AUSTRIA

ZANTHO, BURGERLAND

Andau is situated in the northern part of Burgenland, in the extreme east of the country, in a region called “Seewinkel” close to the Hungarian border. The wines from ZANTHO are made in cooperation with the Umathum winery and Wolfgang Peck from Winzerkeller Andau. Josef Umathum guarantees the high quality of the grapes and is responsible for management in the vineyards. Wolfgang Peck, Managing Director of Winzerkeller Andau, is in charge of the winemaking. Together, they cultivate 70 ha of vineyards, planted mainly with indigenous grape varieties, making wines typical of the region.

CLAUS PREISINGER, BURGENLAND

Claus was not born into a winemaking family, but it was as early as at the age of 14, that he discovered his interest in viticulture and the wine itself. Only a

few years later he became the youngest member of Pannobile – a group of vintners, who share a common vision of working in tune with nature and with respect for the land. Claus ́s vineyards span 19 hectares around the village of Gols, on the north – eastern shore of the Lake Neusiedl, where he has built a minimalist design winery. The building blends into a gently undulating Pannonian landscape. A sea of vines, mostly: Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt, St. Laurent (80% of planting), Grüner Veltliner, Welschriesling, Pinot Blanc. In recent years Claus has been quite keen on working with Pinot Noir, as well as experimenting with Georgian amphorae – for his captivating, textural skin contact whites. While always evolving, his winemaking philosophy remains simple: “Wine is a living product; it changes all the time. It is hard to find the right moment to intervene, hence it’s better not to intervene at all.”

BERNHARD OTT, WAGRAM AND KAMPTAL

Bernhard Ott is a Grüner Veltliner man and indeed 90% of his wines are made with this variety! This accomplished and experienced vintner is continuing a century long, family tradition of winemaking, farming the 28 hectares spread between Feuersbrunn (Wagram) and Engabrunn (Kamptal). From the 2019 vintage onwards those two distinct terroirs complement each other in the two of his wines: Am Berg and Fass4 – the spiciness and texture of the chalky loess soil found in Wagram, with the yellow fruit and bright acidity linked to the sandy- rocky plots in Kamptal. Going back to the traditions of the past Bernhard chooses to vinify his wines with full stems and always some skin contact – searching for more depth, structure and elegance and spice. In recent years Bernhard is very fond of large format (7000 & 5000 L) Stockinger foudre – and all his wines are aged in them. 2020 vintage marks the first year when the entire estate is certified biodynamic by RESPECT.