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Discover Germany | Special Theme | Great Austrian Wine
Weingut Edelbauer
A passion for bio-organic wines Christoph Edelbauer's sustainable approach to wine-growing and his passion for Pinot Noir have made his vineyard known far beyond the reach of his home of Langenlois in the Kamp Valley. TEXT: JULIKA HÜTHER | PHOTOS: CHRISTOPF EDELBAUER
When Christoph Edelbauer took over the vineyard from his father in 2003, he gradually extended it to the 12 hectare business it is today. The internships he did in New Zealand, South Africa, the USA and Germany after graduating from viniculture school prepared him for running and extending the business and provided inspiration for turning it into a sustainable vineyard exclusively producing bio-organic wines. This decision was rooted in Edelbauer's respect for nature and the desire to one day return the vineyard unchanged and as nature intended. “Bio-organic to me is much more than just agriculture,”he says.
“The vineyard has been built 100 per cent in consideration of sustainability.The cellar is exclusively kept at the right temperature via ground air collectors, electricity is harvested through a photovoltaic array on the roof, I use screen printing instead of labels for the bottles and business cards and stationery are made from FSC-certified paper – and the search continues!” The wine is partly inspired by regional tradition, which has seenVeltliner and Riesling grow here for centuries, and by his passion for Pinot Noir. “This grape variety is demanding, but I need challenges,”says Edelbauer. It comes as no surprise that in his first active year, 2013, he struck a deal
Above: Grüner Veltliner Kamptal DAC Reserve Below: Christoph Edelbauer
with an importer in London. “That was a great incentive for all there is to come.” www.weingut-edelbauer.at
Weingut Netzl
to offer: a great respect for family and meticulously produced wines.
Elegant Wines from an Austrian family vineyard
www.netzl.com
A family business at heart, the Netzl vineyard, situated south of the Danube in Northeast Austria, produces wines that teem with depth, character and elegance. TEXT: JULIKA HÜTHER | PHOTOS: WEINGUT NETZL
Originally a mixed farming business, the Netzl family turned their three hectare property into a vineyard in 1990. Today, stretching along the hilly Arbesthaler Hügelland, the vineyard covers 26 hectares and is run by Franz Netzl, wife Christine Netzl and daughter Christina Artner-Netzl. Red wine accounts for three quarters of their produce, and many of these have won awards at wine fairs all over the world. The secret to producing elegant wines, says Christina Artner-Netzl, lies in the unique microclimate that allows the grapes to ripen wonderfully, as well as fresh fruit with lots of finesse. “Each of our wines is satisfying, thanks to its character and complexity, they
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are never just heavy or full-bodied. The regional climate is really beneficial with its warm and dry summers, long autumn days as well as the cool nights. We also try to carve out the originality of the grape type and the storage of all of our wines.” Among a great variety of white, rosé and red wines that include types of Grüner Veltliner, Chardonnay, Zweigelt, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and many more, is the multi-award winning Cuvée AnnaChristina. It boasts the best flavours of spicy Zweigelt, the smooth texture of Merlot and the earthy fruitiness of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Named after the Netzl's daughters, it comprises the best this vineyard has
Below: The Netzl Family Bottom: The multi-award winning Cuvée Anna-Christina Wine cellar and production facilities