Wine from Grassnitzberg in south . Soils of sea sand with shell limestone set the tone. The brothers Christian and Thomas Polz convey this in their wines, and enliven it with their own personal touch. The results are exquisite Sauvignons and Muscatels with great aging potential. September, 2020

CONTENTS

The Primus Winery ...... 3 The Brothers Christian & Thomas Polz...... 5 Primus-Christian Polz | Cellar Master...... 5 Primus-Thomas Polz | Viticulturist ...... 5 South Styria ...... 7 1. The South-Styrian Climate ...... 8 2. The South-Styrian Soils ...... 9 The South-Styrian Wine Quality Pyramid...... 10 DAC South Styria ...... 11 ...... 12 The Primus Soils and Vineyards ...... 13 1. Ried Grassnitzberg ...... 13 2. Zieregg ...... 14 3. Ciringa (Zieregg) ...... 14 4. Kresnica (Hochgrassnitzberg) ...... 15 Varieties & Varietal Makeup ...... 16 Our Buschenschank (wine tavern) ...... 18 Accomodation at the Winery...... 18 Our Trading Partners ...... 19 ...... Fehler! Textmarke nicht definiert. Export...... 19 Mentions & Ratings ...... 20 Contact ...... 22 Press Contact ...... 22

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THE PRIMUS WINERY

“Just like our wines, we ourselves are deeply rooted in this region. We would like to convey this down-to-earth nature, this groundedness and handmade character in our wines.“ Christian & Thomas Polz

The brothers Christian and Thomas Polz have been running their sixteen-and-a-half-hectare estate in Graßnitzberg, southern Styria since 1998. Then just eighteen and twenty-three years old, they took over the business due to the early death of their father. From the beginning, their responsibilities were clearly divided: cellar master Christian Polz takes care of the development of the wines, and viticulturist Thomas Polz is responsible for the vineyards and the marketing. Many tasks are intertwined, and that is a good thing. These brothers work hand in hand, especially when it comes to winemaking. They would like to keep the winery at its current size in order to remain true to their manual, hands-on working methods. In this respect, they are not striving for further growth.

The estate received its current name in 1985, when it was converted into a winery with three hectares of vineyards and an attached wine shop. Martha and Primus Polz, the parents of the Polz brothers and the owners and at that time, acquired another nine and a half hectares of vineyard in their region and four more in the "Lower Styria" wine region in nearby Slovenia over the following years. The reasons for this acquisition were the excellent locations, the optimal orientation of these vineyards, and their geographical proximity. The best argument, however, was the predominant shell limestone and Opok1 (calcereous marl) soils. These sites offer excellent characteristics for great wines, and are located both on the Slovenian side of the Hochgrassnitzberg mountain (Kresnica), and on the Zieregg side, (Ciringa).

The soils in our Styrian vineyards consist mainly of tertiary sea sands with a weathered shell limestone subsoil, and medium to deep calcareous and loamy shell limestone soils with an adequate water supply.

1 Gray marl (a mixture of limestone and loam)

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A Short History

"Since 1884" is written at the top of the winery's labels. That’s when Anton Polz, the great-great- grandfather of current winemakers Christian and Thomas Polz, acquired a mixed-use agricultural operation that was common at that time. For many years, wine was only one of several sources of income alongside cattle breeding and crop cultivation, as well as a shop in the middle of the village. In 1931, Anton Polz skipped direct succession and handed over the business to his grandson Johann Polz, who continued to run it as a mixed farm. The son of Anton Polz, Johann Polz senior, had married a neighboring winemaker in his second marriage and founded the Polz Winery together with their son Reinhold.

The Winery’s Founder. Primus Polz, the son of Johann Polz junior, took over the farm together with his wife Martha Polz in 1985. He had graduated from the viticulture school in Silberberg, and decided to become a winemaker. One hectare of vineyards was already part of the agricultural estate, and Primus planted two more. The couple decided to create a purely winemaking operation and named it Primus Polz Winery. At the same time they founded a wine shop and built a rustic wine tavern (a Buschenschank) with guest rooms in a 450-year-old house on the estate. Primus Polz died in 1998.

