Pruning

With the young vines in the Steinmühle, we use a 'constructive' method of
pruning, in order to mould the grapevine into its future form.
This process takes about five years, after which it is comparatively easy to
follow the established system of pruning year after year.


In the background, a view of the Scneeberg, the easternmost 2000-metre peak
of the Alps.

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Tractor-work with a view

After hacking out the old vines, the former vineyard is levelled, in order
to have an even surface for subsequent cultivation.

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Beerenauslese

Dry weather in the past few days has led the berries on the Scheurebe vines
to shrivel quite substantially.
Today we had the loveliest possible weather - gorgeous sunshine - and
harvested 450 kilogrammes!
Our Scheu is now in the press house, and we are excited to see how high the
degree of sugar will reach - we shall know more tomorrow evening!

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Restoration and recultivation of a vineyard

We are recultivating a vineyard and the adjacent embankment in the Ried Katerstein. Acacia bushes are being cut away and the underbrush cleared out.

As a result, the sun will once more find its way to the stone walls – and the lizards will be quite pleased!

 

Cabernet closes the harvest -

After having eighteen gorgeous days for the harvest, today we got to know
the rain as well.
Vintage year 2016 began in a very difficult manner, with the late frost in
April.
So we are that much happier to get our grapes into the cellar in such
marvellous condition.
The ripeness is very great, the clusters are healthy, and the concentration
of the material promises that this will be a great vintage.

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Last harvest day for Blaufränkisch -

Yesterday we picked our Blaufränkisch in the vineyard Ried Point; today we
are finishing up with Ried Setz.
The yield is extremely meagre because of the late frost at the end of April,
but the quality is exceptionally fine!
Perfectly mature and gorgeous deeply coloured clusters, crunchy grape skins
and marvellous flavour!

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Gloria

The sun shone radiantly as we were harvesting our Chardonnay in Ried Gloria,
and our mood was sunny as well.
Marvellously ripe grapes with just a bit of 'noble rot'.
Depending on how many berries in the cluster were affected by the botrytis
mold, we either discarded those grapes,
or in the case of more than 25% botrytis berries left the entire cluster
hanging on the vine,
where in a few weeks they can be selectively picked for a potential
Beerenauslese.

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