The Leithaberg region exhibits an extraordinary soil structure

The soil consists of crystalline gneiss and mica schist in the centre and a layer of tertiary hardened limestone which has gradually built up over millions of years. Primary rock and mica schist was left over after a fracture zone appeared in the Thermenregion area 15 million years ago.

The sediments, which were deposited here from the sea, helped to form the strong, limestone-rich ground known to the locals as “Leithakalk”. Today, the weathered primal rock, sandy loam and above all slate and shell lime make the wines from the Leithaberg region unmistakeable.

Traces of soil minerals can be found in the wines giving them a kind of spicy quality not easily described – but which wine tasters usually refer to as „minerality“.

Primary rock soils are meagre and warm up easily. This is not only ideal for the ripening of the grapes, but also enables vines to form deep, strong roots: vines which grow on meagre soils tend to yield grapes that are low in abundance, but high in character.

Vines which flourish on soils containing a large amount of lime, lead to wines that exhibit elegance and finesse. The soil conditions in the region are ideal for Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Neuburger and Blaufränkisch.

The primary rock soils (mica-schist and gneiss) are called „Ranker“, and the limestone soils are referred to as „Rendzina“