| Historically, the slopes of Nussberg are known as the most famous vineyards in Vienna. It has always been a dream of mine to cultivate these Nussberg vineyards. In February 1999, four hectars (9.6 acres) became available. The steep slopes of this land are difficult and it is on the opposite side of the Danube, an hours distance from the winery; nonetheless, this exciting opportunity far outweighed the hindrances.
Planting many varieties of grapes in a single vineyard has both an historical and an economic importance in the Austrian wine making tradition. This style of vineyard and the wines it produces is commonly known as Gemischter Satz (a wine where different types of grapes are grown, gathered and processed together).
Maintaining the tradition of Gemischter Satz with forty year old vines on steep slopes made for an exciting winemaking challenge; the goal of course, to reach the full potential of the old vines. Even though the weather conditions of 2003 weren't ideal, the vineyard's southern exposure allowed for the grapes to reach an ideal ripeness.
This wine emulates all the different properties from the diverse grape varieties with their varied aromas and the aromatic notes from the soil's limestone.
The grapes are moved and pressed with extreme care in order to not break or tear the skins. The must is fermented in steel tanks to maintain the fruit and delicate flavors of this wine. Even as a young wine, the taste is open and flavorful, already showing its diverse and complex qualities. It should age several months in the bottle to allow for the aromas to come to full maturity. |