In 1998 the still very young brothers Christian and Thomas Primus took over the winery, renaming it Primus Winery, and over the years they have made it into one of the leading wineries in southern Styria. Some of the wines from their Slovenian vineyards are still marketed under the name Primus Polz.

Management of the Buschenschank is still in the hands of Martha Polz, a hostess and innkeeper for the love of it. This enthusiasm is shared by Elisabeth Polz, the sister of Christian and Thomas, which is why she returned home after completing her apprenticeship as a commercial clerk and joined the Buschenschank business.

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THE BROTHERS CHRISTIAN & THOMAS POLZ

Actually, everything was planned quite differently. The brothers were still at school, and wanted to travel and to see the world. The early death of their father brought them back home to the winery unexpectedly. The decision to simply run the winery together did not require any thought – even though they lacked practical experience in winemaking. Learning by doing was the order of the day. Today they are well on the right track, even if the brothers still think they still have a way to go.

They make decisions together, but in the meantime they have clearly structured and allocated their own areas of responsibility.

Primus-Christian Polz | Cellar Master

Christian Polz, born in 1979, graduated from the winemaking school in Klosterneuburg. After receiving his diploma, he went to South Africa for an internship at the Rust en Vrede Winery. Upon returning to his family’s winery, he took over the position of cellar master at the age of 19, and had to fill this role very quickly to ensure the economic success of the business. His support came above all from his family.

In the cellar, he attaches particular importance to bringing the soil to life in the wine. This requires as little intervention as possible, and more a careful accompaniment rather than targeted shaping in a desired (flavor) direction. Maturation time is another important factor in the cellar. Even wines that are to be drunk fresh and young should also be allowed to rest before they are sold. Even before the introduction of the Styrian wine quality pyramid, their single-site vineyard wines were only brought to market in the autumn of the year following their harvest.

“I want to produce fine, nuanced wines with character and longevity. They should convey their origin and our particular South-Styrian limestone soils.“ Christian Polz

Primus-Thomas Polz | Viticulturist

Thomas Polz had to join the company in 1998, directly after graduating from business school in Graz. Originally, winemaking had not been his goal, but life does not always take an individual’s wishes into account. After several years of autodidactic study, he decided to train as a master winemaker at the viticulture school in Silberberg, Styria, where he graduated in 2003. Then equipped with a deep knowledge, and in the meantime with plenty of practical experience, he could finally dedicate himself

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to wine the way he wanted to. In addition to the vineyards, Thomas Polz is mainly responsible for sales.

In the vineyard he attaches great importance to a careful and natural handling of the vines. Year-round greening between the rows, avoidance of herbicides and pesticides, and year-round hands-on contact have therefore become his common practices in recent years. Thomas Polz also pays attention to maintaining high biodiversity, which is why beehives and insect hotels are also located in the vineyards, and fruit and nut trees are planted along their edges.

To acquire only physiologically ripe grapes, they are meticulously selected and harvested in several passes.

“When the grape variety, the soil, and the winemaker’s signature are recognizable, then the wine is authentic. My goal is this authenticity, this recognizability. This 'typical Primus!’.“ Thomas Polz

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SOUTH STYRIA

The southern part of the Austrian province of Styria is called Südsteiermark (South Styria). In the 1919 Paris Peace Negotiations, the region was divided between Austria and Slovenia, with the part lying within Slovenian territory called Untersteiermark (Lower Styria). South Styria is separated from Central Styria to the north by a line through the towns of Deutschlandsberg, Wildon, and Bad Gleichenberg. To the west and east of the river lie Southwest and Southeast Styria.

About one percent of all Austrian wines come from South Styria. The in part extremely steep vineyards – many with a grade of more than 26 percent – are scattered in small plots among the picturesque hills and mountains of the region, and are quite labor-intensive to cultivate.

