.

Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch characterize the Austrian side. From Lake Neusiedl comes Gernot Heinrich with biodynamic work, and from Southern Burgenland Wachter-Wiesler. Zweigelt is juicy and drinkable, Blaufränkisch is darker, more tannic, often with aging potential.

Lagrein and Vernatsch are the South Tyrolean classics. Manincor, Kurtatsch, and Kellerei Tramin showcase the dark, tannic Lagrein alongside the light Vernatsch, often enjoyed at 14 °C. The Italian red wine selection also includes blends of Merlot, Cabernet, and Refosco from Lake Garda.

Light or Powerful?

The assortment covers both ends of the spectrum. Drinkable everyday wines with 12–13% vol. and an open body on one side — concentrated barrique red wines and blends with aging potential on the other. We do not carry 15% heavy-hitting wines from overseas; this is a conscious decision and not a gap in our selection.

From experience: Serving red wine too warm is the most common mistake. 16 °C for medium-bodied wines, 17–18 °C for concentrated growths — above 20 °C, alcohol and tannins appear harsher, and the aromas flatten.

What pairs with which food?

Light red wines (Vernatsch, Zweigelt) with grilled poultry, pasta with meat, mushroom dishes. Medium-bodied Spätburgunder with lamb, duck, aged cheese. Concentrated Blaufränkisch, Lagrein, and Cabernet cuvées with beef, game, braised dishes. For a cheese platter, we often recommend a mature red wine from a slightly older vintage — it doesn't cost more and opens up another dimension.