News from the Winery

December 2010

We have finished the autumn work in our vineyards, just in time before winter.

We could finish vintage at the beginning of November with a weeping eye and a happy eye. As you have heard, the harvest has been very small in 2010. Our loss of amount was 35%. That was because we had a bad grape beginning in the year before, a wet spring and chill during blossom.

We are proud of the high quality of this vintage.
The first wines are bottled: Strassertal, Blickenweg, Weißer and Gelber Muskateller. You will enjoy the wines to the full.

I wholeheartedly wish you a Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year 2011


Hans Topf

A busy November!

Arek is busy cutting the vines in the vineyard until middle of December. Roman continues with a new Subsoiler the driving-lines in the vineyards. There the compressions are broken open carefully by the tractor tyres, the winter humidity can also penetrate into the ground and the earth can breathe.

In the cellar proceeds the fermentation of the wines read last (Grüner Veltliner Ofenberg, Riesling Heiligenstein, Riesling Wechselberg Spiegel, Grüner Veltliner Hans Topf)

The red wines which still lie on the yeast finish during the next days with the biological acid dismantling. Chardonnay and Sauvignon from the new wood, are ready with the alcoholic fermentation and are likewise still occupied with the biological acid dismantling.

Grüner Veltliner Strassertal has just been separated from the yeast and filtered.

The new filling plant has come. Big joy with the cellar team. Italian assemblers of the company Bertolaso and home electricians and plumbers mounted the wonder. A new arrangement in the last state of the technology with which the biggest value was not hourly achievement, but that our wines come to the bottles in the most sparing way. On the 16th of November, after the normal teething troubles, we began filling our first wines of 2010:

Weißer and Blickenweg

Weiße with a hardly noticeable salmon-coloured touch, piquant fruit and corpulently by his tender Tannin of Zweigelt.

Blickenweg is a firework of meadow flowers fruit, fine acid, a light tingle in the palate of the natural Co2 which in the fermentation was bound. Weißer Zweigelt 2010 and Blickenweg 2010 are filled and available by now.

Enchant yourselve with the fruity charm of both wines.

The guide „Österreichs beste Rotweine 2011“ has appeared.

Blauburgunder Stangl 2007 got 4 glasses and we are very happy about this!

29.10.10

Today we began with the cleansing work in the presshouse. The tractor drivers started slacking the ground of the driving lines in the vineyards and the vines got covered 40 cm with earth.

The working day is finished in a good mood and we will meet around 6 pm to have dinner together and celebrate the last harvest day.
Everybody is looking forward a long week-end to recover from the long hours of the vintage.

I will enjoy the week-end with my family.
One day I will check the district with my dogs.

28.10.10

Maximilian Topf is our birthday boy, lost in thought about harvesting, but mother Magdalena wants him to concentrate on school again.

This morning we begin harvesting the rest of Riesling on Wechselberg, for Riesling Wechselberg. The first part is already in the barrels and ferments there.

At 10.30 am we begin to harvest our last vineyard: Grünen Veltliner Ofenberg.The whole team is busy, and perhaps we are able to finish the harvest today.

Unfortunately, the harvest of Ofenberg is very low, but the quality is terrific. Gradation of 21 degrees KLW without Botrytis gold yellow grapes. Everybody is working hard but looking forward to the end of the harvest. At 6pm we are ready: The last grapes of Ofenberg are cut off. As celebration of the day the tractor is decorated according to an old custom, glad and contented faces allaround. The vineyard team still remains to drink a glass of wine in the cellar. The cellar team still presses the Grüner Veltliner Ofenberg, everybody is glad about the end of harvest tomorrow!

As the other vineyards, a usual picture stands out: the qualities are top, the amounts, unfortunately, very small. There still remains enough time for Blauburgunder in the site Stangl to harvest. Around 18.00 this vineyard is also finished.

The Riesling without Botrytis with a gradation of 20 KLMW, left for three hours in the press.

