Slurping, spitting and eager typing on the keyboard. These are almost the only sounds at the Silent Tasting in the picturesque ambience of Grafenegg Castle. In between, you only hear the occasional whisper and the hurried footsteps of the winemakers pouring samples of their best wines into the guests' glasses.
In such a quiet working atmosphere, the Austrian Traditional Wine Estates (ÖTW) present the new vintages of their Erste-Lagen wines to the international professional audience. This tasting has been running for several years in several rooms of the castle under optimal tasting conditions. Previously, the magnificent Knights' Hall had served for years for the first presentation of the single vineyards. At that time, the wines were lined up at long tables ready for tasting - and the interest of the wine fans was enormous. Crowds and time pressure made it almost impossible to concentrate on the wines. So the ÖTW had the idea to try a separate tasting for the trade press.