Hello,
Ever heard of Furmint, Timorasso, or Mencía?
My favorite wines this "summer" all come from grape varieties beyond the usual Chardonnay & Co.
Today I'm introducing six of them.
Lambrusco – Italy's Misunderstood Sparkler
Lambrusco has an image problem. Most people only know the sweet supermarket stuff. But winemakers like Cinque Campi show what this ancient grape from Emilia-Romagna can really do: dry, spicy, alive.
The Fuorleggero Rosato 2022 is a revelation: Fennel seed meets roasted hazelnuts, coriander dances with juniper, plus that gripping acid structure. The fruit? Subtly in the background. Instead, spice and herbs dominate – marjoram, sage, thyme. A frizzante that pairs with mortadella but also fascinates on its own. This is the Lambrusco that Emilians dream of.
Furmint – Hungary's Forgotten Greatness
Most people only know Furmint from sweet Tokajis. But this grape can do so much more. Vinified dry, it shows both muscle and finesse.
Moric's Hidden Treasures No.1 proves it: Almond marzipan meets baked apple, dried herbs dance with acacia honey – but all bone dry. The chalky minerality reminds you that volcanic soils are speaking here. A meditative wine that needs time and gives time.
Blaufränkisch – The Underrated Hero
Blaufränkisch (or Lemberger, as our Swabian friends say) is Austria's answer to the question: What if Syrah and Pinot Noir had a baby? Dark berries, black pepper, volcanic spice.
Heinrich's Leithaberg DAC 2019 is a masterclass in this variety: Blackberries and cherries meld with fig notes, fine-grained tannins provide structure without harshness. A wine with "unbridled drinkability," as the Austrians would say – meant seriously and as the highest compliment.
Mencía – Spain's Flowing Silk
From the cool heights of Bierzo comes Mencía – Spain's answer to Merlot, only wilder, spicier, more headstrong.
Sangarida's Pico Tuerto 2021 shows the full range: Transparent ruby red hides crisp sour cherries, floral notes and that cool, stony minerality from Atlantic winds. Over 100-year-old vines at 600 meters altitude – you taste it in every sip. Silky, but with bite.
Timorasso – Piedmont's Phoenix
Timorasso was nearly extinct. A handful of winemakers saved this Piedmontese white variety. Thank goodness. Because Timorasso makes white wines that age like great reds.
Vietti's Derthona 2023 is the proof: Wet limestone meets white flowers, citrus dances with chamomile honey. The salty minerality and cool acidity promise a long life.
Bonus: Gemischter Satz – Vienna's Non-Variety
Gemischter Satz isn't a single grape variety, but a philosophy. Different grapes grow together in the vineyard – a living jumble, like Vienna itself. Planted together, harvested together, fermented together. The Viennese saved this centuries-old tradition from extinction.
Hajszan Neumann's version from Nussberg shows why that was a good thing: Citrus freshness meets green apple, plus that typical Viennese spice and crisp minerality. All for a song. The perfect companion to Wiener Schnitzel.
Want to try all six wines? Here's your pre-filled shopping cart.
Warm regards from Berlin,
David and the team at
Lebendige Weine
PS: Looking for more wild cards? We carry over 220 different varieties in our selection – from Albariño to Zweigelt.