For ten generations, the Frank family has lived and made wine in the quaint village of Herrnbaumgarten, located within Austria’s revered Weinviertel region and close to the border with the Czechia. Here, they work their 23 hectares of hillside vineyards, harnessing the unique microclimates and distinctive loess soils (ancient wind-blown sediment), specialising in a fragrant, textural style of Grüner Veltliner. In the Weinviertel, the Grüner Veltliner grape has the nickname ‘pfefferl’, meaning ‘little peppery one’. Delicate white pepper and fines herbes – hallmarks of the varietal – come to the fore in this particular part of Austria, exhibited in Weingut Frank’s classic iterations. The gentle, affable Harald Frank is at the helm of this family business, working side by side with his wife Daniela, cousin Katrin and Aunt Johanna. They view themselves as custodians of their land and caretakers of a legacy stretching back over 300 years.
The Vineyards
The Weinviertel region, located in the northeast of Austria, experiences a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. One of the most significant features of this climate is the large diurnal temperature variation—the difference between day and night temperatures—especially during the growing season. This fluctuation is key to the wine's quality and style. Cool nights help maintain the grapes' acidity, while the warm days encourage the development of complex flavors and optimal ripeness
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Soils
Soils
Soils
Loess, a wind-blown sediment deposited during the Ice Age 250 million years ago, imparts Grüner Veltliner wines with a generous character, offering ripe yellow fruit, a rounded mouthfeel, and a distinct white pepper note. On the other hand, limestone soils contribute to pronounced minerality, spice, and a more linear structure, with vibrant acidity that gives the wines a distinct and lively character.
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Soils
Soils
Soils
The grapes for Grüner Veltliner ‘Kalk & Loess’ are sourced from various vineyards around the village of Herrnbaumgarten. Approximately 50% of these vineyards feature pure loess soils, while others have a mix of soil types. In some cases, the upper part of the hill consists mainly of limestone, with deeper loess layers found lower down, where the loess is thin enough for the roots to reach the limestone. Around 30% of the vineyards are composed entirely of limestone.
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Viticulture
Viticulture
Viticulture
Sustainability is at the heart of the family’s vineyard practices. As a certified sustainable winery, they avoid herbicides and insecticides, opting instead for intensive manual labor to maintain healthy vines. The work is meticulous, with careful canopy management, thinning, and rigorous grape selection during harvest. Additionally, various meadow grasses are planted between the vine rows to foster a healthy microbiological ecosystem in the soil and encourage biodiversity within the vineyard.
