WENINGER - HORITSCHON |
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
The picture of the landscape begins to change here. This area south of the
Neusiedlersee is more hilly and wooded than the rest of Burgenland. The most
well-known wine villages here are Horitschon, Deutschkreuz, Neckenmarkt and
Lutzmannsburg.
It was never easy for the region's wine-makers. In the 17th century, many had
their land taken away and they were forbidden to plant vines. Although this
repression didn't last long, several conflicts in the 19th century destroyed
numerous vineyards. Still, the wine-makers were indefatigable.
The nickname of the region, "Blaufränkisch Land", clearly reveals the
dominance of this red variety. Deep, heavy soil with ample water-storing
capacity helps provide outstanding conditions for producing red wines that are
dry, rich in tannin and full of character. Some of the best wine-makers benefit
tremendously from their old vineyards - some of these are more than 80 years old
- with low yields bringing high quality.
Besides producing the
Blaufränkisch, there is a lot of experimentation with blending other red
varieties. These cuvées are aged mostly in small oak barrels - barriques - and
represent a new style of Austrian red wine. White varieties constitute only
around 30% of the grapes grown in the region.
THE ESTATE
The Horitschon facilities are situated on a long strip of property, which is a
form not uncommon in Burgenland. The winery was completely rebuilt in 1998 and
has won several prizes for contemporary architecture. The cellar, bottling
facilities, tasting room, office, and accommodations for overnight guests have
been converted into open, sun-filled, and generously arranged spaces. Natural
light fills the entire building, providing a pleasant working atmosphere.
Franz Weninger: "Our new facilities have a two-fold objective. On the one hand, we want a contemporary, modern, and open environment for presenting our products to our customers and visitors, and on the other hand, we ourselves want to be able to work in creative, airy, and stimulating surroundings."
The new facilities are the product of the collaboration between the Innsbruck-born architect Raimund Dickinger and Kriso Leinfellner of the architect and graphic design team propeller z. Weninger invested approximately 1.5 million euros in its new building complex.
THE VINEYARDS
Today Franz Weninger owns 23 hectares of vineyards in and around Horitschon,
most of them have been planted with Blaufränkisch, Merlot, Zweigelt, and
Cabernet Sauvignon. Some of the Blaufränkisch vines from the Hockäcker and
Dürrau sites are up to eighty years old, the average age of the Merlot and
Cabernet Sauvignon vines is 15 years.
Viticulture is Franz Weninger's passion. He is considered by many to be a perfectionist when it comes to vinification: he personally supervises the aging process of his wines and has made a name for himself as a barrique specialist. Nevertheless, Weninger is convinced that real quality isn't made in the cellar, but comes from the vine itself. That is why he has also planted high vine density vineyards (6,000 vines per hectare) with young vines that have been grafted to slow-growing, early-ripening lower trunks.
Vineyard: 23 hectares in and around Horitschon
in central Burgenland, Austria. The soil here features a deep, moderately heavy
to heavy loamy topsoil and is rich in clay and iron.
Varietals: Blaufränkisch, Merlot, Zweigelt,
Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Laurent, Blauer Burgunder.
Production: 900 hl per year, which is
equivalent to 120,000 bottles or 10,000 crates, red wine only.
Cellar: 250,000 liters (barrels and tanks,
400 barriques)
Export 30 percent, mainly to Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Japan, UK, USA.
THE MAN
Franz Weninger: "In the cellar one can only bring out that which is already in the grape. The decisive conditions for good wine, therefore, are the soil and the climate. Also, the willingness of the wine grower to apply radical selection measures, for those who accept only the finest, shall be rewarded with the best results."
Franz Weninger is considered one of the pioneers of quality wine growing in Austria. Back in the eighties, long before the wine scandal and the ensuing revolution of the industry, Weninger had determined certain standards for his estate in Horitschon in central Burgenland, Austria, among them: reduction of yield, strict selection at the vineyard, and slow aging in wooden barrels.
SHINING STAR IN THE AUSTRIAN RED WINE SCENE
In the years to follow Franz Weninger would become a shining star among the
Austrian red wine producers, and his wines would earn him an excellent
reputation at a time when Austria still had the image of being a purely white
wine country. In the red wine test conducted by the journal Falstaff, Weninger
wines have been voted Falstaff winner four times already. But the highest honor
Weninger has received to date came when he was named "Winemaker of the year" in
1995.
AND THAT WAS JUST THE BEGINNING
At the time, that was unusual even in Blaufränkisch country in and around
Horitschon. When Franz Weninger took over the seven-hectare estate from his
parents in 1982, wine from the estate was still, for the most part, being sold
directly by the barrel to the bulk purchaser. The rest was then bottled on the
estate and sold to regular customers in one- or two-liter bottles.
