New varieties

Very special vines thrive in the Lavanttal valley

Winemaker Sabine David painstakingly plants 1600 young vines by hand on the Josefsberg in Lavanttal.

(Bild: Manuela Karner)

Sabine David, who runs Weinhof vulgo Ritter with her family, plants very special vines in a newly planted vineyard in Lavanttal - and all of this is painstakingly done by hand.

14 years ago, Sabine David decided to try her hand as a part-time winegrower in Lavanttal. "However, I quickly realized that if you want to do it properly and with passion, it's a full-time job," says the former industrial engineer in mechanical and plant engineering and now full-time winemaker.

It takes a total of seven years before the wine can be enjoyed from the young vines.

(Bild: Manuela Karner)

Together with her husband Dominique and their three daughters, she runs the Ritter winery, which is located 450 meters above sea level on the southern slope of the Josefsberg near St. Paul in the Lavanttal valley. Another vineyard has now been added to the existing vineyards, increasing the total area under cultivation to almost two hectares.

We rely on special new varieties that can cope with our climate and are particularly hardy.

Sabine David, Winzerin

"We want to try our hand at organic viticulture on the new slope and have therefore opted for the new varieties Souvignier Gris, Cabernet Cortis and Satin Noir. These grape varieties are similar in taste to the ones we are familiar with, but are particularly resistant to disease, especially fungal attack, and also cope well with our climate," says David, who, with the support of family and friends, is transforming the previous meadow on Josefsberg into a vineyard, planting 1600 new vines by hand.

However, it will be some time before the vines produce their first yield. "The first harvest can take place after five years and then the wine has to be stored for another two years," says the Lavanttal winegrower, whose farm was inspected and awarded by the "Nachhaltig Austria" organization six years ago and who even exports her fine wines to America.