Craft+Estate-Portfolio-Book_The-Henry-Wine-Group-v2

Rudi Pichler

WINERY OVERVIEW The Pichler family has been making wine in the village of Wösendorf since at least the late 19th century. The original cellar building, more of a small stall than a winery, was purchased in 1884, and their first vineyards were planted in 1904. The modern winery was built in 2004 near Rudi´s private home. After some initial wanderlust and the pursuit of various other interests, Rudolf Pichler IV returned to the family winery with a seed of an idea. He had no formal training, approaching his winemaking with nothing other than memories of his grandfather and his instincts for great wine. LOCATION OF VINEYARD The particular bends in the Upper Section of the Danube River as it flows east from the Melk to the City of Krems, form the 3,336 acres (1,350 hectares) of the Wachau Valley. The steep hillsides that hug the river were formed of ancient Gföhler Gneiss (a particular primary rock), as well as granite and some slate deposits. It is this variety of soil and steep exposure that combines with the unique microclimate of this area to produce the distinct wines of the Wachau. Pichler’s vineyard holdings are primarily in the western end of the Wachau, where the cool mountain breezes underscore the minerality and structure in the wines. Working from old vines on primary rock soils, it is the aim of the Pichler estate to reflect these vineyards very clearly in the glass.

28 AUSTRIA