Manager: - Managing director: Otto Bruckner & Walter Holzner Cellar master: Ing. Ernest Großauer
Cultivated area: 2,400.00 ha
Visitor information:
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This renowned estate is located in the commune of Rohrendorf close to Krems in the Kremstal wine-growing region in Lower Austria. It is one of the oldest and largest estates in Austria. In 1040 emperor Heinrich III. (1017-1056) donated vineyards as well as a wine cellar in what is now Rohrendorf to the Benedictine Ebersberg abbey in Bavaria. However, part of the cellar was actually already dug into the thick terraces of loess soil between 970 and 980. A manager for the Ebersberg abbey by the name of “Moser” is first mentioned in 1124, he is an early ancestor of the Moser family, which can follow its development without interruption from the 16th century. There were several changes of ownership, and after the abolition of serfdom Anton Moser became the owner of the vineyards in 1849, this included the „Zehentkeller“ cellar (tithe cellar), which remains the home of the company to this day. In 1880 Laurenz Moser I. took over the cellar, and expanded the vineyard area. His son Laurenz Moser II. Succeeded him in 1913. His son again, Dr. Laurenz Moser III. (1905-1978) concluded his studies in oenology at the Klosterneuburg college in 1922. He then travelled to almost all wine-growing regions in Europe to study methods there. He took over the estate in 1929. Beginning in the late 1920’s, he began experimenting with widely spaced rows of vines and a 1,2 metre high trellising system supported by wire frames, which he called „Hochkultur“ or high culture, and which today is also known as Moser culture or trellising. This type of trellising has been used exclusively at the estate since 1936. The textbook „Weinbau einmal anders“ (a different approach to viticulture) appeared in 1950, it ran to four editions and was translated into many languages. Moser held many lectures and talks, and published lengthy articles both in Austria and internationally. It was after the severe winter frosts of 1956 that the trellising system was finally widely accepted, and practically every vineyard in Austria was converted to the system in a very short time. Laurenz Moser III. was mayor of his home town of Rohrendorf for many years, and was then given the freedom of the town. The agricultural college in Vienna awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1970 for his achievements, and gave him the title of professor. The Austrian wine producers association erected a statue in his honour in Rohrendorf in 1980, to show their gratitude.
His son Laurenz Moser IV. (born 1929) was a pioneer in propagating organic wine production as early as the mid-1970’s. Also under his direction the first experiments in Austria of maturing red wines in barriques were initiated (sourced from Mailberg in the Weinviertel region) and he was also responsible for attaining official permission to plant Cabernet Sauvignon in 1982. In 1998, Lenz Moser V. moved to the Mondavi estate in California, and was appointed general manager of Robert Mondavi Europe. In 2005, he returned to the family business, and created the „Grünen Veltliner by Laurenz V“. In 1986, the vineyards and nursery in Rohrendorf were separated from the remaining business, and are now run as a separate estate by Sepp Moser (son of Lenz Moser III.) and his son Nikolaus. The head office has also leased two estates with a total vineyard area of 75 hectares, the Schlossweingut Malteser Ritterorden (since 1969) in Mailberg, and the Klosterkeller Siegendorf (since 1988) in the Neusiedlersee-Hügelland wine-growing region in Burgenland. Here, sustainable, integrated and controlled vineyard practices are implemented. In August 1998 the original parent company was converted to a share-holding company, the Weinkellerei Lenz Moser AG. All marketing and sales activities of the company are directed from Rohrendorf. The company co-operates with around 3.000 grape growers, often over a period of decades, in Lower Austria, Burgenland and Styria, who supply grapes. The grape growers work in accordance with agreed quality guidelines, and are assisted by Lenz Moser oenologists. In 2002 the total vineyard area amounted to 2.000 hectares, with an annual production of 16 million bottles of wine and sparkling wine. Just on 30% of this is exported, to many countries including Denmark, Germany Finland, Great Britain, Japan, Canada, the Netherlands, Sweden and the USA. The branded wine ranges „Storch“ and „Servus“ have been particularly successful in Germany.
The vintage 2006
It almost appears as though the folks at the Lenz Moser estate may have experienced a case of cold feet in this wonderful autumn of 2006. Many of the wines are rather on the light-bodied side, unusual for the vintage. Certainly, the fairly low alcohol content will be appreciated by those consumers who prefer lighter wines, but the wines also appear to be a little strained. However, the final word has not yet been spoken, we certainly expect some good things from the red wines of this vintage.
Burgenland
White wine, Kabinett, Klosterkeller Siegendorf 11 ½, 5.40 €
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