Our vineyards were looking healthy and still full of vitality. There had hardly been any frost, and we only had suffered minor hail damage on Käferberg and Lamm, which happened early in summer and thus reduced the quantity but not the quality of the grapes. Ripeness was about a week ahead of 2021 but did still start a good deal later than in warm years such as 2017, ´18 and ´19.
The changeable weather during the first half of harvest was demanding tactical reactivity.
Program changes were becoming quite common then: impressive cloud formations, which, pushed by fresh north-westerly winds, were chasing over the Kamptal and sometimes ‘leaked’. For us this meant quite erratic, if only temporary, rain showers. On several occasions we had to abruptly stop picking at one place and skip over to another momentarily dry vineyard. Debriefings in the early morning aimed at flexibility and were taking longer as we tried to keep many options open.
Much to our relief, some warm and sunny weeks with mainly very cool nights followed, a real treat for growers who had been waiting patiently for more character in their best Grüners. These weeks finally secured the vintage. On the 25th of October, right before Austria’s national holiday, we finished harvest 2022.
Overall, we are quite happy with the result. Our first young and truly charming wines show great balance. They are fresh, though a little milder than those of 2021, and we can guarantee true drinking pleasure! Our Rieslings already impress in this early state with freshness and deep, sappy fruit. A huge thanks to everyone in our vineyard and cellar team turning vintage 2022 into an “all-round success”! |
