WHAT IS KREMSTAL? AUSTRIA'S MOST EXCITING WINE REGION

Kremstal is not a name most UK wine drinkers know. But it should be. This small, jewel-like wine region in Lower Austria produces some of the most precise, mineral-driven wines in the world — and it is the home of the Hoch family, who have been farming there since the 1640s.

WHERE IS KREMSTAL?

Kremstal is a wine region in Lower Austria, situated on both sides of the Krems river where it meets the Danube. It sits east of the Wachau — Austria's most famous wine region — and shares much of the same geology and climate.

The region covers around 2,400 hectares of vineyards, concentrated around the historic city of Krems. It is a relatively small region by European standards — which is part of why its wines retain such character and individuality.

WHAT MAKES KREMSTAL SPECIAL?

Kremstal's geology is its secret weapon. The vineyards sit on ancient riverbed sediment — compressed over thousands of years from where the Krems and Danube rivers once met. This creates two distinct soil types: löss (loess) in the flatter areas, which produces rounder, more generous wines; and crystalline rock and primary rock on the terraced slopes, which gives the wines their characteristic mineral precision.

The climate is continental — cold winters, warm summers, and significant temperature swings between day and night. This diurnal variation is crucial for preserving natural acidity and developing complex aromatics in the grapes.

THE HOCH FAMILY IN KREMSTAL

The Hoch family have farmed in Hollenburg in the Kremstal region since the 1640s. For the past 20 years they have farmed entirely biodynamically. Their four wines in the Loco range — PROST!, Rizzling, The Groover, and Left on Red — all reflect the mineral character and freshness that defines Kremstal at its best. Available at locowines.co.uk.