Hooch made with Grapes

Sturm (storm in English) is neither wine nor juice, but a very alcoholic in-between only sold for a short period of time in the early autumn. As it is Sturmzeit (zeit = time), it is something to keep an eye out for in Vienna and wine-growing areas of Austria.

This drink is very popular in Vienna during the autumn. It’s a very young wine, or rather a fermented grape juice, available during the harvest for about a month from late September to mid-October. The taste is fruity and refreshing.

It comes exclusively from grapes that have been harvested and processed in Austria. Introduction to the market may take place between August 1 and December 31 of the respective vintage year, as long as the product is in a state of fermentation. Fermentation may, however, be retarded or interrupted during the course of production, then introduced once more before release to the consumer.

The term Sturm takes its name from the stormy cloudiness of the still-fermenting beverage. Official areas of origin for Sturm are the winegrowing areas Weinland, Steiererland and Bergland.

The only drawback of Sturm is that it can’t be stored for a long time. Because of the intense fermentation process, the bottle can simply explode if you seal it. Thus, the drink must be consumed within a few days or a bit longer if equipped with a special cap that lets the air through.