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Dinstlgut

Large historic winery and winegrowers' cooperative in the municipality of Loiben in the Lower Austrian winegrowing region of Wachau on the left bank of the Danube. In the more than 1000 years of its development, it has made a significant contribution to Austrian wine history and wine culture. It is one of the oldest wineries in Austria and the world. The beginnings date back to the year 860, when King Ludwig the German (804-876) donated the "Liupna" estate (today's Oberloiben) to the Salzburg church. The estate subsequently became the centre of colonisation and reclamation in the area. In 1002, King Henry II (973-1024) gifted the Tegernsee monastery "two hooves in the east in the village of Liupna", which led to the planting of new vineyards in Unterloiben and the construction of a large farmstead (later the Dinstlgut and vicarage), cellars and a press house. By the 18th century, the estate had expanded to include the Supperin, Oberhauser and Schütt vineyards. The properties in Oberloiben and Unterloiben remained the property of the church until 1802, when it was briefly administered by the Nikolaihof in Mautern as an Imperial and Royal State Vineyard and then became the property of the count.

Dinstlgut - Gebäude

Dr Ferdinand Dinstl

Dr Ferdinand Dinstl (Krems member of the Frankfurt parliament in 1849 and mayor of Krems) inherited the estate in 1832 and united the main parts of the former Salzburg and Tegernsee church estates. He became a promoter of viticulture in Loibn, introduced a quality-orientated cellar management and managed the estate according to cooperative principles. There were strict harvesting rules for the grape growers regarding the order of delivery from the individual vineyards. The vintners had to provide the crockery themselves and label it with their name. Mash from two vineyards was not allowed to be poured into one vat, even if the vintner worked both. Cutting grapes for personal use was only permitted with authorisation. The harvest often lasted well into November. The price of the grapes or mash depended on the quality and the vineyards divided into classes.

Dinstlgut - Felsenkeller

Mildew & phylloxera

In 1882, Dinstl cultivated 25 hectares of vineyards, the rest was leased. At the turn of the century, downy mildew appeared, as it did throughout Austria, causing greater damage here than phylloxera would later do. From 1920 to 1930, the vineyards were converted to phylloxera-resistant rootstocks. When renewing the vineyards, only quality grape varieties such as Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Neuburger and Muskat-Ottonel were planted, and the Loibner model farm was a pioneer in this respect. After the death of Ferdinand Dinstl in 1913, his sister Hedwig took over the estate and managed almost all the vineyards herself without leasing them out. The Dinstl era ended with her death in 1930; there were no heirs.

Co-operative and closure

The estate, with 26 hectares of farmland and 23 hectares of vineyards, was bought at auction by a newly founded co-operative of 42 innovative winegrowers for 380,000 schillings (just under 28,000 euros). After a chequered history with a steady rise, the Second World War caused major setbacks that made reconstruction necessary. Today, the catchment area of the "Winzergenossenschaft Dinstlgut Loiben" includes communities mainly from the Wachau and Kremstal wine-growing regions. Around 350 members cultivate a total of 232 hectares of vineyards, for example in the Pfaffenberg (Krems), Dinstlgarten, Loibenberg and Schütt vineyards (all in Loiben). The Grüner Veltliner and Riesling varieties were recommended to members for planting. Centralised pressing, vinification, bottling and marketing took place in Loiben. The wines and wine accessories could be purchased in the rock cellar next to the winery. The tradition-steeped business ran into increasing difficulties and was then closed at the end of 2006.

Building: NÖN
Rock cellar: Beyond Arts

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