Topographic map of South Styria © ÖWM

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1. The South Styrian Climate

The southern part of Styria is located in an area under the climatic influence of the Mediterranean Sea, in the Illyrian climate zone. This reaches from the southern part of Carinthia to the far southeast of Austria. High pressure zones (Adriatic highs) arriving from the Adriatic Sea ensure, especially in autumn, that the weather here is noticeably milder than in the more northern areas of Central or Upper Styria.

The summers in southern Styria are also warmer than in the other regions, quite noticeably in , one of Austria’s hotspots. The average temperature in January is around 0°C, and in July around 22°C. In high summer, days over 30°C become more and more frequent.

From the viticultural perspective this means: The warm, humid Mediterranean climate determines the long vegetation period, while cool nights promote the development of rich flavors and structure in the wine. Both of these factors give the regional white wine varieties, as well as the increasingly common red wine varieties, a richness and nobility.

The Climate in Numbers:2

- Annual mean temperature of 9.8°C

- Annual sunshine duration of 1,980 hours

- Total annual precipitation of 827mm

- Summer days (high temp. over 25°C): 95

- Tropical days (high temp. over 30°C): 72

- Frost days: 10

2 Climate data for Bad Radkersburg from the Styrian Environmental Agency: umwelt.steiermark.at, accessed September 2020

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2. The South-Styrian Soil

The soils of southern Styria are very diverse, multi-layered, and dominated by sand, slate, marl and limestone. Most of the South-Styrian vineyards are planted on coarse aggregate. This was originally deposited by rivers, and has been consolidated here and there into conglomerates such as marl or argillaceous silt and sands, creating the "Styrian Marl" of the East-Styrian basin.

Conglomerates, aggregates, sands, and marl make up the "Weissenegg Formation". This stems from the sediments of the Styrian Basin originally deposited in the Paratethys Sea3, and is between approx. eighteen and fifteen million years old. It is quite variable in grain size and lime content, often pure limestone. The Weissenegg Formation occurs locally between Wildon and Graßnitzberg, where the Polz brothers' vineyards are located.

3 The Paratethys sea was a large shallow inland sea that stretched from the region north of the Alps over Central Europe to the Aral Sea in Central Asia. From the Pliocene epoch onward (after 5 million years ago), the Paratethys became progressively shallower. Today's Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Aral Sea, Lake Urmia, Namak Lake and others are remnants of the Paratethys Sea. Source: Wikipedia, Accessed in September 2020.

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THE SOUTH-STYRIAN WINE QUALITY PYRAMID

The official Styrian wine quality pyramid has been in place since 2018, but the Polz brothers have been working according to this system since 2000. Now introduced internationally and quite commonplace, it is the logical and consistent way for them to label their wines.

South Styrian System of Origins © ÖWM

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* Riedenweine (single-site vineyard) & Reserve Wines

The single-site vineyard wines of the Primus Winery are made from grapes harvested from the oldest vines in their respective locations. Only grapes from the very best sites are used for this purpose, and these wines are bottled only after a longer maturing period. They carry the names Ried Zieregg, Ried Grassnitzberg, or Reserve-Wein aus den Rieden on their labels and are the spearhead of the estate.

* Ortweine (local wines)

The local wines of our winery with the Ehrenhausen designation on the label are wines with a specific terroir and origin, from grapes originating from their respective clearly defined local areas. In their flavors they are unmistakably distinct from each other.

* Gebietsweine (regional wines)

The regional wines of the winery stand for the fresh varietal wines of South Styria, which according to the law may be marketed from 1st March of the year following their harvest. The grapes may be sourced from the whole of Southern Styria, but at Weingut Primus they come exclusively from our own vineyards.

** Ried Grassnitzberg Reserve "M" Sauvignon Blanc – Orange Wine.

This wine, which we have been producing since 2015, does not fall neatly into the spectrum of the wine quality pyramid. "M" stands for fermentation on the mash: the wine is fermented like red wine in the first stages of its development, with the pulp and skin of the berries, and then aged on the lees for thirty months in small wooden barrels.

DAC South Styria

The Polz brothers have been producing DAC wines since their 2018 vintage.

