The winery is located in the municipality of Ruppersthal in the Lower Austrian wine-growing region of Wagram. It was already mentioned in documents in the 17th century under Joseph Hanauer. For a century, it has been run by the Strell family as a family business. Today, the farm is run by Christoph Strell. The winemaker's motto is: "Wine combines art and culture, precious in the truest sense of the word".
The vineyards are cultivated according to the certified rules of organic viticulture with the aim of sustainability. This includes, among other things, the renunciation of herbicides, insecticides and synthetic fertilisers. In order to preserve biodiversity (species diversity), plant pests are controlled using the confusion method. Between the rows of vines, there is a year-round cover crop with over 20 different plants. The vineyards cover about six hectares in the Mordthal and Steinberg vineyards. They are planted with the white wine varieties Grüner Veltliner, Roter Veltliner, Pinot Blanc, Gelber Muskateller, Welschriesling and Rivaner (Müller-Thurgau), as well as with the red wine variety Zweigelt. In order to increase quality, the yield is reduced to a maximum of 3,000 kg/hectare and less. After the strictly controlled conversion phase of three years, certified organic wine will be produced for the first time from the 2021 vintage.
With regard to vinification in the natural cellar located 10 metres below ground, a non-invasive principle with as few interventions as possible applies. Among other things, no animal fining agents are used. In principle, fermentation takes place spontaneously with the vineyard's and cellar's own yeasts. Depending on the type of wine, the wines are matured in stainless steel tanks or in barriques according to their origin or terroir. They are also suitable for vegans. The product range includes, among others, the "Grüner Veltliner Ried Mordthal Alte Reben" (Grüner Veltliner Ried Mordthal Old Vines) from vines over 50 years old (also as a reserve with six months on the full lees), the white wine cuvée "Mammut" (Rivaner 40%, Grüner Veltliner 25%, Roter Veltliner 20%, Pinot Blanc 10%, Muskateller 5%) named after a mammoth find in Mordthal, two Zweigelt red wines (one stainless steel, one barrique) as well as a Pét Nat (naturally sparkling wine) and an Orange Wine.
The "Cuvée Pleyel" vintage 2018, named after the Austrian composer and piano maker Ignaz Pleyel (1757-1831) who was born in the village of Ruppersthal, was bottled for the first time at the end of August 2019 in cooperation with the International Ignaz Joseph Pleyel Society (IPG) (Rivaner 65%, Welschriesling 30%, Pinot Blanc 5%). The winery and the IPG are members of the Wagram Wine Route Association.
