2022 Herbert Zillinger "Horizont" Grüner Veltliner, Weinviertel, Austria

ABOUT THE WINE

A Blend of a few vineyard showing the great expression of loess and limestone, the wine is fermented in stainless steel then aged on his lees for texture in large Schneckenleitner barrel - Which allows the wine to open and oxygen without oak impact. 

ABOUT THE WINERY

The winery is located in the municipality of Ebenthal in the south of the Weinviertel wine-growing region (Lower Austria). Herbert Zillinger, supported by his wife Carmen, has been the third generation of the family to run the business since 2003. The vineyards cover 16 hectares of vines on loess soils in the In Haiden, Steinberg, Vogelsang and Weintal vineyards. They are 85% planted with the white wine varieties Grüner Veltliner (70% of the total area), Sauvignon Blanc, Traminer and Welschriesling, and 15% with the red wine variety Zweigelt. Certified biodynamic viticulture is practised according to the rules of the respekt-BIODYN association. This includes fertilisation with composted horse manure and pomace to build up humus and revitalise the soil. Artificial irrigation is deliberately avoided in order to force the vines to root deeply and thus clearly express the terroir in the wines.Only physiologically ripe and healthy grapes are processed through selective manual harvesting. Vinification is carried out according to the company motto: wines with a USP (unique selling point) - purist, uncompromising, origin-conscious and modern in the sense of "back to the roots" . Fermentation is carried out entirely spontaneously with the vineyard's own yeasts. As a matter of principle, no additives are used. Depending on the type of wine, ageing takes place in stainless steel tanks or in large wooden barrels. The flagship wine is Grüner Veltliner Radikal, which is matured in large wooden barrels. Other premium wines are the Ried Vogelsang and Ried Weintal Veltliner. All bottles are filled with screw caps with the lowest possible sulphur content.