Weingut Bründlmayer

A winding path may lead to grand wines. While in other years, 2006 for instance, glorious, sunny and warm Autumns led to incredible grapes, this year is characterized by extremely changeable weather conditions. Sun, rain, wind, cold and heat follow one another in short sequences.

An outstanding feature is the healthy canopy long into October, only in the basin regions where a night frost of minus 1°C destroyed the leaves, were we forced to harvest earlier. On the hill sites, despite cool temperatures maturity progresses quickly. A few more sunny days and cool nights – and we will be able to get wines beyond good quality; wines of outstanding and individual personality, real characters with their features drawn by wind and weather. It is part of the winemakers craft to harvest at the right time and produce good wines, beyond those categories nature sometimes offers the chance for the unusual and the outstanding. This would require even more patience and the willingness to take some risks.

Last week we brought in grapes from Berg-Vogelsang (Grüner Veltliner) and Langenloiser Spiegel Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder), a relatively early harvest for both vineyards to avoid over-ripeness. We aim at an alcohol level of 12%vol for Berg Vogelsang and about 13%vol for Langenloiser Spiegel.