🍷 Schilcher
Also known as: Styrian Schilcher, Blauer Wildbacher rosé
A very tart Austrian rosé from the Blauer Wildbacher grape in Styria.
Schilcher is an Austrian rosé with very high acidity. It is made in Styria, mainly West Styria, from the Blauer Wildbacher grape, often called simply Wildbacher. The name is linked to the German word schillern, to shimmer, because of its bright, glowing colour.
Wildbacher is an old local dark-skinned variety. For Schilcher the juice spends only a short time on the skins, as with any rosé. The result ranges from onion-skin to raspberry pink, with aromas of redcurrant and strawberry.
Freshness is the key feature. Locals drink it young, often in rustic wine taverns called Buschenschank, with cold snacks. There is also sparkling Schilcher and, in autumn, a young cloudy Schilcher Sturm.
The name is protected: true Schilcher may only be made in Styria and only from Wildbacher. The German Rotling sounds similar but is made differently, from white and red grapes fermented together, whereas Schilcher comes from one dark variety. Schilcher is a calling card of southern Austrian wine.
How it connects to Wine
🍷 Schilcher → → → 🍇 Wildbacher → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Rosé
- Where it is made
- 🗺️ Austrian wine
- Related to
- 🍇 Wildbacher
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Rotling, 🍷 Rosé, 📍 Styria
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Schilcher only comes as a still wine?
No. There is also sparkling Schilcher and, in autumn, a young cloudy Schilcher Sturm.
Where does the name Schilcher come from?
It is linked to the German word schillern, to shimmer, because of the wine's bright, glowing colour.
Which grape and region are behind Schilcher?
Blauer Wildbacher, often just Wildbacher, grown mainly in West Styria.
Similar
🍷 Weissherbst · 🍷 Rotling · 🍷 Blush wine · 🍷 Blended rosé · 🍷 Vin gris · 🍷 Chiaretto
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.