The Soils & Terroir
The stony primary rock and slate soils retain the sun’s warmth, keeping the terraced vineyards warm even on cool nights. Rich in potassium and natural minerals, these soils impart a distinctive mineral character to the grapes, shaping the unique profile of our Gigant and Urknall collections.
The loess soils are powerful yet delicate, with fertile, well-structured particles that make minerals easily accessible to the vines. Roots reaching up to 17 metres allow wines from our Sand1, ClassicC, Impuls, and Urknall collections to develop intense aromas and a lively, elegant character. Our red wines, grown predominantly on loess, benefit from this soil’s natural complexity and depth.
The loess: Powerful and profound and very delicate. Its fertility comes from its small but not too fine particle size and easily accessible minerals.
Roots that go up to 17 metres deep give our wines from Sand1, ClassicC, Impuls & Urknall Collections their strong fragrance and elegant, zesty taste. Our red wine collection also comes mostly from loess, giving it complexity and density.
The Microclimate
Our terraced vineyards, facing south toward the Danube, enjoy an ideal climate. The southern slopes receive sunlight from morning to evening, enhanced by reflection from the Danube. Like the soils, the river stores and radiates warmth, nurturing the vines during cooler nights and days. This microclimate supports a long growing season, allowing grapes to ripen slowly while maintaining vibrant acidity.
Old Vines
During the 19th century, phylloxera devastated many European vineyards. To survive, European growers grafted their vines onto phylloxera-resistant American rootstocks. Today, our old, deep-rooted vines yield fewer grapes, but these grapes are rich in mineral essence and extract. At Weingut Zöhrer, we embrace this natural advantage, carefully selecting the best musts for our terroir-driven wines and Reserve collections from old vines.
Harvest
At Weingut Zöhrer, quality begins in the vineyard. Grapes are hand-harvested at peak ripeness, following the principle: fewer grapes on the vine result in more concentrated, expressive wines in the cellar.
At Weingut Zöhrer, sustainability begins in the vineyard. As “integrated” producers, we view soil fertility as the foundation for crafting exceptional wines. Our approach minimizes external interventions, prioritizing methods that are either aligned with or identical to organic cultivation. A full conversion of all vineyards is planned under the guidance of Toni Zöhrer, though the terraced vineyards make this a gradual and challenging process.
In recent years, we have established additional areas under near-natural cultivation as part of our integrated viticulture program (KIP). This approach combines environmental protection, economic efficiency, and social responsibility — a triangle that ensures improvements in one area never come at the expense of the others.
Synonyms for Integrated Viticulture
„umweltschonender Weinbau“ (Deutschland)
„Viticulture Raisonnée“ (Frankreich).
„Kontrolliert Integrierte Produktion“ (Österreich)
Key Organizations
„Kontrolliert Umweltschonender Weinbau“ (KUW)
„Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter“ (VDP) Deutschland
„Terra Vitis“ (TV) Frankreich
„Kontrollierte Integrierte Produktion“ (KIP) Österreich.
