| Region of production: | Wachau |
| Winery Location: | Mautern |
| Year Established: | 1894 |
Vineyard Holdings
22 ha
- Steiner Hund
- Klausberg
- Im Weingebirge
- Vom Stein
- Süssenburg
Top Wines Produced & Inaugural Vintages
- Grüner Veltliner Hefeabzug
- Grüner Veltliner Im Weingebirge Federspiel
- Grüner Veltliner Im Weingebirge Smaragd
- Riesling Vom Stein Federspiel
- Riesling Vom Stein Smaragd
- Grüner Veltliner/Riesling “Nikolauswine” Trockenbeerenauslese
Average Total Production
- 99,600 bottles
Summary
Nikolaihof is one of the oldest estates in Austria, reaching back 2,000 years to Roman times, making it the oldest winery in the Wachau. The winery is located in Mautern, at the southern bank of the Danube, protected by the rain shadow of the Krems hillsides. The Saahs family purchased the estate from the church in 1894 (and boasts a 4th century Roman wine cellar still in use!), but winemaking did not really take off commercially until the 1960s. At the time, they could not afford the prevailing chemical treatments, so they worked without using chemical pesticides or herbicides. They officially began practicing biodynamic farming in 1971, and were the first Austrian winery to be Demeter certified in 1998. To this day, the estate is well known as somewhat of a bastion of biodynamic farming and principles. While Riesling (55%) and Grüner Veltliner (35%) dominate their plantings, small quantities of Neuburger, Gelber Muskateller, Gewürztraminer, Frühroter Veltliner, and Chardonnay are also grown. Klaus Saahs retired in 1985, and Klaus and Christine Saahs recently handed over winemaking responsibility to their son Nikolaus.
Style & Vinification Techniques
The winemaking philosophy is focused on their biodynamic growing methods, with careful attention in the vineyard, and little cellar intervention. Harvest is always by hand, and the winery employs what they refer to as “natural fermentations,” using indigenous yeasts and little temperature control. The wines typically see long aging on the lees in neutral, old Austrian oak vessels. Sulfur additions are minimal, only before bottling, and Nikolaus eschews fining and filtration whenever possible. Their winemaking tradition also includes wines under their Vinothek label; these wine rest in 3,000L neutral oak casks, unsulfured for fourteen (or more) years before being bottled.
Producer Website: Nikolaihof