Herrenhof Lamprecht, Sauvignon Blanc 'Silt & Gravel' 2023

Gottfried Lamprecht is the mind behind Herrenhof Lamprecht in Styria, Southern Austria, the farm he took over from his father and decided to reestablish as a winery. The estate is located around the rolling hill of his Buchertberg® vineyard ( a registered trademark), with the region's distinctive opok soils, sloping southwards just outside the farmhouse.

The estate's history dates back to the beginning of the 18th century, when it was built to house the choristers of the nearby monastery. Wine was produced for much of its early history, though after the "peasant liberation" in the mid 19th century repeated changes in ownership saw this languish in favour of general agriculture.

The farm has been in Gottfried's family for four generations, farming cows, pigs and apples. Gottfried decided in 2006 to reintroduce viticulture to the farm, and started the long process of building it from the first vine up. Since 2021, the Herrenhof has been a fully fledged winery.

The viticulture is organic, with biodynamic principles applied pragmatically rather than religiously. Gottfried's mission is to make handmade wines with a sense of origin, and he has a fully formed charter:

- The grapes of the wines come only from the Buchertberg (absolute guarantee of origin, no loopholes, nothing small print).
- Plant protection and soil care are carried out in the sense of certified organic and regenerative production.
- I have decided to reduce the yield to max. 45hl/ha. For less wine, for better wine.
- The characteristic of the location, of the vintage, must be reflected in the wine. I owe that to nature.
- Fermentation takes place spontaneously, with natural yeasts from the vineyard, barrel by barrel. Bottling in September of the following year at the earliest, sales start: around 1 November, because it fits then.
- I did not add any flavors or additives, sulfite only in small quantities and also no concentration and fractionation machines.
- At HERRENHOF, traditional methods are used: This means long yeast contact and bottling that is as unfiltered as possible.
- Maintaining the fertility of the soil and promoting soil life has the highest priority in the vineyard. I deliberately refrain from any esotericism that has become fashionable in viticulture.
- Promotion of the diversity of animals and plants in the vineyard.
- No use of genetic engineering. But you've probably already guessed that.
- No verbiage, no esotericism, no Steiner, just good wine. Period!