AUSTRIA

Sauvignon Blanc to stand the test of time

For several years now, Weingut Sattlerhof has increasingly been run by the new generation of winemakers; Andreas Sattler, a trained oenologist, has been responsible for the wine cellar since 2014, while his brother Alexander has a strong preference for natural methods and, after completing his education in Bordeaux, has transformed the vineyard and winery in a biodynamic direction. They work on the principle of doing as little as possible in both the vineyards and the wine cellar, so that the wines can showcase as much of their origin as possible. It is an art to “do nothing,” as Andreas says. The main grape variety they grow in the vineyards is Sauvignon Blanc, along with some Chardonnay, which is known here as Morillon. Sattlerhof sees it as their mission to let the wines take their time and thereby prove that it is possible to make age-worthy Sauvignon Blanc, not just wines for immediate consumption, something that is evident in their Ried wines, which are often released a few years after harvest.