Meet our Producers
Weingut Johann Gisperg
Thermenregion When sitting in the tavern of Johann Gisperg’s winery, it is impossible to ignore the spirit of his work. Johann’s wines don’t just tell a story of the terroir of Teesdorf, they tell the story of three generations of farming, with sustainability as the first priority so his daughter and future generations can craft their own wines in the same vineyards.
While sustainability typically has an eye on the future, Johann’s view creates a direct link to the present. Sustainability, for him starts with the soil. Johann’s most recognized vineyard is Ried Holzspur, which sits on the ‘Steinfeld’ or stone-field gravel, a mix of limestone and riverstones deposited thousands of years ago. These stones soak up the intense Pannonian heat by day and send it back to the vines at night, ensuring perfect ripeness while maintaining a signature cool mineral tension.
Johann focuses on the soil by planting specific cover crops between the rows of vines and trades with a nearby cattle rancher for compost. The soil then helps him produce typical Burgundy varieties, including Pinot Noir and Chardonnay of incredible depth. It then carries onto typical Austrian varieties related to Pinot Noir, St. Laurent and Zweigelt, which have defining dark color you expect from the grapes, but also an elegance that only these limestone-rich soils can provide.
We chose Johann Gisperg as our foundational partner because of his commitment to providing world-class and sustainable wines for years to come. In every bottle of his, you aren’t just tasting a grape; you are tasting one of the most unique geological footprints in Europe.
You can learn about Johann and his work at: https://www.gisperg.wine/
VulkanlandWeingut Frauwallner
In Southeastern Austria’s rolling hills lies Vulkanland Steiermark (Volcanic Styria), one of Europe’s most unique and striking wine regions. At the center of this landscape in the historic village of Straden sits Weingut Frauwallner.
When Walter Frauwallner took the helm of his family’s estate in 2002 at just 21 years old, he had a clear vision: transform Frauwallner into one of the preeminent wineries in Styria. Through painstaking vineyard management, zero herbicides, and uncompromising cellar work, he did just that. Today, Frauwallner is an esteemed member of the STK (Steirische Terroir- und Klassikweingüter), an elite regional association dedicated to Grand Cru-level terroir classification.
What makes Frauwallner’s location in Straden legendary is its rare geological duality: rich, dark basaltic volcanic rock intermixed with ancient limestone gravel. Combined with cool alpine-influenced winds, these soils produce wines with explosive aromatic depth, fine-grained texture, and a distinctive, smoky-salty mineral signature.
Fermented and aged with extended lees contact in large oak casks, these wines deliver texture, purity, and longevity
Weingut FJ Gritsch
WachauFew estates embody the soul of the Wachau like Weingut FJ Gritsch. Nestled in the historic village of Spitz an der Donau, the estate’s story centers around the Mauritiushof—a 13th-century courtyard originally built by monks to make wine, which has been in the Gritsch family since 1799.
Today, 7th-generation winemaker Franz-Josef Gritsch balances this deep history with relentless innovation. While aging and hospitality still thrive inside the stone vaults of the Mauritiushof, modern vinification takes place in the state-of-the-art Kalmuck Cellar nearby. This duality—revering eight centuries of alpine winemaking while applying hyper-precise cellar practices—defines the Gritsch philosophy.
The Wachau is defined by extreme, steeply terraced vineyards rising above the Danube River, where every grape must be farmed and harvested entirely by hand. Primary rock, gneiss, and mica schist soils absorb the Mediterranean heat during the day, while cool mountain breezes rush in at night, preserving electric acidity and intense aromatics.
Gritsch’s wines are famous for their chiseled structure, clear varietal purity, and deep, salty minerality. The Grüner Veltliners and Rieslings Franz-Josef crafts wines have remarkable tension and aging potential.