The passion of the young vintner changed this situation radically. Only a year
after he had taken over the family business Franz Weninger was already making a
name for himself. His Blaufränkisch Kabinett 1983 fascinated the yet small body
of wine experts and won international prizes.
THE WINES
Sauvignon blanc 2001
Fruity, crisp and fresh,
Blaufränkisch Classic 2000
Blaufränkisch wine with grapes from various sites. Fruity with soft tannins on
the palate.
Zweigelt 2000
From the Gfanger site. An exceptionally elegant Zweigelt, delicate burst of
fruity flavor, mellow tannins on the palate.
Blaufränkisch Hochäcker 2000
The Hochäcker site is one of the finest on the Horitschon estate. Old vines,
reduction of overall yield, aging in wood – not to mention that the
St. Laurent Reserve 2000
Gfanger site. Aroma of cherries and black cherries, delicate tannins on the
palate. Can be stored for extended periods.
Pinot Noir 2000
Dense Pinot, elegant fruit. This wine was aged for
Blaufränkisch Reserve 2000
A great Blaufränkisch, aged 16 months in new barriques, a spicy nose, dense,
nice incorporation of oak, great potential.
Veratina Cuvée 2000
Cuvée consisting of 60 percent Blaufränkisch,
Dürrau 2000
Blaufränkisch from
Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Due in May 2003.
Merlot 2001
Due in May 2003.
THE PRESS
The Weninger Winery in Hortischon in central Burgenland
continues its winning streak. After taking an excellent 2nd place at the
Falstaff Red Wine Tasting 2002 for its Merlot 2000, the winery scored a double
victory at the VINARIA Trophy: in the category "pure varietal red wines” its
Blaufränkisch Dürrau was awarded the bronze medal, with the winery’s
prizewinning Merlot 2000 coming in close behind in 4th place. This makes Franz
Weninger the only red winemaker with two wines ranked among the top 10. [...]
Wiener Zeitung, February 12, 2003
Internet debut: A hint of Weninger – the red wine specialist Franz Weninger from Hortischon doesn’t just attract attention for his wine, his new website is also top-notch. Do good and talk about it, as the standard maxim goes. Make good wine and a build a persuasive website, might be Franz Weninger’s interpretation.
The website reflects the Weninger Family philosophy of being
dedicated always to the new and the uncommon. [...]
ÖGZ, January 24, 2003
Franz Weninger is a twofold leader, leaving the competition
behind with both his Merlot and his Blaufränkisch Dürrau.
Vinaria Trophy 2003
Franz Weninger goes East. In 1997 this winemaker from Hortischon (central Burgenland) acquired a new estate on a hill near Sopron. His Spern Steiner site, where he planted his first Syrah, is considered to be some of the best wine land in Hungary. Now it continues to flourish under the supervision of son Franz Reinhard: spicy-mineral notes, intensive herbal aromas; it strikes a nice balance between acids, fruit
THE AWARDS
Franz Reinhard Weninger 2002 named Red Winemaker of the Year for the
second time – the wine tasted was Syrah Spern Steiner 2000.
Budapest Wine Society (Club), January 2003
Syrah Spern Steiner 2000: 92/100
"... earthy with the scent of the forest floor, of concentrated dark fruit, but
with a trace of candied, sweet blood oranges as well, reminiscent of fruit
preserved in rum ...”
Mario Scheuermann (German wine critic)
www.degustation.de, fall 2002
Merlot 2000, 17.9 points (1st place – best pure varietal
wines)
Overripe and concentrated from the start, a blend of dried berries and black
cherries, hearty and liqueury; prominent and yet gentle on the palate, at the
same time tangy and elegant; the complex berry taste wins out, multifaceted with
a long finish, in its optimal bottled state its charm is already overpowering.”
Blaufränkisch Dürrau 2000, 18.2 points (3rd place – best Blaufränkisch)
"A tar and charcoal introduction, but the toasty aromas give way to dried plums
and a fruity charm; earthy and firm on the palate, nice body, powerful, and high
in ripe tannins, tight with a long finish, an excellent wine with great
potential.” [...]
Vinaria, January 2003
HUNGARY – A PASSION
Franz Weninger followed the wine scene in neighboring Hungary very
attentively for many years. In 1992, he ventured a step in that direction and he
and the Hungarian winemaker Attila Gere founded the Weninger & Gere Winery in
Villány in southern Hungary. In 1992, the first wine Weninger & Gere put on the
market was a big hit in the Hungarian culinary scene. Within no time the wine
was entirely sold out. This overnight success encouraged the two friends to
purchase further vineyards.
Since 1997, the Weninger family is the proud owner of a further wine estate in Hungary. On a hill in Balf near Sopron with a magnificent view of Lake Neusiedl, and just a few minutes car drive from Rust (Austria), the Weningers acquired 26 hectares of the Spern Steiner site, which is considered by many to be some of the finest wine-growing terrain in Hungary.
