Wine Diary
The first ones are last
After All Saints’ Day only the first growths remain to be harvested. This year, the association of the Traditionsweingüter has introduced a vineyard classification, and vineyards classified as First Growth (Erste Lage), are harveste last, i.e. in November.
Vines with too many grapes and young vines, roughly half of the yield in these vineyards have already been harvested.
The remaining grapes are the top end of our production. They will be made into substantial, typical single-vineyard wines and will be called “Kamptal Reserve” according to the new scheme of classification.
Our more voluptuous and expressive Grüner Veltliner and Riesling are called “Reserve”. Reserves will remain in the barrel for longer than light-weight Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, whose most important attributes are fruit and freshness (e.g. our Kamptaler Terassen).
During the following week, we will harvest Erste Lage wines in the Loiser Berg, Käferberg, Lamm, Steinmassel and Heiligenstein vineyards. Every bunch will be carefully divided, healthy berries will go into the classic single vineyard wines, shrivelled grapes go into a separate box for Auslese, Beerenauslese and TBA wines.
I hope that all Kamptal winegrowers will join the single vineyard initiative – the variety of soils and microclimates and of the plant material result in an incredible wealth of characteristic aromas and nuances.