Gruner Handcrafted

Pork, Vegetarian, Lean fish, Mild and soft cheese, Goat cheese

The vineyards of Kamptal sits on rolling hills of the prehistoric Bohemian Massif north of the Danube river. Vineyard altitudes vary from 200m to 500m above sea level. Whilst both Martin and Anna come from a strong lineage of wine, their independent project sees them breaking from tradition, in pursuing freedom and enjoyment in their craft. They are sensitive to the environment in which they farm, and minimalist in their cellar interventions.

Austria is very much an ‘Old World’ wine region, but the wine scene here has shifted dramatically since the country joined the EU in 1995. Doing so opened up tourism to the winelands, and brought with it EU grants, all contributing to uplift and develop the vineyards and wineries. Hard to pronounce varietals dominate the landscape here, with Grüner Veltliner’s the signature dish of the whites, performing brilliantly in the region of Kamptal, the home of Martin & Anna Andorfer. The vineyards here line the banks of the Kamp-river, which feeds into the mighty Danube. Here the heat of the Pannonian base in the day makes for a sharp contrast for night time temperatures, producing whites of real tension without the need for dressing up. Arndorfer meanwhile, rank among the reference points for the new wave of progressive, young producers lighting up the scene, known for producing bright, low intervention wines.