Vivid life

So much happens in the vineyards during summer. Life is vivid outside despite the intense heat sometimes. Not only are the vines growing vigorously towards the sky, but wildlife also takes advantage of the warm season. From fragrant vine blossoms to current work processes – here is the status quo in the vineyards.

Fragrant vine blossoms

Blooming began in the first week of June, with ideal weather. Favorable weather at this time is neither too hot nor too wet. The progress of the blooms varied. While some grapes on a vine were found to have already finished blooming, others were still in full bloom. If this difference doesn’t even out before harvest, variations in ripeness are possible and could lead to surprises in the must.

Thirst

We’ve had very little rainfall so far. The measuring cups recorded a mere 149 mm of rain (source: hail insurance) in the first half of the year, while the average annual rainfall is 540 mm (source: Geosphere). Due to the heat vegetation growth is progressing 2 days earlier than in 2025 and 5 days earlier than average (source: hail insurance). However despite the drought, we are not seeing any decrease in growth. The deep roots of vines clearly have an advantage. The cover crops in the vineyards are noticeably shy. Some newly planted cover crops are struggling to even establish themselves due to a lack of water.

Fawns, turtle doves, and more

Life in the vineyards is currently in full swing. Bird nests in the vines are producing new generations of birds. Grüner Veltliner is particularly popular for building nests, because this variety can grow bushy and dense. Fawns are left in the shade of the vines, waiting for their mothers. Turtle doves spend hours courting in the Ried Kreimelberg, while butterflies and lizards bask in the sun. The stylish hoopoes are seen and heard more often than ever before around here. Their unmistakable call delights us every time!

The early bird, or something like that

Since our wine-estate is a purely family-run business without any external employees, we’re currently extremely busy. What needs to be done? Guiding the shoots in the support frame, removing leaves before the grapes and breaking off the shoots from the trunk. Plant protection remains essential for healthy grapes until the end of July, but so far things are looking very good! The Roter Veltliner grapes are halved by hand to relieve pressure on the extremely compact bunches and therefore prevent rot. A lot of work and heat are an unpleasant combination. So the workday sometimes starts before the first rays of sunlight at 4 a.m. The first birdsong of the day and a sunrise are incredible gifts, day after day.