The Neusiedlersee in eastern Austria is the country's second largest lake (and one of the largest in Central Europe), just southeast of Vienna and southwest of Bratislava, and only 50km from the Danube River. This is the upper Burgenland, the northern stretch of the continental Pannonian climate zone, hottest in all of Austria. The mitigating force of the large lake on the nearby gently sloping hills creates a temperate microclimate, allowing for a long, warm growing season, and the resultant production of opulent red wines.

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Blaufränkisch is indigenous to the Burgenland, one of the oldest winegrowing regions in Europe (evidence of Bronze Age cultivation has been found there). A medium to full bodied red grape (it's one of the two that went into the hybrid, and now more popular, rotburger, or "Zweigelt"), blaufränkisch is tannic and earthy, and mineral driven when grown in the Leitha limestone of the Neusiedlersee area. The Nittnaus family founded and are leading members of the Pannobile ("Pannonian" and "noble") collective, focusing on indigenous varietals produced to the highest quality.

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Martin makes this Manila blaufränkisch naturally, using minimal intervention. The result is a truly earthy, rich dirt and dark berry blaufränkisch, with green tannins on the finish, and occasionally a bit of natural barnyard on the nose and slight spritz at the end, especially when the bottle has been open for a while. Drink with hearty wintry foods!