Weingut Gritsch - Mauritiushof

Kirchenplatz 13 3620 Spitz Wine region: Lower Austria/Niederösterreich Domain: Wachau Phone: +43 2713 2450 Fax: +43 2713 72943 Internet: www.Mauritiushof.at Owner: Franz-Josef Gritsch Manager: Franz Gritsch Managing director: Franz-Josef Gritsch Cellar master: Franz-Josef Gritsch Cultivated area: 8.00 ha

Membership: Vinea Wachau

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The estate is located in the centre of the town of Spitz an der Donau, in the Wachau wine-growing area in Lower Austria. The Mauritiushof complex was built in the 13th century, and served the monks from Niederalteich as a picking farm for 600 years. It was acquired by the Gritsch family in 1799 Gritsch. The son of the house, Franz-Josef Gritsch, completed his studies at the viticultural college in Krems, and then gained practical experience with Josef Leberl in the Burgenland region, and now works with his father Franz Gritsch in the family business. The vineyard area totals eight hectares, located in the renowned Wachau sites of Axpoint, Donaugärten, Hartberg, Loibenberg, Pluris, Setzberg, Steinborz, Singerriedel and Tausendeimerberg. They are planted with the white varieties Grüner Veltliner (5 ha), Riesling (2 ha), Neuburger, Müller-Thurgau, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc and small numbers of red varieties. All grapes are picked by hand, and selectively, with several passes being made through each vineyard. The aim is to produce natural wines with varietal character and with young, fresh fruit. The premium wines include the Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Singerriedel, which frequently receives awards, and the Riesling Smaragd Tausendeimberg. A branded wine, the „Veltliner Kalmuck Wachau“ has been produced since 2005, this is blended from the best vineyard sites of Spitz. This innovative product has brought about a veritable boom of the „Kalmuck-Janker“ (a wine-maker’s jacket). The wines regularly receive high ratings at both national and international level, for instance in the wine guides A La Carte, Decanter, Falstaff, Gault Millau, Vinaria, Vinum, Wein-Plus, Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator. Annual production is around 50.000 bottles. The estate is a member of the Vinea Wachau Nobilis Districtus association.