Tending the vines

Growing your own wine with a view of Lake Wörthersee

On the Seewiese vineyard in the west of Klagenfurt, hundreds of vines are still waiting to be tended by wine lovers. The "Krone" is also taking over some of the vines for the first time this year and will be actively helping with the viticulture and, of course, reporting on it.

What steps are actually necessary before Carinthia's fine white and red wines end up in the bottle and finally on the wine shelves? Anyone who has ever asked themselves this question is in exactly the right place at Ried Seewiese - above the eastern bay of Lake Wörthersee.

The vineyard of the provincial capital of Klagenfurt, which has been run by Vinum Carinthiae, the oldest winegrowers' association in Carinthia, for more than 20 years and is managed independently by several winegrowers, covers an area of 6,500 square meters.

"Pruning and bending, leaf work and harvesting are all the responsibility of the winegrowers. Only the mowing and plant protection is done together and at the same time," explains Horst Wild, Chairman of the Carinthian Winegrowers' Association.

More than 700 vines available
Almost 2,800 vines, consisting of the Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc varieties, as well as red varieties such as Zweigelt, St. Laurent, Blauburger and Merlot, thrive on the slope. "However, more than 700 vines are still available this year. We are looking for interested parties who would like to look after at least 250 of them and also have their own equipment to process the wine," says Wild.

The amount of work involved is manageable. It is very relaxing to tend the vines while looking out over the lake.

Horst Wild, Obmann Weinbauverband

Payment is made for use in the form of a yield tax. "Ten percent of the harvest goes to the town, which then receives pre-filled bottles," says Georg Lexer from the Karnburg winery and chairman of the Vinum Carinthiae association.

The "Krone" also joins the winegrowers
For the first time, the "Kärntner Krone" is also taking over 158 vines on the Seewiese and will be actively helping out with the viticulture itself and reporting on it - from pruning to harvesting.