Our winery profiles are sent out each month to tell a story of the people that make the wine and the region they hail from. In this marketing saturated world we all live in, it is easy to forget that real people exist behind these properties. Wine is an agricultural product that we are lucky enough to enjoy; so it is important to not forget the farming portion of that.

This month the focus is on Meinklang, which sits in the south of Austria almost directly on the border with Hungary. This is a sprawling biodynamic farm that grows spelt, rye, barley and also has an apple orchard. Cows, pigs, and some chickens are also raised here with an eye to ensuring quality fertilizer. The Michlits family calls the vineyards a Weingarten because instead of endless rows of vines, what you see are islands of vines surrounded by incredible biodiversity.

Moving to the cellar there is a lot to appreciate about the style of Meinklang. Organic, biodynamic, native yeast fermentation and vinified with little or no sulfur. They produce a large number of wines, with a vast amount being from native grapes local to the area. They use a mixture of wood, steel, and concrete vessels to age and macerate their wine in. The concrete egg is prominently used which is an amazing vessel that still is being experimented with the world over.

We at the moment carry three selections from Meinklang (anxiously awaiting the arrival of more).

• Meinklang Gruner Veltliner 2019 - Crisp, Refreshing Acidity, Perfect Breakfast Wine.

• Meinklang Roter Mulatschak (Zweigelt, St. Laurent) - Bright cherry with an earth driven spicy backbone. This is slightly effervescent and pairs so very well with smoked meats.

• Meinklang Prosa Pet-Nat Rosé 2020 (Pinot Noir) - Raspberry, Pomegranate, this is indulgently rich in fruit. Absolutely Crushable for any occasion.

— David