Grapes: 50% Scheurebe, 25% Furmint, 25% Riesling
Region: Burgenland, Austria
Vintage: 2022
Viticulture: Biodynamic
Soils: Limestone + Gravel
Vinification: Amphora
Aging: 8 months
Fining or Filtering: None
Sulfur: Minimal added
Notes from the Importer: A surfer at heart, Claus Preisinger has been making wine on the north shore of Lake Neusiedl in the Burgenland town of Gols since 2002. He converted the vineyards and winery to biodynamic production in 2006, and is Respekt Biodyn certified. Claus vinifies mostly domestic grape varieties such as Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt, Grüner Veltliner and St. Laurent, supplemented by Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc from both the west and east sides of Lake Neusiedl. Claus does not use any cultivated yeast, and only very slight or no dosing of sulphur dioxide. He ages many of his wines in amphora rather than wooden barrels, which he views as a conscious step back, a reduction to the essential - the grape and the soil. Reduction, minimalism and a free spirit are the guiding themes of Claus Preisinger.
Claus Preisinger was born in 1980 in Eisenstadt. After attending a viticultural high school in Klosterneuburg, he gained experience abroad working in Californian vineyards, and then as a winemaker with Hans & Anita Nittnaus for the next three years. He simultaneously introduced his own first wines in 2002. In 2004 he was accepted into the renowned “Pannobile” association of wineries, and then in 2006 he converted his vineyards to biodynamic winegrowing.
Claus Preisinger has obtained several accolades and top scores from wine publications. He processes grapes from around 40 ha on the north shore of Lake Neusiedl.
Claus has been using ambient yeasts since 2002 as well as little to no sulfites. The preisinger wines are certified biodynamic, which Claus takes very seriously. His commitment to the environment and non-interventional winemaking shines through in the superior wines he produces.