THE DESIRED EYE CONTACT with winemaker Fred Loimer (Kamptal)

Fred Loimer is a winemaker of class - energetic, charismatic, and he does one of the best wines of Austria. He is used to great attention, both from journalists and wine enthusiasts, who are always willing to taste from the holy grail, go down in the cellar or just, say, make an exclusive eye contact. That gives reason to their wine pilgrimage.

He was first in the region, to build a modern winery in the middle of the vineyards in 2000. Fred is an ambitious person, a revolutionary, a pioneer, but with a sense of luxury, elegance and understanding of traditions. He does not deny the past, he just deals with it in a contemporary manner.

On a beautiful October morning a steady road takes us out of Langenlois, up to one of his many vineyards. Loiserberg is one of the last to harvest, picturesque and Fred's favorite one - overlooking the whole Kamptal region. We arrive first and have a little chat with his loyal harvest manager, who passionately shares the winemaker's ideas.

Mr Fred Loimer stops his car by the vineyard and comes over to greet us. With a wide smile on his face he looks around and says, “We have been busy in the winery since early morning, and I have 30 minutes to show you around. Where shall we start?”

Q&A WITH FRED LOIMER

What's your first memory of being in a vineyard?

My first memory is about hard work that has to be done, weed that have to be pulled out and joy when the tasks have been finished. With a tractor came my joyous days.

Has winemaking always been your dream job?

Yes. Once you are born in a winemaker's family you stick with that.

Which process of winemaking do you enjoy the most?

Harvest.

Which is the hardest part of a harvest?

It's the time frame. The importance of decisions I have to make - when to pick the grapes, when to press and so one. A mistake can not be made.

Can you imagine 10 years from now?

I hope there will be greater clarity about organic winemaking.

Does your winery and label design reflect the wine you make?

So they say. Our vines have no “make-up”. They are pure and dry, and our architecture is just the same.

Have you ever had a role model?

Not really. Everything is in a constant movement. Someone who might have inspired me yesterday, will be of no interest to me tomorrow. I better don't look for role models.

What do you drink if it is not wine?

Beer.

What's the strangest word you've heard or used to describe your wine?

Sometimes during a tasting I have heard such discriptional words, I would not really pronounce out loud now. But let's say “not expected” could be my answer.

If you’d put your own wine in a line up. What’s the company?

(see the “postcard”)