Districtus Austriae Controllatus (DAC) is a designation of origin for regionally typical quality wines from Austria. The Südsteiermark DAC designation of origin has been in existence since the 2018 vintage year, and is the designation for quality wines with a profile typical of the South-Styrian winemaking region.

Grape Varieties. In accordance with the diversity of the area, the following grape varieties may be used: Welschriesling, Pinot Blanc, Morillon (Chardonnay), Riesling, Muscat Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Traminer, and cuvées made from these grapes. At the regional wine level, this wide range of varieties is preserved, while at the local and single-site vineyard levels, the focus is on the locally predominant

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leading varieties. The South Styria DAC wine region corresponds to the political of Leibnitz, not including the municipal areas to the left of the Mur River.

Like their counterparts in Western Styria and the Vulkanland of Southeast Styria, the DAC wines typical of South Styria are divided into three categories: Gebietsweine (Regional Wines), Ortsweine (Villages Wines), and Riedenweine (Single-Vineyard Wines). One special feature of all Styrian DAC wines: the grapes must be harvested by hand.4

SLOVENIA

Since 2008, the Polz brothers have owned a total of four hectares of vineyards in the best locations in Slovenia. They are located just over the national border, only about 400 meters as the crow flies from the Primus winery in Grassnitzberg: these are the Kresnica site on the Slovenian Hochgrassnitzberg, and the Ciringa and Ziernick vineyards on the Zieregg. These areas are cultivated in accordance with the guidelines for controlled integrated production and the Slovenian KOPOPP program for organic farming.

The soils of shell limestone and grey calcareous marl (a mixture of loam and clay, called Opok in Styria) are particularly barren.

The climate is the same as on the Styrian side of the border.

4 Source: www.oesterreichwein.at, Accessed July 2020

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THE PRIMUS SOILS AND VINEYARDS

Common to all of the winery’s vineyards is a high lime content. They are divided into the Zieregg and Grassnitzberg vineyards in the Ehrenhausen local wine region, and the Zieregg and Hochgrassnitzberg sites in Slovenia. On both sides of the border, limestone and shell limestone predominate, with the exception of the Slovenian Hochgrassnitzberg Kresnica, where the clay marl Opok sets the tone in some areas.

1. Ried Grassnitzberg

The Grassnitzberg site is characterized by tertiary sea sands with a weathered shell limestone subsoil containing sandy-clayey marine deposits up to 14 million years old, known as Spielfelder Schlier. The oldest vines on this site (Traminer) are more than eighty years old and are ungrafted.

Where: in Grassnitzberg in the municipality of Spielfeld

Soil: loamy sands (marl) with shell limestone

Orientation: east-southeast

Elevation: 420 meters

Slope: 35%

Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Muscat Blanc, Traminer, Welschriesling, Pinot Blanc

Age of the Vines: 15 to 80 years (for the Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay single-site wines around 30 years, for the Traminer 80 years)

Wines: Ried Grassnitzberg Sauvignon Blanc, Ried Grassnitzberg Chardonnay, Ried Grassnitzberg Gelber Muskateller, Traminer Alte Reben (Reserve), Traminer Grassnitzberg “M“ (fermented on the mash) – Orange Wine, Gelber Muskateller Klassik, Zweigelt Klassik, Pinot Blanc Klassik, Muscat Blanc Klassik, Sauvignon Blanc Klassik, Sauvignon Blanc Brut

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2. Zieregg

The Zieregg vineyard is a very high exposed slope, up to 470 meters above sea level. The site is characterized by medium to deep calcareous and loamy shell limestone & coralline limestone soils, with an adequate water supply and a unique microclimate.

