At A Glance
- Base
- Jois, Austria
- Owner and winemaker
- Markus Altenburger
- Cultivated vineyard area
- 17 hectares
- Farming
- Organic since 2014
- Cellar
- Native fermentation; no fining or filtration
- Bottles
- Blaufränkisch vom Kalk 2023; Altenburger Cric 2021; Hamster & Firs 2022; Weingut Markus Altenburger Weiss 2024
The Producer
Markus Altenburger took over his family’s winery in Jois in 2006 and works as its owner and winemaker. The 17-hectare vineyard base is divided equally between estate-owned land and long-term rentals. Two-thirds of the vines are more than 30 years old; the oldest were planted by Markus’s grandfather in 1969.
The winery has practiced organic farming since 2014. Vineyard work also incorporates biodynamic preparations 500 and 501 without biodynamic certification. Bernadette Altenburger handles administration, marketing and other work across the family winery.
Native fermentation has been used since Markus’s first vintage in 2007. Fermentation and maceration take place in large, old-style wooden vessels. The only addition is 7 to 15 ppm sulfur before bottling, and the wines are neither fined nor filtered.
Wines
Blaufränkisch vom Kalk 2023 is entirely Blaufränkisch, grown on limestone and limestone-rich loam. The current wine is aged in large wooden casks and has clear fruit, delicate tannin and juiciness. The 2023 tasting profile is medium-bodied and generous, with black fruit, cranberry, pepper and wild-fruit aromas.
Altenburger Cric 2021 is Blaufränkisch. Intact bunches underwent two weeks of maceration before spontaneous fermentation in a wooden fermenter. The wine then spent 12 months in an used 2,000-litre oak barrel and was bottled unfined and unfiltered with 10 mg of added sulfites. Its vines grow beside old vines planted by Markus’s grandfather in 1969.
Weingut Markus Altenburger Weiss 2024 combines Grüner Veltliner, Welschriesling, Muskat Ottonel, Traminer, Sauvignon Blanc and Neuburger. Half was fermented on the skins and half in a concrete egg. The white-wine range is chalky, salty and spicy, with length and depth instead of overtly perfumed fruit.
Hamster & Firs 2022 is a red blend of Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt.
Sources
- www.austrianwine.com/wines-wineries/winery?tx_wineapi_wineriesdetail%5Bwinery%5D=winery_8591&cHash=f41e3279c0cff7d46c5aa592fd1e592a
- www.jennyandfrancois.com/wines/austria/markus-altenburger
- newcomerwines.com/collections/markus-altenburger
- www.jungenberg.at/rot
- www.jungenberg.at/weiss
- www.saq.com/en/15249546
- thirstmerchants.com/products/markus-altenburger-cric-2021
- www.winewaves.se/vinbonder/markus-altenburger