Weingut Tauss is a Demeter-certified Biodynamic winery in the Südsteiermark (south Styria) region of Austria.

Owners: Alice and Roland Tauss (he speaks English).

Vineyards: 8-ha. Single sites include Schloßberg near Leutschach in Südsteiermark, and Ried Hohenegg. 400-480 metres. 4,000-5000 vines/ha. Some vineyard sites contain the remains of trellises formerly used to grow hops, once a key Styrian crop (Isabelle Legeron, 2014, p.190).

Certification: 2005 Organic practices adopted. | 2007 Started conversion to Demeter-certified Biodynamic status. | 2010 First vintage wwith full Demeter certification.

Winery: Roland replaced his original winemaking gear (concrete and stainless steel tanks) for more natural materials.

Wines

Schlossberg Range: Welschriesling, Weißburgunder, Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Blaufränkisch.

Hohenegg Range: Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Grauburgunder, Roter Traminer, Hohenegg (Merlot plus both Cabernets), Merlot 2006, Blaufränkisch and Cabernet Sauvignon.

White wines

Sauvignon Blanc, Honig: 2012 Sauvignon Blanc.

Weissburgunder vom Opok: Pinot Blanc grown on the opok soil type. | 2015 Reduced initially on the nose, but bright and zingy pineapple fruit with a little residual sugar on the palate (Real Wine Fair 2017).

Welschriesling vom Opok: Welschriesling grown on the opok soil type. | 2015 Soft, earthy, balanced and good (Real Wine Fair 2017).

Pink wines

Rosé vom Blaufrankisch Opok: Rosé made (I guess) from a saignéè taken from the Blaufrankisch vom Opok red wine below.

Red wines

Blaufrankisch Hohenegg: 2012 15mg/l total sulfites (Isabelle Legeron, 2014, p.190).

Blaufrankisch Vom Opok: Blaufrankisch grown on the opok soil type. | 2013 Very reduced on the nose but savoury again, clear, sappy fruit on the palate (Real Wine Fair 2017).

Roter Traminer:

Sweet White wines

Weisserburgunder Suss: Sweet (‘süss’) white from Pinot Blanc.

Other activities: Bed & Breakfast

Contact

Weingut Tauss

Schloßberg 80

A-8463 Leutschach, Austria

Tel+43 03454 6715 | Website: www.weingut-tauss.at

Bibliography

Isabelle Legeron MW, Natural Wine, An introduction to organic and biodynamic wines grown naturally (2014, Cico Books, London & New York).

Real Wine Fair 2017, Tobacco Dock, London 7-8th May.