Weninger

Franz Weninger is one of the top winegrowers in the field of red wine in Austria. He comes from Horitschon in the Mittelburgenland region (bordering Hungary). Here, mainly red wines are produced, around 80% of the total wine production. The continental climate, with a warm summer and long warm autumn, ensures that the grapes ripen optimally. This creates round, full-bodied red wines. Blaufränkisch is the most important grape variety in this area. This is a typical Austrian grape variety, which is also planted in Hungary, among other places, where it is known as Kékfrankos.

Horitschon

Franz took over the Weninger winery from his parents in 1982. The company in Horitschon has been in the Weninger family for many generations. The vineyards are 25 hectares in size and are planted with Blaufränkisch, Merlot, Zweigelt, Cabernet Sauvignon, St. laurent and blauer burgunder. Many vineyards are already very old with vines (blaufränkisch) up to an age of about 80 years. The soil consists mainly of iron-rich clay with a top layer of loam.

Organic method

The total production per year is 900 hectoliters, which amounts to 120,000 bottles. The cellar has a capacity of 250,000 liters divided into 400 barriques (90,000 liters), large foeders and stainless steel tanks.

Since 2004, Franz has been working completely in accordance with the guidelines of organic viticulture and in 2009 he was officially certified: “30 Jahre Erfahrung haben mich gelehrt, dass je weniger wir das Wachstum der Pflanzen beeinflussen, desto eher finden die Rebstöcke zu ihrem natürlichen Gleichgewicht. Die Trauben nehmen mehr vom Terroir auf, die Weine werden eigenständiger und individueller.”