Vineyards

Buschenberg

The place Buschenberg is located east of the Ried Klaus. It enjoys the first rays of sunshine in summer, and in the evening it is cooled down by the breezes from the Waldviertel, through the mountains on the north side.
The soils consist of large primary rocks, which bring mineral and strong wines with a long shelf life.
Pure manual work is done in the vineyard, as it is not suitable for tractors.
Its name dates back to 1312 and describes a mountain with bush vegetation.

Facts:

• Location: Weißenkirchen

• Grape varieties: Grüner Veltliner, Riesling

• Soil type: Loamy sand or sand with moderate stone and gravel content

• Size in hectares: 0.35

• Altitude in m: 300–330

• Orientation: S–SW

• Age of the vines: From 1990

• Average gradient: 39%

• Terraced: Yes

• Distance to the Danube in m: 545

• First documented mention: 1312

Soil profile:

• Water conditions: Dry; low storage capacity, high permeability

• Horizons: Arig (20 cm); ABrig (50–80 cm); Cn (100 cm)

• Soil type and coarse content: Arig, ABrig: sandy silt or sandy loam with high to very high gravel content

• Humus proportions: Medium to low humus

• Lime content: Mostly lime-free, mixed with loess; however, it can also be slightly calcareous

• Soil reaction: Slightly acidic, neutral in some places (when mixed with loess)

• Danger of erosion: Partly at risk of runoff (due to slope)

• Machinability: For arable land, work is made more difficult by the stone and gravel content; partially difficult access

• Natural soil value: Medium-quality arable land (but high-quality vineyard soil)

Weitenberg

The vineyard Weitenberg in Weißenkirchen is a south-facing terraced hillside location that borders the vineyard Hinterkirchen to the north, Achleiten to the east, and the vineyards Hinter der Burg, Vorder and Hinter Seiber to the west.
The clay-rich soils are known as “minute soils,” as they allow only a very small time window for optimal cultivation.
In combination with classic Gföhler gneiss slip mass, they allow ripeness comparable to the neighboring Achleiten, but with a slightly cooler and darker fruit aroma.

Facts:

• Location: Weißenkirchen

• Grape varieties: Zweigelt, Rösler

• Size in hectares: 0.54

• Altitude in m: 305–325

• Orientation: SW–SE

• Age of the vines: From 2021

• Average gradient: 31%

• Max. slope in %: 69%

• Terraced: Yes

• Distance to the Danube in m: 205

• First documented mention: 1349

Soil profile:

The Weitenberg forms the westernmost corner of the Gföhler gneiss formation in the Wachau vineyards.

For the most part, the bedrock is buried under stable block rubble made of rocks up to several meters in size from Gföhler gneiss and a clay–kaolin mix.

This material is interpreted as a fossil landslide or sliding mass. The profile shows a cross-section.

The soil consists of a clay matrix with embedded stones of Gföhler gneiss.

The topsoil, with a 20 cm thick humus horizon, is lime-free, while stones and cracks in the subsoil are covered with lime-like material.

Zweigelt copes best with this special, heavy soil and results in elegant and structured wines.