Judith Beck Koreaa Bio 2024 white

Judith Beck Koreaa Bio is an expressive, gently macerated white that sits beautifully between classic white and full-on orange wine – an “orange wine light” with real personality. Named after a remote vineyard so far from the village it’s nicknamed “Korea” – as if it were at the other end of the world – this wine comes from old vines planted in a traditional field blend. Grüner Veltliner, Scheurebe, Welschriesling, Pinot Blanc and even a touch of Zweigelt are harvested together and treated as one, resulting in a deeply characterful, textural wine from Burgenland.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, Koreaa Bio shows a saturated golden-yellow hue, hinting immediately at its short skin contact and time on full lees. The aromatics are beautifully wild yet inviting: ripe yellow apple, elderflower and dried apricot mingle with muscaty spice, citrus zest, fresh and dried herbs, green hazelnut and a dusty, earthy-mineral undertone. On the palate, the wine is strikingly fresh and energetic, with a fine but clearly present tannic grip from the brief maceration that gives it structure without heaviness. Juicy stone and orchard fruits are layered with subtle dried fruit notes, herbal nuances and a savoury, almost tea-like edge. The finish is long, slightly untamed yet harmonious, carried by a solid backbone of acidity and gentle phenolics. Enjoy it now for its vivid, vibrant profile, or cellar it for 3–5 years to gain more harmony, depth and savoury complexity.

Production
The Koreaa vineyard lies in Burgenland, in a cool, windswept site set well away from the village, with old vines rooted in mixed soils that combine loam, gravel and mineral-rich subsoils. Planted as a traditional gemischter Satz (field blend), the various grape varieties grow side by side and are harvested together at optimal ripeness. The grapes are destemmed and left on their skins for about two days, extracting colour, aroma and gentle tannin before being pressed. Fermentation proceeds spontaneously with native yeasts, and the wine then rests for six months on the full lees, adding texture, complexity and a slight natural haze. In keeping with Judith Beck’s low-intervention approach, the wine is handled minimally in the cellar, allowing the site and mixed planting to speak clearly.

Food & Serving
Koreaa Bio is a highly versatile food wine, especially well suited to boldly seasoned and umami-rich dishes. It shines with spicy Asian-inspired cuisine (think Vietnamese salads, Thai curries or Korean kimchi pancakes), as well as Middle Eastern mezze, roasted root vegetables, pumpkin dishes and herb-driven vegetarian plates. It also pairs beautifully with semi-hard and washed-rind cheeses, charcuterie, and lightly smoked fish. Serve at around 10–12°C; a brief decant of 20–30 minutes helps the wild aromatics open up and smooths out the tannins, especially if serving the wine on the cooler side.

Producer
Judith Beck is one of the key names in Burgenland’s natural and biodynamic wine scene, working from the village of Gols near Lake Neusiedl. Since taking over from her parents, Judith has converted the family estate to biodynamic farming, placing vineyard health and soil life at the centre of her philosophy. She is widely respected for crafting authentic, unadorned wines that capture the character of local grapes and sites, often through field blends and minimal intervention in the cellar. Beck’s wines, including Koreaa Bio, have become benchmarks for expressive, terroir-driven Austrian wines with a natural edge, helping to elevate Burgenland’s reputation on the international stage.