Straw wine

As straw wine (French vin de paille, Italian passito ) refers to a wine whose grapes were dried on straw mats or wooden racks after the harvest, so their sugar content as a result of water evaporation increases. Only after this treatment, the grapes are pressed. Because of the high sugar content is produced in the subsequent vinification usually a very heavy, long storable wine with an alcohol content of 14 % or more.

Straw wines are produced in Italy, among others ( the most famous part of Amarone and Recioto from Valpolicella ), but also in France ( here, inter alia, in the Jura ), Spain, Austria (eg Burgenland ) and Cyprus ( Commandaria ).

In Germany the production of straw wines since 1971, was banned by the wine law. Since the entry into force of the new EU wine market organization on August 1, 2009, production of straw wine in Germany is allowed again. Since " straw wine " one ( by Austria and Italy) protected term is, but he should not be so named. Ulrich stone from Bullay on the Mosel has fought mainly for straw wine and calls his straw wine so Moselle Franconian " Striehween ".

In Austria, is known as a straw wine Schilfwein.