Peter Preuss is looking for a unique name for his not-to-be-called Uhudler wine.
By Kath Gannaway
A FORBIDDEN wine with a name that sounds like a yodel was always going to be an attractive proposition for Woori Yallock boutique wine-maker Peter Preuss.
Mr Preuss has one row of Uhudler variety vines, which produce both red and white grapes, to make the sweet red Broken Back Uhudler-style wine.
Although getting resounding approval of his wine on a trip to Austria in October, he discovered, like Champagne, Uhudler is a patented name and only Uhudler grown in the Burgenland region can claim the name.
His wine is very likely the only Uhudler-variety wine in Australia and the 2011 is his first vintage after what is a delightful story of intrigue and ingenuity to get the wine growing on Australian soil.
Mr Preuss explained Uhudler is a hybrid developed by the Austrians in the early 1900s by crossing a European variety with a native North American variety to produce a phylloxera resistant vine.
It so was productive that was deemed to be a threat to the traditional European varieties and was banned from commercial growing.
“Prohibition just made Uhudler more popular, the ban was dropped, and small vineyards have recently started growing it again …but only in eight Burgenland communities,” Mr Preuss said.
Various attempts to get cuttings from the Burgenland vines into Australia failed, then Mr Preuss’s mother recalled a chap who had imported a single vine about 40 years ago which had thrived in a Frankston backyard.
“Unfortunately, the man had died and his wife had just cut the vine out,” Mr Preuss said continuing the saga. But … “fortunately, it was winter and the destroyed vine was dormant.” True to form, his cuttings thrived and he is now looking for a name for his “not-to-be-called-Uduhler”.
“I thought of Yarhoodler, or Broodler – brooder being German for brother, and have had lots of suggestions, but would welcome more,” he said.
The wine will be officially named at a traditional Austrian feast at Broken Back vineyard between Healesville and Woori Yallock on Saturday 10 December.
To suggest a name, or book for the launch, phone Mr Preuss on 0431 756072 or email peter.preuss@bigpond.com .
