Sattler

Erich Sattler is emblematic of the new generation of Austrian vintners, a wine-school grad, 4th generation in the family, taking over as recently as 1999.  My colleagues discovered him at the ProWein fair in February 2004.  "We make wine as my grandfather did," he says, "only with better machines."  He's looking for red wines with "ripe, soft tannin" -- and the following offerings are great examples!

• Vineyard area: 10 hectares
• Soil types: rich in minerals, gravel and sometimes light sand
• Grape varieties: 35% Zweigelt, 25% St. Laurent, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Welschreisling, 10% Pinot Blanc, 5% Muscat