The wine and experience|world in Austria's largest winegrowing community Langenlois in the Kamptal was opened on 20 September 2003. The idea for the LOISIUM came from the three Langenlois families Haimerl, Steininger and Nidetzky. They also made parts of their cellar corridors, up to several hundred metres long, available. The LOISIUM is divided into an above-ground area at ground level and an underground area. The above-ground area consists of a futuristic 13-metre-high building in the form of a cube. This stands on the property of the Steininger Karl winery in the middle of the vineyards. The outer skin is made of a shiny aluminium alloy. It was designed as a visitor centre and planned and built by the American architect Steven Holl. It houses a Vinothek Niederösterreich (Lower Austria Wine Shop) as well as a sparkling wine shop at "ex farm prices", offering around 200 wines and 25 sparkling wines from many vintners from the eight Lower Austrian wine-growing regions. Over 50 wines are available for tasting.
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Egon Mark
Diplom-Sommelier, Weinakademiker und Weinberater, Volders (Österreich)