In my series “If Wine were a Person” every wine becomes a living character. The idea? Experiencing wine in a playful way, but with real depth. Today’s spotlight: Pas de Deux Blaufränkisch 2023 by Anna Niepoort and Lukas Brandstätter from Carnuntum, Austria.
Max Kaindl, December 27, 2025
Reading time about 3 minutes
Pas de Deux Blaufränkisch 2023
He showed up without a big announcement. No force, no heavy perfume. More like someone who walks into a room as if they’ve always belonged there. Not to impress just to be present. And somehow, that’s more than enough. Pas de Deux is one of those people you enjoy simply watching. Because everything about them feels effortless. Light, but never empty. There’s a quiet elegance in the background, without a trace of drama.
He wears sneakers instead of patent leather, but you’d still take him to any dinner. Because he has charm. His body is lean, agile, full of energy. You can tell he likes to move. He dances rather than marches. A touch of cool fruit, a hint of spice, and that fresh, fine-boned way of carrying himself: not chasing effects, always chasing balance. He reminds me of someone who can really dance. Like a principal ballerina. Aware of the person opposite him, leading, but never dominating.
He’s young, clear-cut. But not green. More like someone who learned early on to trust himself. He listens to intuition instead of loud voices. There’s structure in his posture, and a certain playfulness in his gaze. You can rely on him but you can also disappear into the night with him. And the next morning, you can drink coffee together without it turning awkward.
What makes him special is his lightness. That honest, unforced way of being fully present. He doesn’t try to please. He simply shows himself. Exactly as he is. And that’s plenty. While others are still wrestling with labels, he’s already understood that he doesn’t need to be heavy, serious, and demanding to convince you. He can be light, approachable and still taken seriously.
If Pas de Deux were a person, he’d be the one you’d head out with instantly—no plan, just that quiet certainty the night will turn out great. Not spectacular. Just exactly right.



