When we talk about the 2015 vintage in Burgenland, many Austrian wine lovers immediately start smiling. It is one of those years when everything seemed to align perfectly in the vineyards: warm weather, healthy grapes, and a harvest that allowed winemakers to pick exactly when they wanted.
Burgenland is already known as the heartland of Austrian red wines, but the 2015 vintage showed just how exceptional the region can be, especially when it comes to Blaufränkisch.
I was reminded of this during last year’s Rotweinfestival in July, where I had the opportunity to taste a lineup of wines from the 2015 vintage together with Christian Zechmeister from Wein Burgenland. The tasting focused on red wines that had already spent several years in the bottle, giving us a great opportunity to see how this vintage is developing with time.
Before diving into the wines themselves, it helps to understand why Burgenland—and especially Mittelburgenland—has become such an important home for Blaufränkisch.
Burgenland – Austria’s Red Wine Heartland
Let’s start with where we are. Burgenland lies in the eastern part of Austria, right at the Hungarian border. In fact, until 1921 this area belonged to Hungary, which explains the region’s long tradition of red wine production.
The climate here is strongly influenced by the Pannonian plain. That means warm summers, lots of sunshine, and relatively little rainfall. These are ideal conditions for ripening red grapes. Today the region grows several important varieties. Zweigelt is widely planted, and international grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot also play a role. But the real star of the region is Blaufränkisch.
The variety shows one of its most impressive expressions in Mittelburgenland, which is sometimes even called Blaufränkischland. Here, the grape produces wines with deep colour, vibrant acidity, and a structure that allows them to age for many years.
The soils are also an important factor. Clay, loam, and limestone dominate the vineyards, giving the wines both power and freshness. Together with warm days and cooler nights, these conditions help Blaufränkisch develop complex flavours while keeping its lively character.
A couple of wineries and impressions during Rotweinfestival @WinEncsy
A Short Look at the History of Red Wine in Burgenland
Red wine is not a new story in Burgenland. Because of the warm Pannonian climate, red grape varieties have been cultivated here for centuries. However, the reputation for high-quality red wines is relatively recent.
For a long time, the focus was mainly on quantity rather than quality. Many wines were produced for everyday consumption, and the region was not yet internationally known for premium reds. This began to change in the late twentieth century. After the Austrian wine crisis of the 1980s, a new generation of winemakers started focusing strongly on quality. They reduced yields, invested in better vineyard work, and modernised their cellars.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, producers began exploring the full potential of Blaufränkisch as a serious and age-worthy variety. At the same time, some experimented with Bordeaux varieties, creating powerful blends that quickly attracted international attention. Today, Burgenland is recognised as the most important red wine region of Austria.
If you are interested in the deeper historical context and the old Pannonian wine culture of the region, I have written more about it in my article Reimagine Pannonia: Recovering the Pannonian Wine Region.
The 2015 Vintage – A Year that Made Everyone Happy
Some vintages are good, some are challenging, and once in a while there is a vintage that seems to make everyone happy. The 2015 vintage in Burgenland was one of those years.
The growing season started early with warm spring weather, allowing the vines to develop smoothly. Flowering happened under stable conditions, which is always a good sign for the future harvest. Summer was warm and sunny, giving the grapes plenty of time to ripen slowly and evenly. At the same time, the weather remained relatively dry, which helped keep the grapes healthy in the vineyards. The most important part came during harvest. The weather stayed stable, allowing winemakers to wait for perfect ripeness before picking the grapes.
For red varieties like Blaufränkisch, these conditions were almost ideal.
The wines from 2015 often show deep colour, concentrated fruit, and strong structure, but they also keep a lively acidity that brings balance and freshness. Alcohol levels can be slightly higher because of the warm growing season, yet the wines rarely feel heavy.
Blaufränkisch in 2015
Blaufränkisch is a fascinating grape variety. It naturally produces wines with good acidity and firm tannins, which means it can age for a long time. In cooler vintages the wines can be quite strict and structured. In very warm years they can become more fruit-driven and powerful.
