Claus Preisinger "Puszta Blanca" 2024

Press 4 White • Direct Press Selection August 2025

Claus was destined to be a winemaker, growing up the son of a winemaker on the shores of Lake Neusiedl in the wine region of Burgenland, Austria. After studying at the Higher Federal Institute for Viticulture and Winegrowing in Klosterneuburg he set out for a few years to gain experience around the globe, after which he came back to his native Austria where he worked next to Hans Nittnaus, in the village of Gols.

During his time with Nittnaus, Claus started making his own wines at his parents’ winery crystalizing his style and vision. Claus eventually took over and expanded his family’s estate focusing primarily on local grape varieties. His estate has been certified Biodynamic since 2006 by Respekt Biodyn, a well known biodynamic label in Germany and Austria.

Claus eschews the use of any cultivated yeast, and only uses small or zero doses of sulfur. He chooses to age many of his wines in amphora instead of wooden barrels to narrow winemaking down to the essentials of the grape and the soil.

 The Puszta Blanca is a blend of 60% Grüner Veltliner, 35% Weissburgunder
(Pinot Blanc), 5% Muscat Ottonel spontaneously fermented in stainless steel with 7 days of skin contact. The nose is full of preserved lemon, honeysuckle, ginger chews, pomelo, yellow grapefruit, and pineapple. The palate echos all the same high toned fruit with a serious mineral and saline structure inducing a strong thirst to be quenched. Drink with sun, friends and no one here would judge you for pouring this on ice.   Jeremy Hernandez