Despite the geographically limited area, the Wachau exhibits manifold geological characteristics.
The climactic influence on the area soils began in the ice-ages when the Danube river had to force her path through the hard, crystalline bedrock. The ancient bedrock soils of Gföhler gneiss and primitive gneiss contain a large quantity of minerals like mica and feldspar. The enormous stream of glacial melt waters deposited huge layers of brash and crushed substratum bedrock. Today these sandy soils are what gives the local wines their balance between smooth structure and depth. The sparse, porous alteration soils minimize stress, yet offer no luxury conditions to the plants, and encourage the vines to quality through deprivation instead.
An average of 1721 annual hours of sunlight are norm for the region, with 1343 hours during the growing season from April to October.
My vineyard locations are:
Achleiten, Weitenberg, Hinter der Burg, Pichl Point, Steinriegl, Vorder Seiber und Flackeln. The grapes of the vineyard Traben, which geographically belongs to Dürnstein, are harvested by my brother-in-law.
Our vineyards exhibit the following soil conditions:
40% pure primary rock soils, 60% with partial layers of loess soil and loamy sand. 25% are hillside locations, cultivated manually only.