Blau Burgunder has already come to the cellar with a temperature of 17 degrees, these grapes have caught the postmidday sun and have been brought into the presshouse, ideally for the quick start of the fermentation! The gradation also lies at 20 degrees KLMW.

In the morning some moisture in the vineyards.
I truste in the weather forecast and decide not to harvest today. From Tuesday on miraculous autumn days should come back.
To the joy of all our employees, there is a free day.

Today I control all fermented wines, I will also taste them and then I relax with a long restful walk with my dogs.

Sunday, unfortunately, again light rain. The decision not to harvest, is the right one. The vineyard team takes this day off, the cellar team supplies the fruit juices of the Riesling and Weißburgunder. Riesling and Wechselberg Spiegel come to the steel tank, Weißburgunder (the small quantity in 600lt Allier wooden barrels, the third filling).

Magdalena goes to Munich to the grain fair and I go to Cologne to chief thing (Best cooks of Germany).

This wonderful Saturday is also used to read. Today we have a big project, Wechselberg Spiegel. Hans Peter, Maximilian, Alexander, Julius, our cellar team and even grandpa Hans are join the harvest.

Around 06.30 we warm up with hot tea and then we go to Wechselberg Spiegel. However, a chill morning, but we are looking forward a nice autumn day.

The gradation of the perfect golden Riesling lies at 19.5 degrees, in addition to the small harvest some deer tasted our grapes, the wild damage to the other crop failures keeps to a certain extent, but the only protection is: harvesting the vineyard. The grapes come to the presshouse where they rest for 3 hours fermentation.

Because rain is announced from tomorrow on and today we are a big team, I have decided to harvest one more vineyard. The Weißburgunder Stangl is next. Around 15.30 we change from Wechselberg Spiegel to Stangl where we harvest Weißburgunder The grapes have a gradation of 20 degrees and 10% Botrytis.

22.-23.10.10

In the morning we had 5 degrees below zero.
We decided that we have to go on harvesting without break until All Saints Day.
Now we go on with Riesling Strassertal in in the vineyards Stangel, Gaisberg, Reith and Placher. The sugar content of the grapes is between 17,5 and 18 degrees KLMW. The grapes are riped off in the press-house and after remaining on the mash for an hour finally pressed.

21.10.10

In the morning Zweigelt is harvested in the vineyards of Sachsenberg.
Giving away all the leaves was very good. The grapes got enough sun, are healthy and without Botrytis. Now they get in boxes and come to the cellar, where they rest in the tank, 20 degrees centigrade during fermentation.
In the late afternoon we began harvesting Riesling Strassertal. It is high time! The grapes are ripe and nearly falling down, another rain period would harm them. Gradation of Rieslinge Strassertal is about 17,5 degrees KLM.

19.10. und 20.10.2010

The weather is improving and grants us lovely dry fall days. At sunny weather we begin with Grünen Veltliner in Riede Wechselberg today. The grapes are healthy with a very flavour and spicy taste. 19 degrees KLMW, but as other sites a loss of quantity. The grapes remain at the press for an hour of fermentation.

18.10.2010

A rainy day stopped us, and the vineyard-team took a day off. In the cellar Chardonnays and Sauvignons from site Hasel got in tanks.

15. and 16. 10. 2010

This day is dedicated to our Sauvignon.
In the morning we harvest Sauvignon Strassertal on Gaisberg, ripe, healthy, golden grapes - a perfect Strassertal Sauvignon.

After lunch we are in the vineyards of Hasel harvesting Sauvignon. Ripe and botrytis as Chardonnay. The grapes have the typical taste.

14.10 .2010

In dry fall weather we harvested Chardonnay Hasel
The grapes are golden with some Bortrytis ( 10%) and a good sweetness of about 20 degrees KLMW. They got in the press-house, 4 hours fermentation, and pressed cautiously.

8.-13.10.10

Since Friday last week we are busy with Grüner Veltliner Strassertal. To the surprise of all the quality is excellent but the quantity is little. In fact the limited amount is smaller than a pessimist would have forecasted.
The outage is about 50% because of the bad weather in June.

