Location: Austria

Judith Beck makes wines in Gols in the Neusiedlersee region of Austria.

It was Judith’s parents who founded the family domaine in 1976. The first wine from Judith’s hands came in 2001, and in 2004 she assumed full control of the winery with the help of her partner, Uli. This came after Judith gained international experience at wineries such as Chateau Cos d’Estournel in Bordeaux, Braida in Piedmont and Errazuriz in Chile.

She now owns a total of 13.5 hectares of vines in Gols which included parcels in Altenberg, Gabarinza, Salzberg and Schafleiten. 85% of the area is planted to red varieties – Blauer Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, St. Laurent, Pinot Noir and Merlot, with the remaining 15% planted to white varieties – Welschriesling, Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder), Neuburger and Chardonnay plus other indegenous grape varieties. The soils here are extremely diverse. In fact, a single vineyard alone can consist of humus, gravel, loam, limestone and minerals.

The approach to farming and vinification is based in sustainability, and the vineyards were converted to biodynamic practice leading into the 2007 vintage. All grapes are hand-harvested, and all wines undergo spontaneous fermentation. The red wines are fermented in stainless steel tanks, in new barriques or in open vats. The wines undergo malolactic fermentation in new barriques or in large oak barrels. Some of the red wines are also matured in large and old oak vats – some having been used for three generations. Nothing is added during the winemaking process except a small amount of SO2 at bottling if she finds it unavoidable.

Judith is doing some incredible things, and we super happy to work with her.