Weingut Schmidl

Schmidl Winery from Dürnstein: Tradition and Quality from the Wachau

The Schmidl Winery, located in the picturesque Dürnstein, is a family-run organic winery known for its outstanding wines and hospitality.

The History of Schmidl Winery

Although the exact founding year of Schmidl Winery is not publicly documented, it has built a reputation over the years for its high-quality wines. The Schmidl family combines traditional winemaking practices with modern techniques to produce wines of the highest quality.

The Family Behind Schmidl Winery

The winery is run by the Schmidl family, who express their passion for winemaking and hospitality in every aspect of their business. The exact division of responsibilities within the family is not well-known, but it is clear that their commitment and dedication contribute significantly to the success of the winery.

Philosophy of Schmidl Winery

The philosophy of Schmidl Winery is based on a respectful relationship with nature and the production of wines that reflect the unique terroir of the Wachau. As an organic winery, Schmidl places great importance on sustainability and quality, which is evident in their carefully crafted wines.

The Wachau Region: Home of Schmidl Winery

Schmidl Winery is located in Dürnstein, in the heart of the Wachau, one of Austria's most renowned wine regions. The Wachau stretches along the Danube and is known for its steep terraces and unique soils, which provide ideal conditions for viticulture.

Geographical Location and Terroir

The vineyards of Schmidl Winery benefit from a variety of different soils and microclimates. The steep terraces and the interplay of the Danube and surrounding hills create a unique terroir that gives the wines their characteristic flavor.

Climatic Conditions

The climate in the Wachau is characterized by warm days and cool nights, leading to a slow and even ripening of the grapes. These conditions promote the development of complex aromas and a balanced acidity structure in the wines.

Preferred Grape Varieties

In the Wachau, white grape varieties dominate, particularly:

• Grüner Veltliner
• Riesling

These varieties reflect the region's terroir particularly well and produce wines of high quality and expressiveness.

The Vineyard Locations of Schmidl Winery

Schmidl Winery manages several renowned sites in the Wachau, including:

Riede Kaiserberg

This site belongs to the municipality of Dürnstein and forms a natural boundary with the municipality of Weißenkirchen. The higher terraces consist of slate and are oriented towards the southwest, providing ideal conditions for the production of light, fruity white wines.

Riede Supperin

The Supperin extends southward from the romantic city walls of Dürnstein and gently slopes down to the banks of the Danube. The historic vineyard, first mentioned in 1493, is named after the abbess of the Dürnstein monastery at that time. The fine sandy soils yield elegant, fruity wines.

Riede Oberhauser

Oberhausen is located between Dürnstein and Oberloiben at the foot of the monument to the Napoleonic wars (1805), a region immortalized in Tolstoy's "War and Peace." Regular flooding prior to regulation deposited clay, silt, and sand (alluvium) under a layer of Danube gravel. The wines from this region are as fruitful as the soil itself.

Riede Kellerberg

The Dürnstein Kellerberg may be one of the most famous vineyards in the Wachau. It not only shapes the landscape but also forms the basis for particularly intense and mineral-rich wines. The poor, sandy soil is dominated by weathered gneiss, the bedrock of this vineyard.

Riede Wunderburg

The Wunderburg is part of the well-known Kellerberg south of the ruins of Dürnstein. The character of the soil is shaped by sandy loess on mineralized bedrock, which, combined with the unique flora of this region, shapes this unique Riesling. "Wunder" refers not only to the name; it also describes the mystical, legendary, and fantastic beauty of this special region.

Riede Küss den Pfennig

"Küß den Pfennig," the heart of the Kellerberg, lives up to its name. Old vines grow on steep stone terraces that weave through barren primary rock cliffs, producing unique wines with remarkable finesse. Much patience, handwork, and effort are needed to bring each precious drop to the glass.

Riede Hollerin

"Untouched" is made exclusively from the ripest grapes from the Hollerin vineyard. The grapes are pressed, and the juice is filled into oak barrels. The juice is refined into wine through the microbiological fauna that naturally occurs on the grapes. The wine ferments and matures undisturbed in the oak barrel until bottling.