Fortunately a wonderful autumn goes along with us, cool nights and sunny days.

7.10.10

Today we seperated the Weißen (Zweigelt, immediately pressed) from the yeast. The colour is similar to white wine with tints of salmon. About four weeks the Weiße remains in tanks, afterwards the first bottles will be filled.

4.-6.10.10

Today we began pressing Zweigelt Strassertal. This wine has got a dark cyclam colour and a delicate tannin. Now it gets into heat tanks and remains there at 20 degrees above zero so the biological acid-degradation can begin.

October, 4th 2010

Our vineyard-team is busy with giving away the leaves. Quality control is part of the same work process. The first wines are fermented in the cellar, they are brimming and seperated from the yeast.

October, 1st 2010

After controlling the vineyards I decided to make a break for at least one week The sugar of the grapes is in the desired quality, but acidity is still to high. That means the Grüner Veltliner is not mellowed physiologically yet.

September, 29th 2010

Today the vintage of Gelber Muskateller is done in the location Sental.
Everyone here has a sweet tooth, the grapes taste is fantastic.
Gradation lies at 18 degrees KLW.The grapes get squeezed softly and after that fermented for two hours. That's the way how to leach out intencity of the fruit's skin.

September, 28th 2010

This morning we began with harvest on Riede Oberhasel with Zweigelt Strassertal. The weather is cold but dry. The grapes are healthy and mature. We were urged to act immediately because of the rainy weekend. The grapes would not stand another rainy day without harm.

September, 27th 2010

Thanks god the rain is gone, but it is to wet to go on with harvesting. All harvesters are busy in Ofenberg, Stangl, Heiligenstein, Wechselberg. Leaves are put away by hands, so the grapes are able to dry in the sunshine more quickly.

September, 26th 2010

It is raining. We have to make new plans for this week.
That is why I do not have guilty conscience when I go with my Weimaraner to the field and whater-test in the early morning. Start 07:00am and succesful ending at 4:00pm.

September, 25th 2010

Today is no harvest. After a week harvesting we have a lot to do in the cellar. Every week we have to concentrate on cleaning up.

September, 22nd - 24th

The last days of summer and the first of fall spoiled our vineyards.

In fantastic, sunny weather we are busy harvesting the grapes of the Weißen in Riede Hasel.The grapes of Zweigelt are harvested and given in little boxes very carefully. After that they come to the presshouse and get pressed gently

Because of the fine weather we are not nervous anymore.
A good result may be expected thanks to the sunny and dry weather.

September, 20th and 21st

In a good mood and absolutely motivated we began harvesting monday morning with sunshine but low temperature. As tradition we began with site Blickenberg. Nature helped us with this decision.

The grapes are healthy and in good condition. We are satified with the quality. The taste of the grapes is very aromatic, but the amount in this vineyard is 50% less.

The grapes are pressed already.

September 2010

September is our time to renovate the filling-hall and prepare for the harvest.

Our ladies were busy in the vineyards.
Zweigelt, Riesling and Grüner Veltliner is finally machined, leaves were removed and grapes were thinned out

The whole male team is busy with arrangements in the presshouse and renovation in the filling-hall.

The old floor has been removed and an industrie-floor has been assembled.
The walls are tiled and painted.

We were pressed for time, because from the 20th of september the whole team must be ready for the harvest.

August 2010

Manual work in th vineyard is nearly finished. We are still busy to thin out Grüner Veltliner and Zweigelt.
Three young trainees join us for the summer:
Marlies and Madeleine from Josefinum Wieselburg
Isabella from university Geisenheim in Rheingau.

Tractors still drive threw the vineyard to loosen up the soil. Right after that they put a special mix of clover for manuring.

This year we have no plant holiday, so there is always somebody around.
Our cellar-team is still busy filling up the wines, we need for summer and fall.

After that the whole machine will be removed and the filling-hall will be renovated with new floors and electricity.

We begin on the 18th of October to fabricate our new filling-hall.