The beauty of the 2015 vintage in Burgenland is that it managed to combine both sides.
Many wines show ripe fruit flavours such as blackberry, black cherry, and plum. At the same time, you often find peppery spices and a mineral freshness that keeps everything lively. With age, new aromas start to appear: tobacco, cocoa, forest floor, and subtle smoky notes. These layers add complexity and make the wines even more interesting to taste after several years in the bottle.
Especially in Mittelburgenland, the vintage produced Blaufränkisch wines with depth, elegance, and impressive ageing potential.
A Tasting that Confirmed the Vintage
This is exactly what I experienced during the Rotweinfestival tasting with Christian Zechmeister. The event focused on wines from the 2015 vintage, now almost ten years old. It was a wonderful opportunity to see how these wines are evolving. The year before that, we have tasted and evaluted the ageing potential of the 2009 and 2011 vintages, read more about those here.
What impressed me the most was the consistency across different producers. Despite differences in grape varieties and winemaking styles, the wines shared a common character: ripe fruit, vibrant freshness, and beautifully integrated tannins.
Below are some of my favourite wines from the tasting.
Tasting Notes – The 2015 Vintage
Weingut Grenzlandhof Reumann – ARGO 2015
A blend of Blaufränkisch and Cabernet Sauvignon matured for 35 months in barrique. The wine shows a very deep colour. On the nose it is strongly dominated by chocolate notes with blueberry marmalade and subtle spices. The fruit and spices are beautifully balanced. On the palate the wine still feels very youthful with high acidity and strong tannins, suggesting it needs more time to soften. Cassis and blueberry dominate the flavour profile, giving the wine a vibrant and energetic character.
Weingut Pfneisl – Pentagon 2015
A very creamy and smooth nose with ripe fruits such as strawberry, plum, and blueberry, accompanied by gentle spice notes. On the palate the tannins are still quite dominant, which means the wine will benefit from further ageing. The structure is strong, but there is also good freshness that keeps the wine lively. The finish is long and spicy with pepper and cassis.
Weingut K+K Kirnbauer – Merlot Reserve 2015
A beautiful example of mature Merlot. The nose shows dark chocolate, blackcurrant, blackberry, blueberry, and a subtle smoky note. On the palate the wine is smooth and fresh with a full body and very good balance. The spice character slightly dominates over the fruit, but the finish is juicy and long with ripe dark fruit flavours.
Weingut Silvia Heinrich – Blaufränkisch Ried Goldberg Reserve 2015
This single-vineyard wine comes from a north to north-eastern facing site. The nose is very complex with aromas of dark chocolate, coffee, cigar, smoke, and vanilla, accompanied by menthol and dark forest fruits. The palate is powerful with high acidity and firm tannins. It is a structured and age-worthy wine where spices dominate the long finish.
Weingut Gesellmann – Blaufränkisch “hochberc” 2015
One of the highlights of the tasting for me. The wine does not feel overly influenced by oak; instead the focus remains clearly on the grape. Fruits and spices are in beautiful balance. Ripe blueberries and blackberries are joined by pepper, chocolate, and milky coffee notes with a subtle mineral character. On the palate the wine shows elegance and finesse. The tannins are still firm but smooth, and the balance between fruit and spice is impressive. This is definitely an age-worthy wine, but it is already drinking beautifully now.
Conclusion
Looking back at the last decades of Austrian wine, the 2015 vintage in Burgenland clearly belongs among the best for red wines. It represents everything the region does well: powerful yet elegant wines with freshness, structure, and the ability to age gracefully. For Blaufränkisch, this vintage once again proves why the grape has become Austria’s flagship red variety.
And for wine lovers, it offers something even better. Many of these wines are now entering a wonderful phase of development, where maturity and freshness meet in perfect balance.
So if you ever come across a bottle from the 2015 vintage in Burgenland, especially a Blaufränkisch from Mittelburgenland, it is definitely worth opening. You might discover just how special this vintage really is.
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