2021 Pfneisl Skin Contact Zefir

Notes & Pairings

The aromatics of Zefír often trigger a strong olfactory memory of my 8th grade white flower heavy prom corsage, but the acidity, weight and light skin contact tie the whole thing together. This is a little known grape in Hungary (200 hectares total) and is likely the only 100% version exported to the US. It was created in Hungary in the early 1950s during the Soviet dictated COOP era. The name itself is also emblematic of this heyday of the Eastern Bloc. A number of other crossings like Zenit, Zengő, Zeusz, and Zéta were also created in the early 1950s by Ferenc Király. All of these “Z” grapes were inspired by the Greek God of the wind and the messenger of Spring "Zephyr." At the time, it was thought that the crossing of Zefír was Hárslevelű and Leányka. Others believed that instead of Leányka, the other parent was Fetească Albă. Regardless, recent DNA has disproved both claims and the full parentage is unknown. Nevertheless, with 10 days of maceration in open vats, full MLF and bottled unfiltered, the extra skin contact tames the extremely high acidity (most of it goes into sparkling wines elsewhere in the country) and still holds onto the explosion of white flowers.

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