Dürnberg

Weingut Dürnberg is located in the traditional wine village of Falkenstein, in the heart of Austria’s Weinviertel. The Weinviertel, which means “wine quarter," is located in the northeast quadrant of the country. This area is Austria’s viticultural region. Wine-growing has been documented here since the 12th century. Falkenstein was a very important center of commerce: between the 13th and 17th centuries, all wine-growing business affairs between Italy and Austria were administered in Falkenstein. Today viticulture is still an important part of the culture. The estate itself is made up of 50 hectares in Falkenstein. Together with his friends and partners - Matthias Marchesani and Georg Klein (marketing and sales) - winemaker Christoph Körner runs the Dürnberg wine estate. He is a native of the area and knows every vine, every nook and cranny of the terroir intimately. All three men love the ancient landscape and treasure the region’s cool climate. The estate was at the forefront of what they call a “new Weinviertel style.” An emphasis on freshness and cool acidity is what they believe is most important. The climate and soils of Falkenstein are very special. The climate of Falkenstein is ideal for viticulture, as history has proven. Even in the summer, when days can be very hot, the evenings cool down tremendously because of the higher altitude. The cool evenings allow the ripening process to slow, preserving refreshing acidity. The result: highly aromatic wines with complexity and balance. The Falkenstein cliffs in the northern Weinviertel can be seen from far away. They are a geological rarity created 17 million years ago, when the Alps were taking shape. Limestone from the deep strata had shifted upward. This, along with layers of decomposing rock, provides ideal terroir. In some of the most attractive vineyards of this enclave are vines belonging to the Dürnberg wine estate. Here, the most typical grape varieties of the Weinviertel are cultivated: above all, Grüner Veltliner. This is one of the most prominent wines of Austria, and can be produced with a special spiciness in the Weinviertel.