Under Construction
– Western Styria, Austria
Nestled in the rolling hills of Western Styria in the small village of St. Stefan ob Stainz near Graz, two and a half hours south of Vienna, is Dominik Machater’s vineyards. In 2019, he took over the reins of his family winery and transformed it into an organic and biodynamic winery. Before that, he studied at Silberberg in Leibnitz and interned at 2Naturkinder in Franken, which paved the way for his winemaking philosophy.
“Under Construction” wines feature native varieties in new and exciting ways. Grüner Sylvaner and Blauer Wildbacher–two native Styrian varietals–play a pivotal role in his quest to break the norms and traditional styles of the “Schilcer region,” where high-acid rosé dominates.
Dominik is fortunate enough to have Franz Strohmeier–a cult hero for his natural wines and Pet-Nats–as his neighbor and friend, who helps him with any questions that may arise.
His X-mas wine of choice is the Pepi PetNat, made from Blauer Wildbacher, the perfect dessert companion: “Its wild forest fruit notes, high acidity, and touch of residual sugar either contrast a chocolate lava cake or complement a raspberry cheesecake dessert!”
Cultivation: 5 ha
Production: Unknown
Varieties: Grüner Sylvaner, Chardonnay, Gelber Muskateller, PiWi (tbd), Blauer Wildbacher
Approach: Organic going to Biodynamic
Certifications: Demeter
Sulfites: Unknown