In August we cleaned our press-house and controlled all machines, so that everything is prepared for the harvest.

July 2010

The blossoms of our vines enjoyed the warm summersun. The grapes grow very fast and there are still water-reserves in the soil.

All our staff works hard in the vineyards binding the vines in the wireframes.

A big party was celebrated in our estate: Hans Topf senior had his 80th birthday on july 8th.

At the winetasting of the Austrian Wirtschaftsverlag our Grüner Veltliner Ofenberg Erste Lage 2009 and our Riesling Wechselberg 2009 were awarded four glasses and are now two of the best Austrian white wines.

May-June 2010

When the weather is fine we spend our time in the vineyard. There is a lot to do, putting the vines in their wire border and we also have to weed.

Our early sites are in full blow. This year we mowed our vineyards, so that the green manures can take the water out of the ground. The machine track is walkable and trafficable.

The whole team used the rainy days to clean up our cellar and fill bottles. As from now Grüner Veltliner Hans Topf 2008 and Weißburgunder Stangl 2008 are ready for tasting and selling.

April 2010

We decided spring came to stay!

Early in April we began planting the new vines. The following vines are planted:

Hasel Grüner Veltliner
Steinbühel Grüner Veltliner
Eichberg Grüner Veltliner
Gaisberg Grüner Veltliner
Stangl Grüner Veltliner
Reith Riesling
Hasel Chardonnay

A part of our team has their full attention on planting the vines, tying them to their aiding sticks.

In the cellar our Erste Lage-wines: Riesling Wechselberg Spiegel, Riesling Heiligenstein and Grüner Veltliner Ofenberg will be filled midmonth. In time for Kamptaler Wine Spring and Tour de Vin for tasting and selling.

Big shafts of sunlight at the beginning of March melted the snow.
The water could get deep into the earth, because the ground under the snow was`nt frozen. So the vines could get all the water they need.

The cutting in the vineyards is final. Now we are busy with the binding work. A work which has to be done very carefully, so that no fruit vines are broken off.
Vineyards which still have aiding sticks made of wood get modernised. The old, rotten stakes will be exchanged and wire will be strained.

In the cellar the great wines are seperated from the yeast and filtered carefully.
Chardonnay Hasel and Sauvignon Hasel, completed their biodegradation of acid. They will be filled afterards they mature on full yeast for some month.

We proudly present our Trockenbeerenauslese vintage 2009 (43 degree Klosterneuburger Mostwaage) The wine is just before the finishing line of the alcoholic fermentation and will be completed within some weeks.

Now we are looking forward spring, and do hope winter does not come back with extreme temperatures.

Site Classification of the Traditional Vineyards

Austrian Traditionsweingüter introduce a site classification of their First Sites.
Details you can find here.

Low temperatures are difficult for the vines.
At the end of January a record was set with 22,5 degrees below zero.

At the moment we can not say how much damage the frost causes.

In the cellar the 2009 wines are filled:
Grüner Veltliner Wechselberg, Riesling Wechselberg und Sauvignon Strassertal.
From now on ready for tasting and selling.

The bagger work at site Sental is finnished, and the bottom rests below a thick layer of snow.

Frost can get deep into the earth and loosens the ground with freezing.
So everything is prepared for the seed and the cover crops.

After christmas, on January 11th, work restarted at the vineyard.
The whole team is in a good mood.

The snow is great for the vine and also my sons enjoy it while sleding on Gaisberg and Wechselberg. Winegrowers like winters like this - snow and temperatures around -5° C.

In the cellar the first Kamptal DAC is filled: Grüner Veltliner Strassertal 2009. From now on ready for tasting and selling.

We are busy cutting the vines. There is no time for a rest. In spring we will plant 3 ha new vines. Until then the cutting and binding work must be done.

Since December we have a lot to do on Wechselberg. The historic old site is vegetated. Humus is taken away carefully. After that the terrace will be formed and then the humus layer will be brought out again.

A site one will hear about!