Where: Ehrenhausen municipality (on the border with Spielfeld)

Soil: sandy loam (marl) with shell and coralline limestone

Orientation: west-southwest

Elevation: 440 meters

Slope: 35 to 45%

Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay

Age of the Vineyard: 20 years for the main plot

Wines: Ried Zieregg Sauvignon Blanc, Ried Zieregg Chardonnay, “TBA“ Trockenbeerenauslese Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay Ehrenhausen,

3. Ciringa (Zieregg)

Where: in the Ciringa cadastral municipality, directly on the border next to the Austrian Zieregg

Soil: sandy loam with shell and coralline limestone

Orientation: southwest

Elevation: 420 meters

Slope: 42%

Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc

Age of the Vines: 8 years

Wines: Sauvignon Blanc Muschelkalk

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4. Kresnica (Hochgrassnitzberg)

Where: on the hill in front of the Hochgrassnitzberg, in the Kresnica cadastral municipality, in close vicinity to the border

Soil: sandy loam, Opok and shell limestone

Orientation: southwest

Elevation: 420 meters

Slope: 42 to 53%

Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Blanc, Chardonnay

Age of the Vines: 12 years

Wines: Apollo Klassik (white cuvée), Sauvignon Blanc “vom Opok“

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VARIETIES & VARIETAL MAKEUP

The limestone-dominated soils here generally bring a lot of individuality to the wine – the wines develop a lot of nerve, but never become too sumptuous. The rich rainfall in the region is beneficial to the aromatic varieties, and the large temperature differences between day and night additionally provide a rich bouquet.

Naturally, we focus largely on the region's most important grape variety, Sauvignon Blanc. It is elaborated in various forms, with single-site designations, as a sweet wine, and as a sparkling wine.

Chardonnay, called "Morillon"5 in Styria, is also important to the Polz brothers. It thrives excellently on the chalky soils of the region. Its significance for the winery will be increased even further.

In general, Thomas and Christian Polz want to intervene in their wines as little as possible – but still to support them to the extent necessary to produce elegant wines with a character typical of the region.

The Varietal Makeup

32 % Sauvignon Blanc

18 % Welschriesling

20 % Pinot Blanc

22 % Muscat Blanc

0.5 % Traminer

7 % Morillon (Styrian for Chardonnay)

0.5 % Zweigelt

5 probably derived from the old French form “more“ for black

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Sauvignon Blanc Brut

For some years now, Thomas and Christian Polz have been producing a sparkling wine from Sauvignon Blanc grapes that are usually selected in mid-August from the Grassnitzberg and Zieregg sites. After whole grape pressing, the musts are fermented for about three weeks in steel tanks, where they are then matured on the fine lees for half a year. In the following year, the wine is bottled and carbonation and sugar are added. A further bottle-aging of three months is recommended.

Tasting notes: fine bead, attractive, delicately fruity, grape bouquet, hints of paprika and red currants, fine citrus notes. Elegant on the palate, fresh and fruity with a fine acid structure, lively mousse, great balance. Alcohol content: 12.0% ABV.

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OUR BUSCHENSCHANK (WINE TAVERN)

A 450-year-old house on the winery grounds was adapted by the brother’s parents Primus and Martha Polz for the estate Buschenschank. It is still run by Martha Polz and her daughter Elisabeth, and is only open for groups by appointment. The beautiful parlors, and the terrace with its oleander are also available for breakfast.

The gorgeous rooms on the ground floor display the old masonry and offer a unique atmosphere with an antique tiled table stove. In the parlors there is room for about 30 people, and on the terrace for 40.

The menu offers simple, typical, seasonal Buschenschank offerings. Except for a few products such as the fine cheeses, all ingredients come from small producers in the region. All dishes are handmade and served cold on the plate – as they must be according to the Buschenschank law. Sausages and ham are complemented by fine vegetarian dishes and salads. Martha Polz's vegetable and beef terrines are particularly popular with guests and are never allowed to run out. The good reputation of this gem is based on the seasonal house pastries and cakes, and of course the delicious Spagatkrapfen (made of thin shortcrust pastry with cinnamon and sugar), which the region is famous for, are also served.

Stay overnight at the winery.

The five guest rooms and apartments located on the upper floor of this house can be rented from mid- April to mid-November. Guests can expect plenty of peace, fresh air, and the opportunity to hike, taste wine, or simply relax in the vineyards. Martha and Elisabeth Polz take care of the breakfast table, richly laid with regional delicacies.

