| Region of production: | Kremstal |
| Winery Location: | Senftenberg |
| Year Established: | 1985 |
Vineyard Holdings
25 ha
- Hochäcker
- Pellingen: 5 ha planted to Grüner Veltliner and Riesling
- Senftenberger Piri: 10 ha across three plots; bottled under the name Piri
- Rehberger Goldberg: 3 ha Riesling
- Kirchenberg: 4 small terraces situated next to the winery
Top Wines Produced
- Grüner Veltliner Gärtling
- Grüner Veltliner Kremser Freiheit
- Grüner Veltliner Senftenberger Piri
- Grüner Veltliner Alte Reben
- Grüner Veltliner Privat: made from the best grapes of the oldest vines at the top of Senftenberger Piri
- Grüner Veltliner Trockenbeerenauslese
- Riesling Dornleiten
- Riesling Senftenberger Piri
- Riesling Hochäcker
- Riesling Privat
- Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese
Average Total Production
- 360,000 bottles
Summary
Up the narrow valley of the Krems river, Nigl is situated just below the ancient castle of Senftenberg. The Nigl family has been farming in the area for over 200 years but has only grown grapes since the 1960s. After Martin Nigl earned his oenology degree, he took over the family vineyards in 1985 and began bottling and selling wine under the family name. In addition to the estate’s vineyards, Nigl also purchases grapes from growers in the area, accounting for the majority of their entry-level wines. Martin Nigl is known for a very pragmatic style of winemaking, farming sustainably with no herbicides or insecticides, but if necessary he will spray sulfur to control odium. In addition to mostly Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, Nigl grows small quantities of Sauvignon Blanc, Weissburgunder, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gelber Muskateller, Zweigelt, St. Laurent and Merlot.
Style & Vinification Techniques
The house style tends toward a very structured, linear profile (commonly attributed to the weathered, granite soil of most of the vineyards). Harvest tends to last a little over a month so as to pick bunches at peak ripeness—and always by hand. In the winery, stainless steel tanks and commercial yeast strains are used for the entry-level wines, while native yeasts and large, used oak barrels (1600-2000 liters) are used for the Privat and alte reben bottlings.
Producer Website: Nigl