Federweisser (also
Federweißer , from
German Feder, "
feather", and
weiß, "white"; from the appearance of the suspended yeast, also known as
Sturm, from
German Sturm,
storm in
Austria), is an alcoholic
beverage, typically 9% alcohol by volume, although versions of up to 13.5% alcohol by volume are not uncommon. (In contrast to all other alcoholic beverages, the alcohol content stated on a bottle of Federweisser is inconclusive, and presents an uppermost limit, not the actual content at any given time.) It is the product of
fermented freshly
pressed grape juice, known as
must. The term in principle includes all stages of fermentation from must to finished wine.
Across continental Europe, it is known as
Suser,
Sauser,
Neuer Süßer (new sweet), or
Junger Wein (young wine) in Southwest
Germany,
Switzerland and
South Tyrol,
Fiederwäissen in
Luxembourg,
Sturm (storm, from the cloudy appearance) in
Austria,
Federweißer in
Bavaria,
Neuer Wein (new wine) in the
Palatinate,
Federweiser in
Franconia
