Alois Kracher’s passion for his vines was irrepressible, learned from his father and passed on with fervor to his son Gerhard. Unsuspecting guests of their winery are often hijacked to the vineyards for vine by vine tours, during which they animatedly point out subtle graduations in the terrain which make all the difference between Kracher vineyards and those of his neighbors. Small, undulating crests in the topography give a great advantage to the vines in this sandy, often water-soaked terrain. The vitality of Kracher’s vines is obvious; the leaves are richly colored and the stalks thick and strong, resulting in fruit offering complex layers of flavor. The estate today is comprised of about 26 hectares (about 65 acres) tended by Alois Kracher, Sr. and planted with traditional Austrian varieties. Alois Kracher, in his tragically brief lifetime, achieved recognition as one of the greatest dessert wine makers in the world, and his son Gerhard continues to hold high the standard of the winery. New projects include exploration of the heirloom variety Muscat Rosa, which debuts in the TBA Collection 2006.
