Wines of great class, produced in one of the most beautiful regions of Austria: The Setzer Winery convinces with an impressive variety of wines that reflect their origin - and the awareness that harmony with nature plays an essential role for quality.Recognising the good in change is a great virtue. One that the Setzer family of winegrowers in Hohenwarth, Lower Austria, has internalised. For they certainly see that their home, the Weinviertel, "is already benefiting from climate change and will benefit even more in the years to come. Due to the different altitudes and soil types, a great future is set." A future that the family supports with a long history. After all, the Setzer winery was founded back in 1705 - and has been family-owned ever since. In the meantime, it is Hans and Ulrike Setzer who run it together with their children Eugen and Marie-Theres and who want to pass it on to the next generation just as thoughtfully as their ancestors did. Two of the most important elements here are constant mindfulness and conscious dialogue with nature. Today, in its twelfth generation, the winery has been awarded the "Sustainable Austria" and "Vegan" seals of quality. Because true to the motto "less is more", the 30 hectares of vineyards that comprise the winery are cultivated sustainably and in harmony with nature. "It is simply the winery's capital," Eugen Setzer is convinced. This awareness is also carried into the wine cellar, where the wines are accompanied and supported in their development by cellarmaster Hans Setzer - but influence is kept to a minimum.
The vineyards around the wine-growing village of Hohenwarth lie between 365 and 400 metres above sea level. "On the one hand, this means that there is little risk of late frost. On the other hand, this altitude produces both fruity white wines and complex and multi-layered Grüner Veltliner - the ambassadors of the Weinviertel - as well as Red Veltliners, which find a wonderful terrain on the gravelly and light soils," the passionate winemaker tells us. No wonder that special attention is paid to these two expressive grape varieties. But Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Zweigelt and Merlot are also grown in small parts. "We want to produce wines that are authentic and reflect the Weinviertel," is the guiding principle of the winemaking family, for whom winemaking has always been a great love, a passion and also a sense of pride in being connected to the heritage of so many generations. There was and is no alternative to this in any other profession. After all, there is hardly any other occupation that offers the opportunity to "prove oneself anew every year and take on the challenges of nature".
This is how outstanding Veltliners in different weight classes are produced on renowned vineyards such as Kronberg, Kirchengarten, Laa and Kreimelberg - above all the flagship of the house, the Weinviertel DAC Reserve Ried Laa "8000". These are wines that have lovers all over the world, including celebrities such as actors Peter Weck and Cornelius Obonya or composer Gottfried von Einem. But above all, they are wines that are meant to be fun - and they are.
We cordially invite you to visit this great winery and the 2022 Grüner Veltliner Ried Kronberg at our German-language wein.plus:club online tasting 'Wines you must have drunk!' in August 2023. Places available for wine professionals and private wine fans are very limited.
You can also order this wine from the online shops listed in wein.plus:find+buy.