Weingut Bründlmayer

Vintage 2019

Our vineyards, all certificated BIO since 2018 (Lacon-AT-BIO-402), started well-tended into the 2019 vegetation period. Spring began dry and almost summery, following a warm and moderately humid winter. Early sprouting gave rise to the fear of late frosts. In fact, in May it became rather cool, though temperatures remained mostly above the danger threshold, and thus we came away with only little damage. The humidity accompanying the cold proved to be a blessing, as it brought the vines well-hydrated to a quite early flowering. However, we were around two weeks later compared to the earliest year - 2018.

By the end of august, we began harvest with grapes for Verjus and Sekt base wine. From then on, conditions were virtually ideal, in order to carefully pick the different varieties from each site for all wine types with ideal ripeness – and this without any rushing. We had a few breaks thanks to short periods of rain, accompanied by low temperatures and strong winds. Luckily so, because the constant winds quickly dried the bunches did not really allow botrytis to creep in, but helped to develop the complex, fragrant yet profound aromas we will always look for in the best wines of the Kamptal.

When finally we finished harvest at Weingut Bründlmayer on the 21st of October, only relaxed and satisfied faces were to be seen. Quantity may be slightly below average, but vintage 2019, there we are sure, has great potential! The wines already show promise after having finished their alcoholic fermentation without any problem. And maybe with the beginning of the festive season we will be able to enjoy some light and aromatic Zweigelt Rosé!

Vintage 2018

Nature provided us with a rich and mature harvest! The earlier wines in the cellar indicate good things to come. Here is a quick review of our vintage 2018:

January was quite warm, February and March cool once again. Then, however, instead of springtime, summer immediately arrived in Langenlois! In Kamptal we did not suffer any late frost, just a short cooler period with continuous and quite heavy rain in May and many, many hours of sunlight, making circumstances ideal for an incredibly early and perfect flowering (starting the 22nd of May).

There were high hopes for an outstanding harvest. Summer was extremely dry, apart from a few dashes of rain in June and a local thunder shower Mid-July. So, harvest started as early as never before (Sekt base wines by the third week of August) and after a more or less unstable September with a few rain breaks, and because of the accelerating ripeness, we were picking almost uninterruptedly.

Initially the high yields caused quite a stir also in the Kamptal. Considering temperatures and potential precipitation, many growers decided in favor of a very quick harvest. But the weather held and rewarded all who had remained calm and patient. However as soon as we approached top qualities (mostly concerning Riesling) , the yield was going down dramatically. Selection for absolute top wines was consuming time and forces, yet will definitely pay dividends! On the Zöbinger Heiligenstein, for example, our experienced team spent over two weeks with meticulous selection. This resulted in wonderful, sparkling clean and delicately fruity Riesling grapes on the one hand, and on the other hand, even a little barrel of sweet wine, pressed from the few but perfectly botrytized berries. The drop of bitterness: Only 50% of an average yield on the most famous site!

Almost throughout the whole period we were bringing in Grüner Veltliners from most varied vineyards and towards the end, of incredible density and complexity. The resulting wines, especially those of old vines, will be mightier as the 2017s, nevertheless they already appear to be firm and promising. It is still too early for a final verdict on the “Erste Lagen” wines although we feel quite confident.

The warm year definitely benefitted the red wines: Pinot Noir and Zweigelt with a perfect physiologic maturity came in before the end of September. We waited a bit longer for the Cabernet Franc, and, considering the strict selection done, we are indeed looking very much forward to the result in the glass.

A TBA of Gelber Muskateller from Rosenhügel resulting from the remaining grapes there, ideally concentrated by noble rot, it brought us the worthy finale! We had just managed to pick them out, before the autumn rain started.  A then again blessing rain, helping to get the natural fertilizers (cow manure) into the soil and to anchor the seeds for the green cover before the hibernation of the vines.

Looking back at 2018, as constituted by the end of November, we state a 2.1 °C higher average temperature, and significantly more sun hours, compared to the long term average. Precipitation levels were a bit lagging behind.

The vegetative advantage from spring held until harvest and the rain in September kept us busy. From the perspective of our colleagues in the vineyards, this meant maximum dedication almost nonstop. Not least because of their commitment and performance, we may look forward to another vintage of high quality!

“The wine tells everything about the soil, the heat and cold, of storm and rain, the landscape – and the people involved from the beginning.”

WILLI BRÜNDLMAYER

At Bründlmayer, the orchestration of great wines is aspired to in the most diverse instrumental constellations.

