Alphart am Muehlbach, Thermenregion, Austria
Lorenz Alphart continues a family tradition dating back to 1762. The winery is officially named Alphart am Muehlbach. Lorenz (30) is now in charge and cultivates 9 hectares around the village of Traiskirchen in the Thermenregion, south of Vienna.
He is making waves with two rare, indigenous grapes: Rotgipfler and Zierfandler — both unique to the Thermenregion. Guided by the motto ‘Length instead of width’, Lorenz lets the terroir speak: taut and saline on one side, tropical and spicy on the other.
In addition to these indigenous grapes, Alphart also produces a striking Chardonnay — planted on the same limestone-rich, volcanic soils that were once selected by Cistercian monks from Burgundy. The result is an elegant, mineral Chardonnay with Burgundian allure.
Thermenregion: the Côte d’Or of Austria
The vineyards around Traiskirchen lie at almost the same latitude as the Côte d’Or in Burgundy — sheltered by forests, on south-facing slopes, with warm summers and dry autumns. The heavy, lime-rich soil offers perfect conditions. Cistercian monks planted Chardonnay here as early as the Middle Ages. Thermenregion refers to the volcanic origin of the soil with sulfurous springs — the Romans planted the first vines here.