Straka

Thomas Straka, a young and innovative winemaker who is revitalizing the Eisenberg district in Austria's Southern Burgenland region. He is known for challenging the conventional perception of a key local grape and for his dedication to natural, low-intervention winemaking.

Region

The Straka winery is located in Rechnitz, in the Eisenberg region of Southern Burgenland. This is a geologically unique area where the foothills of the Alps meet the Pannonian lowlands. The vineyards are on the slopes of the Geschriebenstein and are characterized by a distinct soil of green crystalline slate and magmatic rock. This soil type imparts a particular minerality and a taut, purist character to the wines.

Grapes Used

Thomas Straka focuses on the flagship grapes of his region.

  • White Grapes: 🥂 Welschriesling is his specialty. He is credited with elevating this grape, often considered simple and inconsequential, to a new level of complexity and character. He also grows Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and some Furmint.

  • Red Grapes: 🍇 Blaufränkisch is his most important red grape.

Representative Wines and Philosophy

Thomas Straka's winemaking philosophy is a blend of tradition and modernity, with a strong commitment to natural methods. He farms his vineyards organically and practices a hands-off approach in the cellar. This includes using spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, aging his wines in a variety of vessels like large old oak barrels and amphorae, and bottling them unfiltered and unfined. His wines are celebrated for their depth, length, and minerality.

His portfolio includes:

  • Welschriesling: He produces various expressions of this grape, from a fresh, light style to complex, single-vineyard wines from old vines, such as the Welschriesling Prantner, which comes from vines up to 80 years old.

  • Blaufränkisch: His Blaufränkisch wines are known for their juiciness, freshness, and fine, mineral character, which is a pure expression of the green slate soils.

  • "Stratos" Blends: These are often experimental blends, such as the Stratos Weiss, a cuvée of Welschriesling, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, and Muskateller, which showcases his creative approach to winemaking. He also has a red blend.

  • "Amphore Red": A distinctive and highly sought-after Blaufränkisch that is fermented and aged in Georgian clay amphorae, resulting in a unique, unadorned expression of the grape.

 

📍 Address

Weingut Straka
Bahnhofstraße 15
7471 Rechnitz
Austria
📞 +43 664 2016 396
📧 office@straka.wine
🌐 straka.wine