CONTACT Tel. +43 3453 3911 | Mobile +43 664 8706479 Email [email protected]

More information about prices and booking arrangements at www.primus.cc

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OUR TRADING PARTNERS

The Primus Winery is on its way from being an insiders' tip to becoming better known. The number of their trading partners is also growing in keeping with this. Christian and Thomas Polz are looking forward to new collaborations, both at home and abroad.

AUSTRIA

VIENNA: Vulcanothek im Palais Ferstl

STYRIA

Graz: Sekt- & Weinhandel Kleinoschegg

Restaurant & Vinothek Der Steirer

Vinothek Südsteiermark

Ehrenhausen: Vinofaktur

Hartberg: Vinothek & Weinhandel Interex

Leoben: Weinmagazin

Leibnitz: Vinothek Südsteiermark

St. Anna: Gesamtsteirische Vinothek

SALZBURG

Faistenau: Vinothek Cavino

Mauterndorf: Vinothek Kaminstube

UPPER AUSTRIA

Linz: Vinothek Castello del Vino

TYROL

Wörgl: Getränke Fuchs

EXPORT

GERMANY: Weinschmecker in Ingolstadt

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MENTIONS & RATINGS

2020

- Meiningers Sommelier: 90 points for the 2018 Ried Grassnitzberg Chardonnay Südsteiermark DAC (among the best wines of Styria)

- Wein.pur: 5 glasses6 for the 2017 Ried Zieregg Chardonnay & 2017 Ried Zieregg Sauvignon Blanc

- Falstaff Award with 3 grapes for our Buschenschank

- Falstaff Wine Guide award with 3 stars

- A La Carte (94 points) & Falstaff (93 points): 2015 Ried Grassnitzberg Sauvignon Blanc Reserve “M“

- A la Carte (94 points): 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Ried Zieregg Trockenbeerenauslese

- A la Carte (93+ points): 2017 Sauvignon Blanc “M” Ried Grassnitzberg Reserve

- A La Carte & Falstaff: 93 points for the 2015 Ried Zieregg Chardonnay

- Falstaff: 94 points for the 2017 Ried Zieregg Sauvignon Blanc TBA

2019

- A la Carte: 93 points for the 2016 Ried Zieregg Sauvignon Blanc, 2017 Ried Zieregg Sauvignon Blanc TBA, & 2015 Ried Grassnitzberg Alte Reben Traminer

- Vinaria: 4 stars for the 2016 Ried Zieregg Sauvignon Blanc

- Wein.pur: 5 glasses for the 2017 Ried Zieregg Sauvignon Blanc

- AWC Gold: 2016 Ried Zieregg Chardonnay & 2016 Ried Zieregg Sauvignon Blanc

- Mentions in the following books:

Knoll, Rudolf. Weinbuch Steiermark – Winzerlegenden und echte Entdeckunge

Lantschbauer, Rudolf. Genesis of Terroir Steiermark

Grundner, Reinhard. Jagdkultur – von der Soilständigkeit des Weinmachens

6 (95 out of 100 points): “Absolute world-class wine for a particularly long-lasting, unforgettable wine experience“

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2018

- Vinaria: Climber of the year

- Wein-plus: Discovery of the year

…

2005

- Landessieger: 2003 Eiswein Traminer

- Busche Verlag: 1st place for the German wine prize

2004

- Alles über Wein (German trade magazine): Gold for our “Wines of outstanding quality“

2002

- BTI Chicago: Gold for the 2000 Sauvignon Blanc Ried Grassnitzberg

- BTI Chicago: Silver for the 2000 Chardonnay Ried Grassnitzberg

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CONTACT

PRIMUS WINERY Am Grassnitzberg 15, 8472 Grassnitzberg, Austria Tel. +43 3453 3911 Email [email protected] primus.cc Wine sales: daily from 14:00 Buschenschank: open for groups by appointment

PRESS CONTACT

Sylvia Petz | Agency for organized enjoyment Tel. +43 1 905 34 38, Email [email protected]

www.sylvia-petz.at

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