Kremser Sandgrube

by Franz Türk

Kremser Sandgrube

Year of planting: 1965 Altitude: 246m
Orientation: South-facing Incline of slope: 5°
Grape varieties: Grüner Veltliner

This is the original Kremser Sandgrube which was first documented in the year 1214. The original “Ried“ (vineyard) is not to be confused with the larger communal site, nor the Kremser Sandgrube brand. The large Kremser Sandgrube was created in the 1950s because the wines of the original single-vineyard site were highly sought after and so scarce, that a premium was paid, often as much as 1 to 2 Schillings per bunch of grapes at the time.

Soil

The soil here consists of a deep layer of over 20 metres of loess, which dates back to prevailing winds from the 'Ice Age' when fine particles from the frontiers of glaciers were blown and deposited into the Alpine foothills. Loess is always calcareous, of powdery consistency and characteristic porous structure.

Grape vine

The Grüner Veltliner is an indigenous Austrian white wine variety that has gained international attention in recent years. The name Grüner Veltliner is still comparatively new, as this grape variety used to be called Weißgipfler (referring to its white shoot tips) or Grünmuskateller. There are also other Veltliner varieties (often unrelated), such as the Roter Veltliner and the Brauner Veltliner, referring to the colour of the grape skins at grape maturity.