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Weingut Birgit Eichinger
Birgit Eichinger’s viticultural aims: “To optimize the natural aroma & flavour potential inherent in the grapes by matching varietals & terrain, practicing careful vineyard management & applying painstaking vinification.”
History
The 2005 Decanter International Riesling Trophy Winner, winemaker Birgit Eichinger, began her winemaking career experimenting with 3.5 ha from her parent’s business. She went on to establish Weingut Eichinger in 1992 with her husband Christian, whose experience in the building industry was invaluable in creating a stateof-the-art winery. The vineyard areahas since expanded and fruit is now sourced from more than 8 ha of the finest traditional sites of Strass.
Who or what has been your greatest influence?
“My own stubbornness. I wanted to prove to all that a young woman can also make good wines.
Who is your favourite artist?
Gustav Klimt and a lot of other artists from this period.
What has been the greatest moment of your life?
The birth of my daughter Gloria in 1997.
The Estate
The winery was built around a premium plot of land at the foot of the Gaisberg mountain. The Estate now comprises 5 vineyard sites in Strass, namely Hasel, Gaisberg, Heiligenstein, Stangl and Wechselberg. Each varietal is carefully selected to match it to the ideal vineyard site and soil type.
The Wines
The range of varietals grown on the estate have remained firmly traditional, namely Grüner Veltliner (70%), Roter Veltliner (5%), Riesling (17%) and Chardonnay (8%). Vinification takes place in ultramodern, temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with emphasis being placed on the purity of the must prior to fermentation. Depending on the vintage, Chardonnay and Grüner Veltliner are also aged in barriques. Birgit uses only the long-established vines capable of producing premium quality wines.
We finally found the ideal plot of land for our winery in 1994, at the foot of the Gaisberg amidst picturesque vineyards. Since my husband, Christian, works in the building trade, we soon managed to build a pretty estate, yet also a showcase winery with state-of-the-art technology.
Over time, the vineyard area has expanded, and we now source fruit from more than 9 hectares in the best traditional sites of Strass. We endeavour to plant only those vines which have long proved successful in the Kamptal and are able to produce premium-quality wines. To name a few: Grüner Veltliner and Chardonnay thrive on famous sites like Gaisberg. Parcels on the Wechselberg are planted with Grüner Veltliner and the regional speciality Roter Veltliner. And the Heiligenstein with its residual soils is devoted to Riesling.
I have a clear goal: to optimize the natural aroma and flavour potential inherent in the grapes by matching varietals and terrain, practicing careful vineyard management and applying painstaking vinification. This requires much dedication and passion, yet also plenty of feeling and love for the wines crafted at the winery with deep respect according to the motto: less is more. With the birth of our daughter Gloria in 1997, I hope the continuation of Austria’s female-vintner scene might be guaranteed!
