New planting of a vineyard, part 1...

We are now planting vines in the parcel of our Ried Point where we placed
drainage hoses last year (see our entry for 14 November).

The young vines are some 35 centimetres in length, and are planted to a
depth of 30 cm.
After this, the rods to which the growing trunk will be bound are driven in
next to the vine.

We will be constructing the wire trellising in the next few weeks.

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Protective fencing.

The vines are now sprouting, and the young, fresh shoots are regarded as a
true delicacy by the deer.

And so we are putting up fences to protect the vines in the vineyards
Tatschler, Gloria and Dürr; if the deer were to come and feast upon the
young shoots, it would mean a significant loss to this year's harvest.

If they were to return and eat the secondary buds that grew later, it would
even endanger the subsequent harvest as well.

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Bottling the white wines.

The first 2014 whites are now being bottled after six months maturing on the
lees – Sauvignon Blanc Steinmühle and Chardonnay Leithakalk.

The top Chardonnays from 2013 – Tatschler, Gloria and Neusatz – will be
bottled as well, after spending eighteen months on the lees.

All of the whites are spicy and succulent, with a finely luxuriant texture
in the finish.

They'll be released in May.

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Gathering the cut vines

The capability to heat with vine wood we've pruned away is replacing the use
of fossil fuels at the Kollwentz Estate. Combined with wood from our
forests, we can self-sufficiently meet the needs of heating the winery.

The vines will be chipped and collected and delivered to our central heating
unit, where they will be loosely piled out of doors to dry further.

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Pulling the vines free

The business of pruning is over with, and we've already made solid progress
with the next task, pulling the cut vines out of the wire trellising.

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Soil samples

Six years have passed; it’s now time to take a new set of soil samples. The little Suzuki with the borer attached can reach up to 60 centimetres deep into the soil, and separates each sample into two sections: topsoil from 0–30 cm, and subsoil from 30–60 cm. The resulting analysis encompasses forty distinct parameters. Some – such as limestone content, water capacity or clay content – remain constant, while others measuring humus content or levels of nutrients are variable. We’re excited to see the results – in nine weeks we shall know more.

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2012 Steinzeiler, Point and Setz are being bottled...

After twenty-four months maturing in small oak barrels, followed by a short time in a stainless steel tank to ‘marry’ the contents of the individual barrels together,

the wines are being bottled. 

Our assortment of sizes ranges from the customary 750ml bottle through the magnum, double-magnum and Imperial (6 litres)

on up to the Melchior, which contains a volume of 18 litres, equal to 24 normal bottles.

These wines will go on sale the first of September; until then they are able to repose and achieve equilibrium.

Weingut Kollwentz

Burgenland

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