CHRONICLE

The Trauttmansdorff family (first mentioned in records in 984) originates from the ancient aristocracy of Styria; the name means something akin to
“the village can be trusted to him.”

The Weinsberg estate at Heilbronn came to the family. Maximilian, Count of and to (von und zu) Trauttmansdorff-Weinsberg (1584-1650)..more
Weinsberg now houses one of the most important oenology schools in Germany.

Ferdinand Count von und zu Trauttmansdorff-Weinsberg, diplomat and gourmet, created not only the well-known dessert “Rice à la Trauttmansdorff” at the mid of the 19th century, he also had wines brought to Austria under his name from the Tokay region in Hungary.The family, always connected to the earth, produced wines in Germany, Slovenia and Austria.

Since 1999 Maximilian Trauttmansdorff-Weinsberg has again returned to the wine business. With the help of his wife’s Marchesi Alfieri/Piemont family wine estate, with the necessary know-how Max Trauttmansdorff brings a personal note with development potential to the typical Austrian grape varieties (Blaufränkisch, Grüner Veltliner).

THE OPINIONS OF OTHERS ABOUT US

What made Screaming Eagle famous, and is still practiced today by Bruce Scotland of Cornerstone in the Napa Valley, is now also practiced in Austria. Count Trauttmansdorff, the “flying winemaker”, is a man of rarity in richly traditional Austria. He is the first with no exemplary wine estate of his own, and none of his own infrastructure. He places all of his effort in the chosen vineyards to be able to carefully harvest only that which is the finest.

Processing takes place at the guest wine estate of Franz Weninger, and those who know him will also so know that nothing mediocre has ever left his cellars. With consultation from the prominent oentologist Mario Olivero of Castello di San Martino/Marchesi Alfieri, as well as from Franz Weninger himself, drinkable and exciting Austrian red wines are the result, with their complexity and profundity will offer all open-minded wine lovers a welcome experience.

Stephan Radloff (for Baur au Lac Wine)

ABOUT THE WINE

The year 2002 saw the highly successful introduction of Weinsberg 2000 and Horitschon 2000. The entire production was rapidly sold out to an international market and to great critical acclaim.

The reputation of Austrian wines in general, and Burgenland in particular, is coming to the fore. Positive articles now regularly appear in the international wine press to the extent that one feels that Austria is something of a newly discovered wine area.

This year’s “Weinsberg 2001” is a prime example of a wine of great complexity and concentration. Using traditional Burgenland grape varieties, with an occasional foray into the French classic repertoire, this is the very best of the Trauttmansdorff wines.

It is an exceptional wine with a powerful nose, a lot of body and something extra that is made evident with the small addition of Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon (a cuvée of 60% Blaufränkisch, 25% Zweigelt, 10% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon). The Blaufränkisch vines here are of an average age of 45 years.

The special touch comes from the delicate hand of the blender. The wine was aged in French oak casks for 18 months. The result is nothing short of spectacular, a marvellous red fruit nose, a round fullness on the palate and a gorgeous finish.

This wine takes the best of Burgenland and adds a little of the style of Grand Cru Bordeaux.
Something special for now, or for a decade or more in the future.