Riede (site) in the municipality of Zöbing-Langenlois in the Lower Austrian wine-growing region of Kamptal. The "Zöbinger Heiligenstein" is a viticultural landmark of the Kamptal and was already mentioned in a monastic register in 1280 as "Hellenstein" (Höllenstein). It is a closed nature reserve. Between the vineyards there are dry grassland areas strictly protected by nature with a flora and fauna otherwise only found in far more southern, Mediterranean regions. Geographically, the Heiligenstein is a 360-metre-high mountain peak of the southern Manhartsberg, which is predominantly forested and only planted with vines on the southern slope. The name is derived from the "infernal sun" that burns down on this mountain and causes a hot, dry microclimate. It therefore has no religious or ecclesiastical background. The shell-shaped basin, which is open to the south, creates a special microclimate. During the day the vines warm up due to the intense sunlight and at night they cool down due to the winds from the higher situated Waldviertel. This promotes the fruit aromas.
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For my many years of work as an editor with a wine and culinary focus, I always like to inform myself about special questions at Wine lexicon. Spontaneous reading and following links often leads to exciting discoveries in the wide world of wine.
Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien