Weingut Erwin Tinhof
For 11 generations now, the Tinhof family has been growing wine in Eisenstadt on the Leitha Range in Burgenland. This constellation is the source of their knowledge and experience as to which grape varieties flourish particularly well in this location, allowing the production of wines characteristic for the area. Neuburger, Pinot Blanc and Blaufränkisch, Sankt Laurent, some on vines established 55 years ago – are the focus of their expertise.
Together with his team of idealists, Erwin Tinhof pursues the uncompromising goal of vinifying authentic wines bursting with character. A concentration on essentials, continuous refinement and consistent exchange of competence between dedicated specialists combine to create the distinctive Tinhof wines. Tinhof's aim is to create harmonious, terroir wines with minerality, elegance and structure. They are never kitschy, loud or coarse. Origin and character in a wine are what makes it unique and important to the producer. The essential qualities need to achieve this aim comes exclusively from the vineyard. Through organic cultivation (certified organic since 2012) Tinhof grows balanced grapes, which provide them with an optimal basis for their wines. Mashing time and long yeast storage of their grapes, harvested exclusively by hand, give the wines depth and longevity.
The vineyard is located in Eisenstadt in Burgenland, 40 km southeast of Vienna, on the Leitha Range. Thanks to the Pannonian environment and that great climate regulator, the Lake Neusiedler, we have here on the Leitha Range the superb benefits needed to vinify white, red and sweet wines of the highest quality. Hot, dry summers and cold, dry winters together with the wind so typical for the Burgenland characterise the vegetation. As the final elevation of the Alps towards the Pannonian lowlands, the Leitha Range with its shell limestone soil millions of years old provides vines with optimal conditions for producing multi-layered wines. This unique soil, together with the cool breezes from the adjoining forests, gives the wines their unmistakable minerality, allowing them to reflect their authentic and unadulterated origin in the glass.
The very special small plot, «Golden Erd» (often called a “Ried” in Austria, T.N.) nowadays integrated into the main «Feiersteig» vineyard was mentioned already in the mountain annals of 1579 as the ideal vineyard location. Oriented to the southeast, this vineyard is characterised by the pure, coarse-grained limestone known as Leithakalk with a thin humus layer. In this particularly barren soil, the vines develop very deep roots and produce grapes with small aromatic berries. The resultant wines offer impressive depth, length and a very specific aroma. Perfect for creating exceptional Neuburger and Pinot Blanc wines with wonderful ageing potential.
Erwin Tinhof is particularly devoted to the native Neuburger grape variety. For him, Neuburger is not simply a grape variety, it means far more: homeland, commitment, dedication, but above all, a passion. The Tinhofs cultivate it because it has always been at home on the Leitha Range and has invariably played a key role in their family. This probable cross between Red Veltliner x Silvaner has, however, fallen into oblivion in recent decades and is no longer widespread across Austria. Rooted in the family tradition, the vineyard with its almost 6 hectares of Neuburger (out of 18 cultivated hectares in total) reflects the vine’s rich diversity. Nowadays, the well-regarded and fuller Neuburger has become the flagship of the Tinhof estate.
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