Winery

Georgium

It sounds like a fairy tale: matured Burgundies from Carinthia. Between ancient pear trees and a unique microclimate at Lake Längsee, Uta Slamanig & Marcus Gruze make this a reality and demonstrate that the region is capable of more than one-dimensional mass-produced wines.

"Wine, as it has been made for 1000 years, does not need the praise of so-called wine connoisseurs, but the well opened eyes of a wine lover."

– Marcus Gruze

Colour

Type

Wine Style

Price

Aromatic

Grape

Character

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Pinot Noir 2017

Fine & Layered

Fruity

Earthy

Elegant, Fine-meshed

38,39 €

51,19 €/L

The Pinot from Längsee-Georgium as cultural ambassador

On the southern shore of Lake Längsee lies the biodynamic winery Georgium, an idyllic place north of Klagenfurt, nestled between the Alps, but with a relatively continental climate - perfect for growing wine. Marcus Gruze thought so too. After all those years in the restaurant business, the Carinthian ended up in New Zealand, where he discovered his love for wine in a restaurant with an attached winery. After his return, he decided to plant a vineyard at the foot of the Längsee lake-the geological and climatic conditions were examined and assured to him by experts.

In 2008, the first plots of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir were planted, the latter on a slab of pure limestone due to a special circumstance, the white grape varieties growing on lime-free soil. A terminal moraine wrapped itself around the bedrock slate during the last ice age. Lake Längsee is also the remnant of a glacial tongue. From the neighbouring hills there are repeated limestone inclusions. The upper horizon is a medium-heavy clay soil. To minimise erosion and leaching, intensive revegetation is used, one of the many building blocks that ensure a stable ecosystem. Between ancient pear trees and an almost paradisiacal-looking vineyard, absolutely exceptional wines have been thriving here since 2012 - perfectly matured, mineral and unadulterated.

Natural wines with originality, responsibility and honesty

The natural wines from Längsee are produced according to biodynamic guidelines. This means that a considerable biodiversity of various fruit trees and other seedlings thrives between the rows of vines, helping to strengthen the soil and the vines. Sheep grazing in the vineyard complete the context of the circulatory system. This energy and vitality is transported to the cellar with meticulous manual labour.

Always following the low-intervention principle, the must undergoes extended maceration with skin contact and is then gently pressed and aged in large wooden barrels. There is little to no sulphur and, of course, no filtration. Pure vin! Marcus' natural wines are given the time they need to reflect this wonderful place in the glass. With years of maturation, the wines develop enormous complexity, but without any heaviness and enormously light on their feet-these are cool, brilliant natural wines with silky tannins and cool freshness.

Burgundies are a way of life, an individuality steeped in tradition. Perfectly suited to the climate in Carinthia: Längsee has temperate summers, long, warm autumn days and cool nights bring out the best in Burgundy and let it mature slowly.

The wines of Georgium are among our most exciting discoveries lately and we are looking forward to creating this feeling in you as well.

When Marcus is not in the vineyard, he supports his wife Uta in their joint country restaurant Kulinarium, where they are committed to the farm-to-table concept. Anyone who is in the region will look there.