NEW Biodynamic wines at the Co-op
by James Robinson, Food Co-op Sommelier
Every once in a while, a wine comes along that hits all the right notes – organic grapes, low or no sulphites, biodynamic vineyard management, family farmed and independently operated. It should go without saying that it isn’t enough to tick off the boxes, the wine must also be delicious and well crafted. With the arrival of the Meinklang shipment last week, it wasn’t just one wine that ticked off all those boxes, but six. And better than that, Meinklang is not just one wine, it’s a winery, a family farm, a vision, a philosophy and a lifestyle, with a portfolio of numerous wines that reflect a deep reverence for the land and a commitment to producing quality wines that hum with an electricity only achieved when love, passion and excellence are applied in equal measure.
The Meinklang farm lies on the eastern shores of Lake Neusiedlersee adjacent to the Austrian World Heritage Site, National Park Neusiedlersee. With the ardent application of biodynamic principles, the farm functions much like an organism, relying not only on the people, but also on the local herd of Angus cows which contribute in an essential way with their natural and invaluable fertilizer. The Angus cow is featured prominently on the Meinklang label. The farm’s diversity is further enriched by the cultivation of ancient grains such as spelt, farro and Einkorn wheat, as well as with fruit orchards, vegetable gardens, meadows of wild herbs and flowers. Given the pedigree and principles driving the winery, the Food Co-op is proud to feature Meinklang wines on its shelves.
In recent years, Meinklang wines have been excruciatingly painful to find, being highly allocated to boutique bottle shops or farm to table restaurants and imported in extremely limited quantities. The Co-Op’s fortunes have changed however, and we now enjoy a solid relationship with one of Meinklang’s key importers. What this means for Co-op shoppers is that Meinklang wines should sit safely on our shelves for months to come.
Currently, the Co-op offers Meinklang’s entry level red and orange wines – the Weißer Mulatschak and the Roter Mulatschak; Prosa, a dry, frizzante pinot noir; Vulkan, a mid-tier white, and two of Meinklang’s flagship white and red wines -- the Konkret White and Nacht.
Beyond what is currently shelved, Co-op shoppers, through the special order process, have access to nearly a dozen other bottlings – including Meinklang’s basic daily drinkers, Burgenland white and Burgenland red, among many others. All Meinklang wines contain little to zero sulphur, and are Demeter certified.
If you’re looking for wines that possess freshness and vitality, contain little to no sulphites, deliver delicious character with a distinct sense of place, then look no further, there’s a Meinklang wine waiting for you. See you in Aisle 5.
