Weingut Werlitsch is a Biodynamic winery in the South Styria sub-region of Austria.

Owners: Ewald Tscheppe (0676.3448390) and his wife Brigitte. Ewald’s sister Maria is one half of Weingut Maria & Sepp Muster.

Vineyards: 9 hectares (22 acres) on two sites. Overall 80% Sauvignon Blanc & Chardonnay (Morillon), plus a little Welschriesling and other grapes. Soils of Kalkmergel (chalky marl) and Opokboden (clay-silt). The vines are on two sites. There are 8 hectares (19.8 acres) near the winery. An old mixed vineyard here contains Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The other vineyard lies a 20 minute drive away, has sandy soil, and is planted with 1 hectare (2.47 acres) of Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Blanc and Scheurebe (Sämling 88).

Polyculture: Walnuts for oil and liqueur, grape juice, and white wine vinegar.

Certification: 2008 First vintage with full Demeter Biodynamic certification. | 2017 Still certified Biodynamic by Demeter.

Winemaking: 100% MLF. Aged in wood (Holzfässern). Amphora.

White wines

Morillon vom Opok: Chardonnay from Opok (clay-silt) soil. | 2011 25 mg/l total sulfites (RAW London 17/18 May 2015). | 2014 Reduced, sour apple, crowdpleaser for hipsters (Real Wine Fair 2017).

Sauvignon Blanc Vom Opok: Sauvignon Blanc from Opok (clay-silt) soil.

Ex Vero I: Latin for ‘from the true and genuine’. Basic line from flat clay soils, giving wines with good if basic structure. | 2006 61mg/l total sulftes. 2008 80% Chardonnay, 20% Sauvignon Blanc. 5 tonnes. 12% alcohol. 1.2 g/l residual sugar. 4,000 bottles. Citric, full bodied, smoky, crisp (Millésime Bio 2012). | 2009 30mg/l total sulftes.

Ex Vero II: | A step up in quality from the Ex Vero I range. From less heavy soils, with lower yields. | 2006 61mg/l total sulftes. | 2007 45mg/l total sulftes. / 2008 80% Chardonnay, 20% Sauvignon Blanc. 5 tonnes. 6,000 bottles. 52mg/l total sulftes. Nice, bready (Millésime Bio 2012). | 2010 17 mg/l total sulfites. | 2011 20 mg/l total sulfites.

Ex Vero III: From the lowest-yielding vines on steep, bowl shaped, south-facing terrain. | 2008 60% Sauvignon Blanc + 40% Chardonnay. 2,000 bottles. Smoky (Millésime Bio 2012). | 2010 18 mg/l total sulfites. | 2011 18 mg/l total sulfites. Very natural and fresh, but underneath some very reduced aromas (Real Wine Fair 2017).

Amphorenwein: Fermented and stored in kveri. | 2009 Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc. 6-7months on skins in buried amphora. Pressed. Into oak for two years. 20mg/l total sulftes. 12% alcohol. 800 bottles. Nice Grüner Veltliner style, but slightly odd with the presence of Sauvignon Blanc’s apparent marmelade citrus (Millésime Bio 2012).

Werlitsch: 2012 No added sulfites.

Bibliography

Isabelle Legeron MW, Natural Wine, An introduction to organic and biodynamic wines grown naturally (2014, Cico Books, London & New York), p156.

RAW 2015, London 17/18 May.

Real Wine Fair 2017, Tobacco Dock, London 07th May.

Contact

Weingut Werlitsch (Ewald Tscheppe)

Glanz 75

A-8463 Leutschach, Austria

Tel+ 03454.391 | Website: www.werlitsch.com