Now that’s what I’m talking about. From an email list I subscribe to:

You might have seen the signs at several bars and restaurants in Vienna, and the rest of wine producing Austria. In case you are wondering what Sturm actually is, read and learn! We all know that wine is made of grape juice. To put it very simply; it is a fermenting process, where yeast will turn the sugar in the grape juice into alcohol. And the fermenting juice is what is called Sturm. In Austria, according to the Wine Law, Sturm has to have an alcohol content of at least 1%, but on average it contains about 4% when it is for sale. And as the fermenting process will continue, it will get stronger within a few days. Sturm should always be sold and stored in unsealed bottles.

Also, because of the high sugar content, the alcohol gets into your bloodstream quite quickly, and therefore its effect might hit you only later. Quite a risky drink! On a positive note, Sturm contains vitamin B1 and B2, and lactic acid bacteria that stimulate your digestion. A good excuse for drinking it! Some insider information: when drinking Sturm one says ‘mahlzeit’ instead of ‘prost’, and you should not clink your glasses! Sturm is only available for a short period of time; depending on the grape harvest. Usually this is from the beginning of September until the end of October. So make the most of it while it’s here!

So who is up for tracking some down this weekend?