Am Berg

Mittelberg is a scant three kilometers from Langenlois and, at 400 m. average elevation, somewhat higher. Yet there is quite a different atmosphere in this quiet village. Our new discovery belongs to the Gruber family (one of many so named here) which has been cultivating vines and other crops for many generations. The current one is represented by Michael, a reflective but ambitious man. The estate is in its tenth year of organic conversion. We were struck by the sheer brio and purity of the wines, many of which hail from vineyards familiar to us from the big guns of Langenlois. The estate stretches to 13 hectares, distributed between ten sites, with three distinct soil types (Urgestein, loess and loam). The price-quality relationship is exceptional, and we think we have a star here. They are one vintage away from organic certification!

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Producer:	Am Berg
Country:	Austria
Region:	Kamptal
Subregion:	Mittelberg
City of Origin:	Mittelberg
Date Founded:	Family Gruber 1451
Owner Name:	Ludwig and Michael Gruber
Vineyard Size:	15 HA
Total Annual Production:	90,000

Property History:

Our idea is to craft wines that are textural, complex and food friendly. To do this, we take grapes since centuries from a handful of specially selected vineyard sites around Mittelberg and Langenlois, each of which contribute different flavours and aromas to the wine. The resulting wine gives complexity and depth to our wines. We want to show with our wines the unique terroir of the Kamptal" -Ludwig VI.

Owner History:

The Gruber family likes to keep things simple so they have a small (and friendly!) team. A small team means everyone can be fully involved in the winemaking from start to finish. It’s just Michael, Ludwig junior, mother Melitta, father Ludwig and the unique grandmother. It also means Michael, the winemaker, can spend his whole time in the winery and vineyards making wine rather than managing a large team of people. Great winery facilities allow them to pick their grapes when they think they are ripe. The family members go through our vineyards together and taste the grapes before they start to pick all the grapes by hand. Family means they have the benefit of generations of experience through the ups and downs of vine-growing.