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Johannes Gross represents the fifth generation making wine in the picturesque and hilly area of Südstiermark, nestled between the Alps and the Adriatic, and adjacent to Slovenia.
The history of Weingut Gross goes back to the 18th century when Johannes’ ancestors were farmers in Ratsch, in the heart of Südstiermark. in 1907, Heinrich Gross acquired a few parcels of vines, though the modern history of the estate began in the 1980s, when Alois Gross focused on producing superior wine. At the time, Austria was in turmoil with the much publicised wine scandal. A visionary, Alois is considered the pioneer of quality winemaking in the region.
Later, in 2006, Johannes was in his twenties when he joined his father, who soon after gave him full responsibility to run the vineyards and the winemaking. Johannes had not studied viticulture or winemaking, but he had gained much of his know-how by working in the vineyards and the cellar alongside his father, as well as travelling to numerous wine regions around the world. His younger brother Michael also returned to the family estate and, together, they brought the winery to new heights.
Their reputed sites (also called Rieden), such as Nussberg, Perz, or Sulz benefit from the Alpine-Mediterranean climate and their altitude can reach up to 450 meters. These vineyards are characterised by vertiginous slopes, as steep as 85%, making it nearly impossible to farm mechanically. Here, the ecosystem is very well preserved, in an amphitheatre of vines surrounded by meadows and forests.
The soils are highly diverse, depending on the vineyard site (sand and gravel, shell limestone, marl, or soils of Volcanic origin) giving an unmistakeable character to the wines. They specifically grow white grape varieties such as Pinot Blanc, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Sauvignon Blanc, and the Slovenian Furmint. Vinification is entirely focused on the different terroirs. The grapes are hand-picked and each plot is vinified separately in the modern cellar complete with a battery of stainless steel tanks and large oak vats.
Michael left the estate in 2011 to oversee Vino Gross, the family vineyards in Slovenia, although the brothers consult each other on a regular basis.
Today, Johannes is producing wines that are classy with lovely freshness and minerality. The tension and precision are the hallmarks of all the wines crafted at Weingut Gross.