Producer Profiles: Kathrin Schreiner of Sonnenmulde Winery, Austria
This June, we’re delighted to welcome back Kathrin Schreiner, joining us once again from Austria. York Wines has been working with Kathrin since 2023 and we stock a large collection of wines from the Sonnenmulde winery. Ahead of her visit, we caught up with Kathrin about her experience in the winemaking industry, her work at Sonnenmulde Winery, and her insights into Austrian winemaking more broadly. Here’s what she had to say...
So Kathrin, how did you get into the wine industry?
Having grown up in a family of winemakers, I’ve always had a keen interest in viticulture. Even as a child, I would often go to help out; the grape harvest, in particular, was always a very exciting and a wonderful time. So for me it was natural that this interest eventually led me and my brother, Andreas, to decide to take over our parents’ organic winery.
And how have different generations of your family changed (or protected) the philosophy of the winery?
I would say my brother and I, as did all the other generations before us, went with the time. For us, awareness of tradition and affinity with nature are very important in wine production. But we certainly do not refuse new ideas by default. Not every tradition is good simply because things have always been done this way, just as not every new trend is a smart thing to follow. Finding the right balance here is the art!
We currently stock 11 of your wines. Can you tell us a bit about them?
Excellent soils and the best climatic conditions are the foundation on which we grow our wines. We focus on fruity, clear and typical wines, which especially reflect the climate and the character of the soil. All wines are developed vegan.
We focus on typical Austrian grape varieties as, for example, Grüner Veltliner, Welschriesling, Riesling, Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt and St. Laurent. Some of these grape varieties are found almost exclusively in Austria. Of course, we also grow internationally renowned varieties in family-owned vineyards, such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc. As you can see, we have a relatively large selection of wines, which is typical in Austria. The great thing about this is that it allows us to showcase how the different wines grow and taste here at Lake Neusiedl.
We love your wines, but we also love your labels! These seem to feature animals and plants from the vineyard- can you share the story behind them?
For us it is important to show that, in an organic vineyard, there is more than just wine. There are animals, flowers, so there is life. Native animals and plants, which are at home in our organic vineyards, represent our wines on the label. Each symbol shares a special characteristic or a little story with the wine it stands for. And every bottle of our wines helps to get the word out that there is much more than just vines in an organic vineyard.
What would you say makes your vineyard unique?
We work very well as a family and all family members have the same idea of where we want to go with our wines and what the plans for the future are.
Moreover, everyone in our family is very open to new ideas, so you never know what will come next, whether in terms of new types of wine, new grape varieties, or other products.
You’ve been organic since the mid-2000s. What pushed you to make that transition? Have there been any challenges?
Organic wines are just as good in terms of quality, and often have a more intense flavour profile than conventional wines. For us, running the winery organically simply made more sense. Everything revolves around the formation of a diverse ecosystem, in place of a barren monoculture. Soil revitalisation through green manure and compost provides all of the nutrients that the vines need, entirely without chemicals or artificial fertilizers. Many useful insects find their ideal habitat in an organic vineyard, keeping pests in check and attracting larger animals like birds and mammals. A vital environment leads to healthy and strong vines that grow the very best grapes, full of sweetness, aroma, and perfectly natural of course.
How has climate change impacted your vineyard?
We can see that the harvest time has moved forward a lot. When I was a child we generally started harvesting in the beginning of October. However, now, as the winter is not as cold anymore and there is less rain, you can never tell. Sometimes we start harvesting as early as around the 20th August, sometimes in the beginning of September. But never later than mid-September anymore.
How do you see Austrian wine evolving internationally in the next 10–20 years?
Austrian wines are of a very high quality and make excellent accompaniments to food. Austrian wines are now also highly regarded internationally. I believe this trend will continue and that Austrian wine will become even better known and more popular with consumers in the coming years.
And how about you? Do you have any new ventures or plans for the future of your business?
We just introduced our new aromatic grape juices, our Weiße Traube and Rote Traube, as well as our Just Six sparkling cocktail. We will see how we go from there.
Thanks for taking the time to chat to us and we look forward to seeing you at the shop on 11th June!
Meet Kathrin in person at these exciting events!
York Wines on Tour
Enjoy a curated selection of elegant wines, hear the stories behind them, and experience the character and craftsmanship of Austria’s vineyards firsthand.
Location: Sheriff Hutton Village Hall
Date: Thursday 11th June
Time: 7:00pm – 9:30pm
What’s Included:
A glass of sparkling wine on arrival
A guided tasting of at least 5 wines
Food platters
The Cooks Place, Malton
Join us for a very special evening at The Cook's Place where Kathrin and Alex will use their vast experience and knowledge to guide you through a wine-tasting, giving insight into each wine, how it is produced, and how to get the most out of its flavour.
Gilly will create 4 plates of food to pair with the featured wines, and show how careful selection of both food and wine can enhance the flavour of each.
There will be a chance on the evening to order the wines featured.
Location: The Cooks Place Malton
Date: Friday 12th June
Time: 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Meet and Greet in Store
Visit us in store Thursday or Friday during regular opening hours for a chance to meet Kathrin at the shop.
