Hey Winesleuth, you may have come across Weißburgunder under the name of Pinot Blanc or Pinot Bianco as both the French and the Italians grow it too, but in small numbers. Germany is, I believe, the country that grows most of it in international comparison - but it makes less than 4% of all wine produced in Germany. Weißburgunder is a mutation of Pinot Noir and in the olden days it was often confused with Chardonnay.
The south west of Germany produces some outstanding Weißburgunder and often with higher levels of alcohol. Having said that, I have a 2006 Weißburgunder here from the Mosel - not really the warmest part of Germany - that has 15% alcohol. Almost scary!
Wittmann wines are not easy to get in the UK; http://www.nickollsandperks.co.uk/ offer the 2007 Weißburgunder, but you need to buy a 12 bottle case. They also have a few other Wittmann wines, but it is a limited selection. Wittmann also make Pinot Noir, among various other grape varietals, such as Scheurebe, but the Pinot Noir I have never seen anywhere in the UK; the same goes for the basic range, for instance the excellent Silvaner.
In reply to I'm surprised that German by TheWinesleuth
Weißburgunder = Pinot Blanc
Hey Winesleuth, you may have come across Weißburgunder under the name of Pinot Blanc or Pinot Bianco as both the French and the Italians grow it too, but in small numbers. Germany is, I believe, the country that grows most of it in international comparison - but it makes less than 4% of all wine produced in Germany. Weißburgunder is a mutation of Pinot Noir and in the olden days it was often confused with Chardonnay.
The south west of Germany produces some outstanding Weißburgunder and often with higher levels of alcohol. Having said that, I have a 2006 Weißburgunder here from the Mosel - not really the warmest part of Germany - that has 15% alcohol. Almost scary!
Wittmann wines are not easy to get in the UK; http://www.nickollsandperks.co.uk/ offer the 2007 Weißburgunder, but you need to buy a 12 bottle case. They also have a few other Wittmann wines, but it is a limited selection. Wittmann also make Pinot Noir, among various other grape varietals, such as Scheurebe, but the Pinot Noir I have never seen anywhere in the UK; the same goes for the basic range, for instance the excellent Silvaner.