Stefan Pratsch

We all share the desire to live in balance with nature. On our organically certified winery in the appellation of Niederösterreich we combine innovation and tradition with the principles of the organic viticulture and winemaking. The outstanding passion and innovative ideas of today’s young owner Stefan Pratsch are supported by his parents Wilhelm and Anneliese:

The background of our family goes back about 8 generations. Our ancestors had always lived in Hohenruppersdorf with our domain consisting of livestock, normal agriculture (wheat, barley) and a few hectares of vines. Wilhelm Pratsch, Stefan’s father, took over in the early 80s.

Today’s basis of a reliable clear quality began in exactly that period. At the time, the use of conventional agricultural methods was standard and taken for granted. Wilhelm wanted to improve the quality of the products he sold, and started thinking intensely about the role of the soil and how it could help improve the quality of the products.

After a few years of experimenting, he converted to fully certified organics in the early 90s. This was something unusual at the time and resulted in his colleagues regarding him as a bit out of the ordinary. After his initial successes of achieving the kind of soil build up he wanted to have, Wilhelm studied the possibilities of organics and its effects more closely. He found that the most important issue in the plant health and production of high quality products is the continual access to water and the finer minerals. This can only be maintained through the continual build up of humus in the soils and is decreased through fertilizers and chemicals. In the first few years it was difficult to observe the build-up, but after several years it became more obvious, that the soils and the quality of the products were coherent.

Whereas Wilhelm decided to sell the livestock in 1983, wine had always been produced. After Stefan had turned 15 years old in 2000, he took over the wine making and persuaded Wilhelm to go more into the production of high end quality. The next years took Stefan through wine school, doing various interns and at the same working at home to develop the wines, while his parents Wilhelm and Anneliese were taking care of the vineyards and the farm.

Until today the vineyards have been treated organically with the result that the soils have a high amount of nutrients and retain water much better than the neighboring vineyards, thus adding to the continual stability of quality of the grapes and therefore the wines. With Stefan’s intense desire to develop the clearest and most complex wines and with the help of the organic viticulture, the wines have been earning some of the highest recognition on various international tasting panels.

We enjoy watching and working on our soils. It’s a challenge that can be mastered with a lot of experience and feeling.  We are continually impressed how diverse the soils and the microclimate conditions are and how they transfer into a distinct terroir expression in our wines.

The single vineyards:

Rotenpüllen (Alluvial soil with löss and clay)

Steinberg (Alluvial soil with lime and loam)

Holy Mountain (Loam and clay, high content of humus and lime) 

Erdpress (High in humus content, loam and lime)

Heiligen Berg am Pfarracker  (Alluvial soils with limey sandstone, loam with humus)

The basic vineyards – our classic growths grow here:

Eben am Berg (Alluvial soil, loam, lime and clay)

Hoferthal (Loam, clay and black earth)

Satz (Loam and clay, black earth)

Sandgrube (Sandstone and loam)

Organic winemaking incorporates more than ever the holistic thinking and action. This means to let nature’s ways occur with just very soft guidance and the least amount of intervention. This expresses the essence of organic winemaking. It is more than the total exclusion of chemical sprays. The removal of chemical-synthetic applications means giving an extra focus on the vineyards. Nature provided the plants with everything to protect themselves. All the winemaker’s actions should help develop these self protection mechanisms. A well aerated canopy and prophylactic measure with limited doses of sulphur and copper will hinder any development of fungal diseases. Focussed integration of varying cover crop in and around the vineyards reduces the risks of soil erosion and keeps nutrients in an equilibrium. In addition these plants help to attract insects, which themselves develop into helpful ecosystems, further reducing pests. The vine not only grows out of the soil, it also grows from the sun downwards.

An organically treated soil is alive and is the source for the functioning of the ecosystem in the vineyards. Just as every variety or vineyard has its characteristic traits, every soil has its individual taste. It develops over years and is something indigenous, that is immediately destroyed through the use of chemicals. The winemaker has the exciting mission to find and develop these traits. This is the only way how wines with individuality, personality, depth, and longevity can occur – products that will give lasting pleasure. We also have the task to preserve the wonders of soil and nature.

To make wines of the highest quality is a prerequisite for us. Our main varieties are Grüner Veltliner, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Sankt Laurent, Zweigelt, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir. We grow these every year with a lot of feeling and passion.

To gain the optimal quality of our grapes, we pick them at the right point of time, organize transport, the further production steps and vinification as gently as possible. Every grape that arrives from the vineyard should be exposed to the best possible vinification. It is our aim to bring the best aspects from the grape into the bottle. This requires space and time and the optimal techniques for winemaking and storage.

Our Single vineyard wines can show their full potential through a long contact on the fine lees. This is the cornerstone for their potential to develop and age. Our modern equipment – stainless steel tanks, traditional large oak barrels and small French barrels – give us the possibility to vary our procedures according to vintage and product. This constant drive for quality has resulted in various international awards such as the World Wine Championship Award in Chicago and Mundus Vini-Biofach in Nürnberg.

The leading Austrian jury – the AWC International – awarded us with numerous gold- and silver medals. The various accolades have helped establish our products on international markets. Next to the leading market USA we have been able to attract clients in Germany, Sweden and Norway. On a national level we belong to the select group “SALON – Austrian wines” – which recognized amongst wine professionals around the world. Judge for yourself and try our natural assortment.