Weingut Feldtheorie
Overview & Identity
Weingut Feldtheorie is a young, small-scale winery located in Schönberg am Kamp, within Austria’s renowned Kamptal region. Founded in 2022 by Ulrike Filp and Robert Bormuth, the estate combines scientific curiosity with traditional craftsmanship. Both founders have backgrounds in natural sciences, and their approach to viticulture and winemaking is guided by a philosophy of observation, restraint, and respect for natural systems.
The name Feldtheorie (“field theory”) reflects their belief that wine should act as a pure transmitter of information from the vineyard — expressing soil, microclimate, and human care without distortion.
Vineyards & Terroir
The winery cultivates approximately 3.5 hectares of vineyards in and around Schönberg am Kamp. The sites are located on the varied geological formations typical of Kamptal, including loess, primary rock (gneiss, granite, schist), and sandy-gravel soils, each contributing distinct structural and aromatic qualities to the wines.
All vineyards are organically farmed with a commitment to biodiversity and minimal disturbance:
No herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, or systemic pesticides are used.
Vineyard management focuses on soil vitality, with extensive use of cover crops and compost.
All work is performed manually, including pruning, canopy management, and harvest.
Harvest timing is determined parcel by parcel based on ripeness, acidity, and phenolic balance.
Winemaking & Cellar Practices
In the cellar, Weingut Feldtheorie follows a low-intervention philosophy, allowing each parcel’s origin to speak clearly.
Fermentation: All wines ferment spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, typically in neutral oak or stainless steel.
Handling: Grapes are hand-harvested, sorted manually, and pressed gently. Red and rosé wines undergo maceration periods of up to three weeks depending on the desired structure.
Aging: Wines mature on full lees for extended periods (8–12 months) to develop complexity and texture. Lees stirring is practiced selectively.
Additives: Wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered, with minimal sulfur dioxide added only at bottling when required for stability.
Philosophy: The winemaking process is guided by sensory evaluation rather than fixed protocols, emphasizing patience, precision, and minimal manipulation.
Wine Range & Styles
The winery produces wines under the label “Relativ”, each representing a relative expression of site, soil, and style. The current portfolio includes:
Relativ Weiß: A field blend dominated by Grüner Veltliner from multiple vineyard parcels on loess, gravel, and crystalline rock soils; fermented naturally and aged in stainless steel and old oak.
Relativ Rot: A Zweigelt-based red fermented on skins for around three weeks, aged in used oak barrels for 10–12 months.
Sauvignon Blanc “Relativ Fumé”: Fermented and matured in French oak, with 12 months of lees aging and minimal intervention, offering subtle smoky and mineral tones.
Pinot Noir: From old-vine loess parcels, whole-cluster foot-trodden, macerated for three weeks, and aged in partly new oak for one year.
Each cuvée reflects Kamptal’s cool climate and mineral tension, favoring freshness, balance, and textural nuance over opulence.
Production & Analytical Profile
Annual production: Approx. 8,000–10,000 bottles.
Farming system: Organic and low-input; no irrigation.
Fermentation: 100% wild yeast.
Lees aging: Typically 8–12 months.
Average alcohol: 12.0–13.0% vol.
Total acidity: 5.5–6.5 g/L (as tartaric).
pH: 3.2–3.4 (depending on vintage).
Philosophy & Vision
Ulrike and Robert view the vineyard as a living system where every element — soil, plant, microorganism, and human — contributes to the final wine. Their guiding principle is “precision through simplicity”: understanding complex interactions in the field but practicing restraint in the cellar.
The duo works primarily by hand, relying on intuition and scientific observation in equal measure. Their wines are meant to be honest representations of Kamptal — vibrant, textural, and mineral, bridging scientific curiosity with deep agricultural respect.