Gut Kaltenburg lies on an auspicious bit of land. Just a stone’s throw from the northern banks of Lake Kaltern, in the middle of the traditional Kaltern wine region, our vineyards and fruit orchards spread out across an area of 8 hectares (20 acres). Climbing gently from 250 to 290 meters in elevation (820 to 950 feet), the loose limestone gravel soil offers the perfect conditions for our crops.
A new generation puts down roots
After taking over the family inheritance a few years ago, the young estate owner began to transition the agriculture to modern cultivation methods. In addition to the typical Vernatsch grapes, we now also grow red and white Lagrein, Cabernet, Merlot and Chardonnay grapes at Gut Kaltenburg, along with olive and fruit trees, herbs and spices.
For fruit brandies, we mainly use cherries, damson plums, Mirabelle plums and quince. The young fruit trees thrive in the mild Lake Kaltern climate, and every year they produce a little bit more for our aromatic fruit distillates.
In fact, distilling is our great passion. We deliver the grape harvest to a regional wine producer, but we use the marc to produce our own very fine grappa.