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Paul Howard Davies's avatar

Dr Fritz Zweigelt in 1921 was made Head of a vine research institute near Vienna and within a year had hit the jackpot producing a hybrid that was late budding,early ripening,good yields and in particular cold hardy.He named it Rotburger.Later on it was called Zweigelt.

Unfortunately he was an early adopter and enthusiastic supporter of the Nazi party and in 1945 he was arrested and interred for treason and warmongering.

Within six months he was pardoned and his offences were downgraded to " oratorical mistakes".

However Aldi’s Specially Selected Austrian Zweigelt is a bargain at £8.99.

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Henry Jeffreys's avatar

I imagine there were many such cases in Austria. Great grape despite it's dubious inventor. There's some planted in Essex.

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Joe Fattorini's avatar

Thank you to the links to Andrew Barr. Who I followed religiously (if you’ll pardon the pun) in his heyday. I rather approve of his life’s course

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Anton's avatar

Your Sunday drinking dispatch is the literary equivalent of a perfectly poured afternoon pint: crisp, comforting, and deceptively profound. The way you elevate casual libations into a study of ritual and camaraderie (with just the right splash of mischief) proves that the best life lessons often come from the barstool. Cheers to that.

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Kate Reuschel's avatar

Now I have a couple books to buy!

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