Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
For Michaela and Erich, the origin principle is held in high esteem, meaning that the foundation for their high quality wines is to be found already in the vineyards. The proper soil for each grape variety to benefit from the regional strengths. Thus, dense wines rich in finesse with a typical grape variety character can grow. Whereas, in the first years, the "Grüner Veltliner" was the centre of attention, the winegrowers managed to make themselves an internationally renowned name by their Riesling wines from the Gaisberg and the Heiligenstein as well as the Grauburgunder and Chardonnay Barrique wines. Being an economist by profession, Michaela Haas is responsible for the marketing activities.
Climbing north and slightly east of the Kremstal region, Kamptal has very little vineyard area bordering the Danube River (unlike Wachau and Kremstal, whose vineyards run along it). The region takes its name from the river called Kamp, which traverses it north and south. Kamptal’s densely planted vineyards represent eight percent of Austria’s total.
The area experiences wide diurnal temperature variations like the Wachau but with less rain and more frost. Its vast geologic diversity makes it suitable for various experimentations with other varieties besides Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, such as Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder), Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, St. Laurent and Zweigelt.
But the region is probably most noted for the beautiful and expansive terraced Heiligenstein, arguably one of the world’s top Riesling sites, as well as some of Austria’s most extraordinary Grüner Veltliner vineyards. Kamptal’s soils, which are mostly loess and sand with some gravel and rocks, make it suitable for Grüner Veltliner, so much so that actually half of the zone is planted to that grape.
Fun to say and delightfully easy to drink, Grüner Veltliner calls Austria its homeland. While some easily quaffable Grüners come in a one-liter—a convenient size—many high caliber single vineyard bottlings can benefit from cellar aging. Somm Secret—About 75% of the world’s Grüner Veltliner comes from Austria but the variety is gaining ground in other countries, namely Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the United States.