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... GRÜNER VELTLINER AUSTRIA´S TRENDSETTER AND ITS VINTNERS
Franz Anton Mayer writes his name in capitals. He does in his web-address too, which is somewhat strange, but fits his style, as the jolly thirty-four year old grower is a force to be rocked with. With his excellent wines he is one of the up and coming men on the Wagram. He is the fourth generation of his familiy to operate the winery and has only been responsible for the vinification for about 10 years. Together with his wife he has been gently pulling the business into the modern world, something that may bei witnessed in his newly constructed cellery.
Franz Anton Mayer has notched up some successes over the past few years and above all for the Grüner Veltliners that he makes on his 18 hectare property in Königsbrunn am Wagram.
Variety by layers
They grow on the Wagram, on different sites, and it is precisely that wich provides the characer of his wines. There is clarity in the typicity of the grape variety. At Franz Anton Mayer´s, a Grüner Veltliner should taste like a Wagram Grüner Veltliner. At the same time the wines should be precise reflections of the different characters of the crus. Mayer sees the great strength of the Veltliner in its multifaceted nature, and it is his forte too. And his wines are fresh and fruity. The fame of his Grüner Veltliner is now assured, and Franz Anton Mayer is one of the star players in the team. But he has even more to offer. He also wants to show that an amazing variety of aromas may be obtained from the fruit with time. He feels it is necessary to preach the ageing potential of the wine. He is ploughing a furrow which is consciously deviating from those who would have all wines drunk young.
His range of Veltliner products includes four crus that run from fruity to spicy an aromatic; from light to big and powerful. All four crus are harvested in three or four lots and fermented individually. They go through extended fermentations with different yeasts and at varied temperatures. Then the wizard arrives and composes his single-vineyard wines from the various lots, for each achieving the utmost expression of its terroir and vintage.
Musical highpoint
Fruity impressions dominate the Veltliners from Rieds Wagram and Hochrain. The grapes for Ried Wagram come from various little vineyards on the Wagram. The Ried Hochrain consists of two vineyards and is one of the biggest on the estate. The loess soil here is rich in humus, which results in a powerful nose. Both are meant to be good, simple, introductory wines that are there to give pleasure and no more.
The cru Bromberg requires a little more attention. It is situated on a genle slope that more exposed to the wind, contains more clay and is altogether drier. This allows for the creation of a multificated wine with a fine bouquet.
The cru Rainmacher faces due south and the soil is deep loess which is a little thinner, sandier and more porous. This powerful wine needs more time on the yeasst. It ist bottled later. Even then it should not be knocked back at once. It is immediately noticeable that it is a darker colour, more powerful and the taste is a little Burgundian. Franz Anton Mayer is heading for the zenith of wine making. He actualy calls the most powerful Veltliner he makes every year "Zenit". With this wine the grower wants to show what beautiful ripe aromas the Veltiner can provide in the nose and on the palate. In his own words, the "wine sings".
Wagram in Motion
... From the distance, the vineyards of Wagram appear to be one gigantic south-facing slope stretching from west to east just 30 kilometres east of Vienna. The soils are dominated by loess. The name Wagram has historic origins ans stems originally from Wogenrain (wogen-rand=rim of the waves) pointing directly to its ancient history...
veltliner production: more than 50 % (Grünern Veltliner, Roter Veltliner)
white wines: 30 % (Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Gelber Muskateller, Rivaner, Frühroter Veltliner)
red wines: 20 % (Zweigelt, Pinot Noir, Blauburger x Zweigelt)