The simple varietal wines deliver crystal-clear interpretations of the grape and its origin. The interplay of soil with the fruit of the grape is the focal point of the classic single vineyard wines. And the complex reserves or powerful November vintages from the famous vineyards resound with all the resources of the terroir in the most profuse sense of the word.

Weingut Bründlmayer is situated in Langenlois, some 70 km north-west of Vienna, upstream along the Danube in the Lower Austrian Kamp Valley. The wooded hills of the Waldviertel protect the vineyards from the cold north-westerly winds. During the day, the sun warms the stony terraces, while at night the fresh, fragrant forest air drifts through the Kamp Valley into the Langenloiser Arena.

The mostly terraced vineyards situated far from road traffic are unique in their diversity. Willi Bründlmayer attaches great importance to the ecological balance: Exclusively organic fertilizers are used in the vineyards. The natural resources – soil, sun, water, plants – are employed simply and intelligently. People tend and graft, but do not force themselves into the foreground. Exhausted vineyards are dug out and left fallow for five years to allow the soil to recover.

Small water sumps have been provided around the vineyards to prevent erosion and improve the microclimate. No herbicides of any kind are used. The choice of vine training method is of utmost importance for maximum quality. Willi Bründlmayer trains his vines just over ground level so that the grapes benefit from the soil heat – the stored and reflected light and heat from the rock – but high enough that they are not spattered with wet soil in thunderstorms.

The interaction of soil characteristics, position on the slope, resulting solar radiation and microclimate all contribute to the classification of the vineyard (also known as “Ried” or “Lage” in Austria). Situated to the north-east of Langenlois, Zöbinger Heiligenstein is a vineyard of truly mystic intensity which for centuries has been justifiably among the most renowned in Central Europe. The river Kamp curves at its foot, changing direction from north-south to west-east and flowing on into the open Danube Valley. The soil consists of 250 million-year-old desert sandstone. High on the slope the grapes ripen in an enclosed nature reserve.

The Lamm vineyard is the eastern spur of the Heiligenstein, so the substratum consists of numerous fissures and cracks interstratified with Permian deposits. But there is also a lime-rich clay bed which gives the wine additional warmth, strength and body. Käferberg also has a substratum of poor, primary rock, covered with clayey marine deposits that impart additional strength and density to the wine. These and other vineyards enable us to develop the very best characteristics of our white and red grapes.

Our winemaking combines tradition with modern approaches, we use technological progress but also need a lot of handwork, experience and spirit of highly skilled team.

Wine “grows” by the interaction of people with climate, soil, site and plant, it “prospers” during fascinating, natural processes that we observe, guide and maintain in the cellar. Thus, best wine only develops under guidance and by the interplay of all the people in the winery. The Bründlmayer Family can rely and build on a wonderful and often long-serving team of employees.

Harvesting takes place beteween September and November. Basically, the bunches are selected by hand and harvested into small crates, re-sorted if necessary and transported to the cellar as quickly as possible. Willi Bründlmayer uses only ripe, healthy grapes for vinification. A vineyard will often be harvested two or three times in succession in order to achieve even more subtle, authentic wines. Two extremely gentle pneumatic presses are used for pressing the grapes: their operative pressure of just 1 bar is equivalent to the force of a handshake between friends.

Immediately after each work process, the crates used for harvesting are washed with fresh well water. To retail their aroma, the musts are fermented cool, but not cold in stainless steel or wood. Ageing takes place in a perfectly climatised cellar with high humidity. Depending on variety, the wines remain from three to 18 months in the barrel.

Our Awards in an Overview

Winery of the year, Wine & Spirit Magazine, New York 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001

Marianne/Saveurs d’Europe Prize 2003 for his life’s work

Grand Prix d’Excellence 2000 and following years Grand Prix d’Honneur, Hamburg Wine Salon

First Trophée Gourmet of Gault-Millau, A la Carte, 1989

First Austrian Wine-grower of the Year – Falstaff, 1988

Austrian State Prize 1950

Every year since its creation, member of the Circle of Excellence of the Austrian Wine Salon

Member of the Académie Internationale du Vin

Founding member of the Traditionsweingüter Österreich, an association of prime estates in Austria

First Vintner of the Year, Falstaff Magazine 1988

First Trophée Gourmet, Gault-Millau A la Carte Magazine 1989

Willi Bründlmayer in the list of the world’s 50 most influential winemakers. Decanter 2004

Best Austrian winery in 25 years, Wine & Spirits Magazine (USA )

*****Stars Falstaff Wine Guide

*****Stars Vinaria Wine Guide