STORY OF MARKUS

Born into the 10th generation of a small winemaking family, I was already working in the vineyard together with my Grandfather, Father and Mother at the young age of three. Even then, I loved to be in nature- to feel the ground, to smell the scent of the grass and flowers and to observe and follow the development of the grapes throughout the year. I am convinced that really good wine is made from grapes that are brought to perfect ripeness by the human touch, which means for me to see each plot as an independent individual with its own needs. Even if wine is a very natural product, for me it is still more of a cultural one, because it is only through human influence that the grapevine can be trained to reach its full potential.

Based on this conviction, I started at a young age to devote myself entirely to viticulture and vinification. After my apprenticeship in Austria, I was sent to vinify two harvests in South Africa before, in 2000, I dedicated myself entirely to the task of transforming my parents‘ four hectare estate into a real winery. My goal is to be a very good winegrower, because only then I can make very good wine from the best grapes. I see myself as a companion who knows when to be there to keep the direction or change course, in order to ultimately achieve the wine style I am looking for; this then influences the direction I take when pruning the respective vineyard, and all subsequent work is aimed at achieving this goal. I love being able to take on this exciting challenge year after year, with each year, true to Steve Jobs‘ motto: „the only way to make great work, is to love what you do“

For me, the Grüner Veltliner is the DNA of Austrian Viticulture, an exciting indigenous grape variety, deeply rooted in the history of winemaking in Austria, yet with potential to reach great heights on the international wine scene.

I have been friends with Lenz for more than 20 years. While sharing a glass of Grüner Veltliner, we both realised that the Grüner Veltliner does not yet have the international status it should have. We are both inspired by the idea of giving Grüner Veltliner the international significance that we believe it deserves. Much more, we want to carry this Austrian gem out into the great world of wine, to trigger a „New Chapter“, of surprise and enthusiasm among many wine lovers worldwide.