What defines our wines.

There is much to tell.

About our hometown Langenlois, the historical center of the Kamptal Valley. About the alpine loess & metamorphic rock soils that collide at this very place. About the centuries-old vineyards that have been cultivated for countless generations. And about the mindful craft that characterizes the wines as much as our family, who has been breathing life into them for over 160 years.

Sometimes there is more to a sip than you think.

   
A sense of place.
Thoughts on Authenticity and Terroir
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Awareness.

We live surrounded by beautiful nature and historical vineyards. This is where we are tending our vines, some of which are extremly old. They are deeply rooted in the Kamptal soil. Each wine is shaped by this unique place. With great appreciation for this cultural landscape and our soil, we continue a long tradition. Like our ancestors, we live with the awareness that the vineyard itself is the true source of authenticity and natural verve.

Soils, vines & hands.

We carefully tend to our vines by hand to this day. Pruning, binding, removing unwanted shoots, tucking in, defoliating, green harvesting, selecting, and picking. Each step is well thought out and draws upon the knowledge and experience passed down through generations. However, it's not enough to care for the vines, the soil that nourishes them is our greatest asset. That's why we practice organic viticulture and follow the principles of regenerative agriculture. Throughout the year, we let colorful blooming cover crops and wild herbs grow between the rows. Together with our own compost, we intentionally work this vegetation into the soil to enrich it with nutrients and to promote an active and positive soil biology. This keeps our vines vital and resilient, and results in particularly aromatic grapes. Herbicides, insecticides, and artificial fertilizers were banished from our vineyards decades ago.

This is how we imagine vineyards in which healthy and valuable fruit can thrive.

Kamp and climate.

Over the course of millions of years, the winding Kamp river has carved a unique landscape into hard rock. In its lower reaches it meets the lime-rich loess hills near Langenlois, where our vines and grapes experience a cool microclimate. The Kamptal (Kamp Valley), with an annual average temperature of 9.2°C, is one of the coolest wine-growing regions in Europe, influenced by pannonian-continental air currents. During the day we feel the warm air that is drawn up from the south-eastern Danube plain, while at night the cool air from the forests of the northwestern highlands flows into the valley. This small climatic borderland, with its strong diurnal temperature swings, distinctively shapes our wines.

Real craftsmanship.

Space for character.

We don't follow any trends. Wines like ours emerge from a close relation to nature. They are meant to speak of their origin. That's why we approach them with patience and with the experience we have accumulated over generations. We give each wine space to develop its individually shaped character. Every sip reveals the year, the soil, the weather, the grape.

Let there be wine.

Our wines are rooted in tradition and artisanal craftsmanship. The hands-on approach and attention to detail is what makes them truly authentic. When handpicking the ripe grapes, we rely on our intuition and our palate. The fruit is selected directly at the vine. In the cellar we slightly crush the berries, allowing them to soak in their juice for several hours to extract the delicate aroma from the skins. We press gently, with the least possible pressure. The yellow-green musts ferment with natural yeast. Everything finds its own pace. We pay close attention, observe, and taste. Each wine is given extended time on the lees to promote structure and persistence. Malolactic fermentation may occur naturally (spontaneously) and is neither blocked nor forced.

All of this opens up a unique dimension of texture and depth.

Time to mature.

We know one thing for sure: good wine takes time. In our ancient natural cellar, it can develop peacefully. The winding cave was carved out of the loess by hand two centuries ago, it is full of history and filled with a unique scent. Here we find stainless-steel tanks, traditional acacia barrels, and a few small oak barrels. Our wines age on the lees for several months before we bottle them, taking advantage of the positive properties of high atmospheric pressure and the waxing moon. Some wines rest here for several years, like our Familienreserve, a wine that seamlessly continues a tradition that already our ancestors cherished.

Imagination, dedication to craftsmanship, patience and attention to detail. This is how we vinify timeless and authentic wines in close relation to nature.