Johannes Zillinger learned early on from his father about the craft of organic winemaking, about viewing the vineyard as a habitat and protecting the environment instead of poisoning it. His father Hans turned to organic viticulture in 1983, two years before the Anti-freeze Scandal, and was one of its pioneers in Austria. When Johannes took over the winery and made it his own in 2013, he took it ever further and became biodynamic, starting a new chapter for the 350 year old winery. His wines are certified Demeter biodynamic. Here is how to sum up bio-dynamic farming: 1. Biodynamic farming is an older and much stricter way of farming than organic farming. 2. Beyond being organic, biodynamic farming practices are guided by a special calendar and many special rules. They do not allow additions like yeast to help or control the fermentation. 3. Often biodynamic farmers are fairly eccentric, but as a rule they are always committed to the most natural winemaking practices. 4. Just because a wine is biodynamic does not mean it will taste good, but many biodynamic wines are extraordinary.
Philosophy: Johannes is all about the philosophy of biodynamic farming. He even grows his own herbs for tea tinctures to use as treatments in his vineyards. The wines are all spontaneously fermented, lightly filtered, and minimally sulfured only at bottling keeping with the purity desired by the natural wine crowd. The difference with these wines are their approachability to the entire consumer base. Everyone can appreciate the cleanliness, flavor, and precision of this juice regardless of their interest in natural wines.
100% Zweigelt. Certified organic and Demeter bio-dynamic. Johannes uses Demeter treatments 500 (horn manure), 501 (horn kiesel mountain crystal) and 507 (herbs and valerian to help with frost and vine relaxation). A small group of local winemakers co-produce the fermented manure 30km from the vineyard. Needless to say, all grapes are manually harvested.Fermented in stainless steel, slow and gentle pressing, stored in big, old barrels of oak and small, used barrels of acacia. Unfined, unfiltered.
Fresh cherries and red berries, juicy and spicy, perfect length. A great representation of cold climate Zweigelt, without oak influence
"Velue" is the old name for Velm-Goetzendorf, the name of the old willow trees, which grow near the river. The Velue wines are nature-based and fermented spontaneously inside stainless steel tanks. The Velue Zweigelt is originated from the area "Haidthal" and "Sonnberg". Both areas are windy and chilly. That gives you the advantage of late harvesting, thus the wine is physiological, ripe and has a moderate alcohol concentration. The Zweigelt has a subtle aroma, which perfectly fits this type of wine. The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully selected.
REVIEW: (2013 vintage) "A spicy, tangy red, this boasts black currant, black cherry, tobacco and black pepper flavors. Elegant, yet shows good concentration of flavors and a long, fruit- and spice-filled finish. 90 pts." -The Wine Spectator, August 31st 2018
