Grüner Veltliner Gottschelle Erste Lage from Stift Göttweig was recently named “Wine of the Year Austria” at the 2025 Sommeliers Choice Awards, a recognition that speaks as much to the strength of the site as to the wine itself. Tucked into the loess-rich slopes of Kamptal, the Gottschelle vineyard consistently produces Grüner with energy, depth, and precision. This vintage, shaped by meticulous vineyard work and a light hand in the cellar, balances texture and tension in a way that resonates further than its origin. For Franz-Josef Gansberger and the team, the award is beyond a milestone; it is a moment to share their story with a broader, international audience.

Congratulations on taking home “Wine of the Year Austria” at the Sommeliers Choice Awards 2025 for your Grüner Veltliner Gottschelle Erste Lage. What does this international recognition mean for your team at Stift Göttweig, and how do you plan to leverage this accolade in key export markets?

We are truly honored by this recognition. Winning “Wine of the Year Austria” at such a respected international competition is both humbling and motivating. For our entire team at Stift Göttweig, from the vineyard workers to the cellar crew, it’s a validation of our commitment to quality and our trust in the Gottschelle site. Internationally, this award gives us a powerful story to tell. In key export markets like the U.S., Canada, and parts of Asia, it allows us to open doors, reach new sommeliers and buyers, and deepen our relationships with existing partners. We’re already working on campaigns that highlight the accolade in sales materials and tastings.

Image: Grüner Veltliner Gottschelle Erste Lage won “Wine of the Year Austria” at the Sommeliers Choice Awards 2025.

The Gottschelle vineyard, classified as “Erste Lage” by the Österreichische Traditionsweingüter, is one of the Kamptal’s most prized sites. What unique characteristics of this Ried — soil, exposition, microclimate — do you feel are captured in this vintage, and how does this wine represent the very essence of Grüner Veltliner from Kamptal?

Ried Gottschelle is a gently south-facing slope with deep loess soils, which provide both warmth and water retention — ideal for Grüner Veltliner. The microclimate benefits from cool nighttime temperatures, which help preserve aromatic freshness and natural acidity. In this vintage, we see the hallmark traits of Gottschelle: ripe citrus, subtle herbal spice, and a creamy yet mineral-driven palate. It’s a textbook example of what Grüner Veltliner from Kamptal can be when site and season harmonize.

Image: (Left) Gottschelle vineyard, and (Right) Fritz Miesbauer, Managing Director of Weingut Stift Göttweig.

The tasting note highlights aromas of watercress, lime, white flowers, and a racy acidity with mineral tension. Could you walk us through the winemaking philosophy behind this wine? Was it a hands-off approach in the cellar to let the site speak, or are there particular techniques you use to shape that texture and aromatic precision?

Our approach is very much focused on allowing the site to express itself. We harvest selectively by hand, ensuring only the most balanced grapes make it into the press. Fermentation is done spontaneously with native yeasts in stainless steel, and we avoid excessive stirring or intervention. A short period on the fine lees adds texture without masking the site’s clarity. We believe in precision, not manipulation — and this wine is a direct reflection of that belief.

The wine is imported into the U.S. by Veritable Wines & Estates. Could you share more about your current distribution footprint there? Are you already in key restaurant programs or premium retail chains? Which markets are showing the most growth or interest?

Yes, Veritable has been a fantastic partner in introducing our wines to thoughtful placements across the U.S. We’re currently present in premium restaurants in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Boston, as well as select boutique retailers. Growth is particularly strong in the Northeast and parts of the Pacific Northwest, where sommeliers are embracing Grüner Veltliner’s food versatility. We’re also seeing interest grow in Texas and Florida, where consumers are seeking fresher, elegant whites.

Image: Kira Scholz & Marc Pohl from Veritable Wines & Estates KG with Franz-Josef Gansberger from Weingut Stift Göttweig at Prowein 2025.

Beyond the U.S., where else internationally are you seeing momentum, perhaps in Scandinavia, Asia, or the UK? Are there markets you’re actively looking to grow in the next 12–18 months?

Scandinavia continues to be a stronghold, especially Sweden and Norway, where consumers appreciate purity and organic farming. The UK is regaining momentum post-pandemic, especially among independent wine merchants and sommelier-led lists. In Asia, Japan remains a reliable market, and we’re investing in growing our presence in South Korea and Singapore. Over the next year, we’re also eyeing Canada and Australia for strategic expansion.

What kind of support or activities do you undertake to help your importers and distributors move stock effectively — staff training, sommelier dinners, POS materials, in-market visits?

Absolutely — we see ourselves as partners, not just suppliers. We regularly conduct staff trainings, offer detailed tasting sheets and vineyard maps, and provide storytelling materials that help communicate the unique value of “Erste Lage.” In-market visits are key, and we’re often on the road for trade tastings, winemaker dinners, and masterclasses. We also co-host sommelier events and make ourselves available for virtual trainings when needed. 

Image: Franz-Josef Gansberger alias “Goose“ with Master Sommeliers at Weingut Stift Göttweig.

As someone constantly on the road and immersed in the hospitality world, how do you approach customer care and education, especially when introducing a wine like this to new audiences unfamiliar with Austrian classifications like “Erste Lage”?

Education is everything — and we always begin with context. We explain “Erste Lage” not as a marketing term but as a classification based on strict criteria, similar to Premier Cru in Burgundy. We emphasize the work of the Österreichische Traditionsweingüter and the years of research behind these sites. But we also focus on taste: we let the wine speak, and once sommeliers taste Gottschelle, the quality often sells itself. We love showing older vintages side by side to demonstrate longevity and site expression.

What steps does Stift Göttweig take in the vineyard and cellar to ensure environmental stewardship and long-term quality? Are there certifications, practices, or philosophies you'd like to highlight?

Sustainability is a core value for us. We farm our vineyards according to sustainable principles, with a strong focus on biodiversity, soil health, and minimal intervention. Cover crops, hand work, and low-input viticulture are standard. In the cellar, we avoid additives and unnecessary technology. We’re certified as Sustainable Austria. For us, quality and sustainability go hand in hand.

Image: Sustainable Austria certification - (Left) Weingut Stift Göttweig, and (Right) Vineyard workers.

Finally, beyond the medal and the score, what’s something truly special or personal about this wine, the vintage, the team behind it, or even a moment in its creation, that you'd want sommeliers and wine lovers around the world to know?

There was a moment during the harvest of this vintage — just after sunrise, cool fog still hanging over Gottschelle — when we tasted the first grapes coming in. The balance was extraordinary: bright acidity, dense fruit, and this calm precision that gave us chills. Everyone on the team felt it. That energy stayed with us through the entire vinification. So beyond scores and medals, this wine is a memory — of light, soil, and shared passion. And we hope you can taste that in every glass.

Conclusion:

What sets Stift Göttweig apart is not just its accolades, but the way it uses them, as tools to educate, connect, and inspire. Whether hosting trainings in New York or pouring vintages side-by-side in Oslo, Gansberger’s approach is anchored in partnership and clarity. The Gottschelle doesn’t ask to be sold, it invites to be understood. As this wine finds its way onto more lists and into more glasses, it carries a clear message: the Gottschelle is just getting started.

Header Image: (Left) Franz-Josef Gansberger alias „Goose“ and (Right) Fritz Miesbauer, Winegrower and Cellarmaster.

In conversation with Malvika Patel, Editor and VP, Beverage Trade Network

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