Site, Origin & Climate
Ried Steinmassl
The vineyard site
Ried Steinmassl
The vineyards of Langenloiser Steinmassl are located on a ridge that ranges from 340 meters above sea level in the south-southeast to 240 meters in the north-northwest, with a broad shoulder extending out towards the southwest.
The vines are partially trained in the Lyre-system. This method doubles canopy exposure and favors aeration which improves photosynthesis and prevents dreaded fungus diseases.
The soil
The Riesling vines of the Steinmassl vineyard grow on primary rock with mica-schist. This geological formation of Austria’s southern forest district possesses as classic and traditional a soil type as one is likely to find anywhere Kamptal, Kremstal or Wachau. Paragneiss and mica schist make up the crystalline bedrock, together with dark amphibolite and light coloured granite gneiss. Deep weathering has resulted in a brown earth soil layer of variable thickness (up to one meter in places), which contains scattered rock fragments and which, despite the siliceous nature of the bedrock, can sometimes be a little calcareous.
