Pinot Noir. Above all — but not only

Pinot Noir has been cultivated in Mazon, a hamlet of Neumarkt, for nearly 150 years. It’s no surprise, then, that the Kollerhof winery in Neumarkt-Mazon also relies on this classic grape variety. Above all — but not exclusively.

The first Pinot Noir vineyard in Mazon was planted as early as 1878, and in 1898, a Pinot Noir from Mazon received an award in Vienna. Since then, the variety and the location have been closely linked — “they’ve grown together,” one could say.

Part of this natural connection is also the Kollerhof winery, which has been run by the Visintin family since 1966 — today by Herbert Visintin and his children. “Our family purchased the Kollerhof back then, cleared out the old vines, and planted new Pinot Noir,” says Visintin. “And since 2012, we’ve also been vinifying the wines ourselves” — in a modern cellar and with extensive expertise.

While Pinot Noir remains the cornerstone of Kollerhof’s production in Neumarkt-Mazon, since 2015 the winery has also been working with a new grape variety, grown in its vineyards in Altrei: Solaris. “We planted Solaris there, a fungus-resistant variety that requires no chemical treatments,” explains Visintin. The conditions in Altrei are ideal for it: lots of sunshine and a mild southern breeze. “Solaris is something special,” the winemaker enthuses. “It smells of elderflower and meadow blossoms, and on the palate it unfolds with vibrant fruit and racy acidity.”

Clearly, Mazon can still inspire excitement — not only for Pinot Noir.