Maria & Sepp Muster Graf Morillon (white)

Sepp and Maria on this wine: “Graf” is the German word for Count. This title of nobility has been the name of our estate since its beginning. At some point, we wanted to honor that name in one of our wine lines. For our Count, we take old vines on meager Opok. For as long as we remember, Zweigelt, Morillon, and Sauvignon Blanc have been planted in these special vineyards. For us, Graf also means the center, as the vineyard lies between the higher located Sgaminegg and the slightly lower Opok-line.”

Age of Vines: around 40 years old

Soil: Opok – Limestone and clay silt, here in its more rocky, meager form

Varieties: Morillon (the local name for Chardonnay)

Making of: Grapes are hand-harvested, destemmed, and gently pressed. They are fermented in 2400-liter oval wooden casks with indigenous yeasts. The wine then spends about 2 years aging in neutral wooden casks. Bottled without fining or filtration, no sulfur added.

Personality: the lush character of the grape meets the elegant zestiness of Styria. Think ripe quince on the rocks with a breezy touch of the finest sea salt and smoke. Mouthwatering. — Jenny & Francois