MEINKLANG
Burgenland, Austria
65 ha

Meinklang is an original, family-run mixed farm, set in the middle of the World Heritage Site of the National Park Neusiedlersee, on the Eastern side of the Neusiedlersee Lake, bordering directly on the Hungarian lowlands. All the place worked with the Rudolf Steiner philosophy: “respect everything around us”. This farm functions like an organism, relying not only on the people but also on the local herbs of cows which contributes in an essential way with their natural and invaluable fertilizer. The objective is to create a real “Wein-Garten” ( wine garden) with fruits, vegetables, vines and herbs. Each family member specializes in an aspect of farming, that gives a deep comprehension of the biodynamic circle. As an example, they choose not to prune their ‘Graupert’ vineyard from Pinot Gris, giving to the vines a total freedom to grow and climb. The vines are able to develop completely freely according to their metabolism and  they regulate their yield themselves.The significant advantage of this is that the small berries have more aromas, and it gives more complexity in the wine.

Meinklang proves that it is possible to work exclusively with natural, spontaneous fermentation and  to do without the additives, to produce wines with very little sulphur or even to vinify completely without sulphur. All their wines have therefore been vegan-friendly since the 2004 vintage.