The Holzapfel winery is located in a former Lesehof, a jewel of a building built 700 years ago by the canons of St. Pölten and baroqueised by Jakob Prandtauer. Back then, when the vineyards of the Wachau were still largely in the hands of the church and belonged to the surrounding monasteries, the Lesehof was the centre for pressing the grapes and for the administration of wine sales on site. Today, a total of around 14 hectares of vines are cultivated using exclusively traditional methods. These include such outstanding sites as Achleiten, Vorderseiber, Weitenberg, Klaus and Kollmitz. First-class grapes thrive on stony, mineral-rich but also calcareous, slate-interspersed soils. But it is not only the special locations and the attention to low yields that are responsible for the uniqueness of these grapes. The temperature fluctuations caused by special climatic conditions and the different altitudes of the vineyards result in an acidity that ensures freshness and elegance. Karl Holzapfel strives to produce clear, fruity, fine, lively wines full of character for everyday enjoyment as well as dry, compact Smaragd wines with complex aromas and great certain ageing potential. After fermentation, the wine remains in contact with the fine lees. This results in distinctive wines with style, clear, delicate fruit and the best balance between minerality and freshness. The individualistic way of vinification results in wines with a special identity for a wide range of drinking occasions. The range includes the quality categories Steinfeder, Federspiel and Smaragd in the varieties Grüner Veltliner, Riesling and Pinot Blanc. The "Hippolyt" selection impresses with its special creaminess, elegance and finesse.
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