Wine Diary
A chilly start to May
After a warm first quarter 2025, May has been very cool so far, with temperatures in the Kamptal dropping to just below 0°C. Again and again, cold northerly currents reached into the south of Europe. So far, we have survived the so-called “Eisheilige” *with only minor frost damage and are naturally hoping for the “all-clear” soon. Our measures, such as delayed pruning in endangered locations, may already have had an effect. However, we are very happy to accept the slowdown in vegetation that comes with the weather.
*“Ice Saints”, Catholic saints whose birthdays are celebrated during a period in May, often proving to be rather chilly
Tying
There is currently a wealth of different work to be done in the vineyard. In addition to constant soil, foliage and vine care, we are finishing ‘tying’: this means to bend the still vertical fruiting canes towards the wire and fix them at the ends with straps or staples so that they take on the shape of the characteristic arch. The vine as a tendril always wants to grow upwards and directs its energy into the uppermost shoot tips. If we bend these downwards, the energy is well distributed to all the buds, which thus receive enough light and air to thrive.
Tirage: Before “bubbles” bubble!
In the cellar, everything is centred around the ‘tirage’ of our future Brut Reserve and Brut Rosé Reserve sparkling wines, which are produced using the traditional method. Filling the matured base wines for perfect bottle fermentation is precision work that takes several days and requires a high level of concentration from our cellar team. The fine bottles are then allowed to mature for several years in our historic loess cellars at ideal temperatures before they will hopefully give us and our valued customers much pleasure!