Erste Lage
Ried Ehrenfels

This vineyard site, first officially mentioned in 1437 – certainly the steepest and most barren in the area – was no longer cultivated after 1945 and therefore fell into oblivion.

Our investigations, starting in 1986, therefore caused – in the best case – amazement and astonishment. But, according to some oldtimer winegrowers: Yields are meagre, but the grapes are good. Franz Proidl was encouraged by this and began in 1988 to acquire parcels on the hillside, to get rid of scrub and forest and to plant it once more with vines.

The onset of optimism in the Austrian wine industry around 1985 created a demand for quality, for wines influenced by the soil and not by extravagant cellar technique; that made this a winning proposition. Difficult, less productive vineyards are always a reflection of a society’s prosperity and their cultivation will always be associated with a touch of luxury. However for us, who enjoy the privilege of being allowed to work there, Ried Ehrenfels possesses an importance and meaning far beyond the precipitous pecuniary reward it provides.

,,And then there is the Ried Ehrenfels in the Kremstal, year after year consistently great for Riesling & Grüner Veltliner´´  Meiningers Sommelier

Facts

Area: 2.3 hectares
Varieties: Grüner Veltliner, Riesling
Exposition: south to southeast
Elevation: 240–310m
Gradient: 45-60°

 

Soil

a colourful mixture of amphibolite, paragneiss, Wachau marble and bronzite – especially the latter, very rare hypogene rock – influences the wines quite deeply

 

» If you want to dig here, you have to first use explosives. «

Franz Proidl