Ried Setz - Blaufränkisch

Here we have the loveliest autumn weather one could wish for, and are
picking the Blaufränkisch in our vineyard Ried Setz.

The clusters have small berries, often quite loosely bunched – this thanks
to to the hot summer, as well as the meticulous care we took with foliage
canopy management and cultivating the soils.

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Filling the barrels

Our casks – Burgundian 'pièces' – are now being filled.

Katerstein, Tatschler and Neusatz are in the cellar, and on Wednesday we'll
get started at harvesting the Gloria…

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Neusatz

Thanks to cold temperatures, the rainy weather we had on Tuesday and
Wednesday did not damage the clusters,
and the thriving greencover was happy to have the moisture.

Today it is still cold and windy. We are harvesting our Chardonnay in the
vineyard Ried Neusatz.

Approximately 20° on the Klosterneuburg scale – close to 100° Öchsle –
translates to some 200 grammes of sugar per litre of grape must: perfect
ripeness!

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Sauvignon Blanc: pressing & precipitation

The press has been running for an hour now.

The grape must is drawn off into a stainless steel tank, where it will rest
for a day in order for the remaining solids to settle.

Meanwhile, the clear must that we pressed yesterday in the cellar is racked
into a wooden cask, where it will ferment and then spend the entire period
of élevage on the yeast.

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Harvesting our Sauvignon Blanc

We are currently picking our Sauvignon Blanc. The weather is windy and the
sun is shining. The grapes taste spicy and sweet.

In processing the grapes we strive to exclude oxygen as much as possible, in
order to preserve the aromas of tropical fruits and elderflowers.

The clusters spend the night macerating (juice and grape skins); pressing
begins early in the morning.

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Harvest time!

We are taking advantage of these lovely and warm days to pick our Zweigelt.

The clusters are fully ripened and the grapes have developed thick skins,
thanks to the great heat of August.

Tannin and colour are concentrated in the skins; we are looking forward now
to magnificent red wines!

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Stringing the wires

We are done with thinning out the Zweigelt, and still have time before we need to do it with the Blaufränkisch…

Now the wires are being hung in this year's newly planted vineyards. 

Wire is spooled out from rolls on the tractor, where Dragan and Stefan will hang it at the appropriate height, then close the tabs binding the wire to the post.

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