Willi is Daniel Schweizer’s red flagship wine. It is named after Willi, a Black Forest Draft Horse that has been working in the vineyard for years. The "Willi" was vinified from Lemberger (known as Blaufränkisch in Austria), a variety that certainly does not leave anyone cold. It proves that this grape can deliver brilliant results not only in Burgenland and Styria but also in Stetten am Heuchelberg. There, Daniel Schweizer creates the perfect conditions for excellent wines with his biodynamic approach in the vineyard and a no-intervention philosophy in the cellar.
The vines, rooted in yellow sandstone, are meticulously cultivated by hand and, of course, manually harvested. In the cellar, the grapes undergo fermentation without temperature control and remain in contact with the wine for over a month. The wine is aged for a year and a half in used 500-liter wooden barrels. Bottled unfiltered and without added sulfur, Willi combines juicy spice with aromas suggesting dark fruit, earth, and forest. It has depth, grip, and energy, appearing focused, compact, and elegant on the palate.
Technical Data
Grape variety: Lemberger (Blaufränkisch)
Vineyard: Yellow sandstone
Harvest: By hand
Fermentation: Spontaneous | Wild yeasts, no temperature control, 32 days on the skins
Aging: In 500-liter barrels, 18 months on full lees
Filtration: No
SO₂: No added sulfur
Alcohol content: 12.5% vol.
Closure: Natural cork
Serving temperature: 16-18°C
Optimal drinking window: Now – 2028
Volume & price per liter: 0.75 l (€32.37/l)
Philosophy
All winemakers listed at Vinonudo work with compost, organic fertilizers, and natural preparations in their vineyards, strictly avoiding herbicides, pesticides, and synthetic fertilizers.
