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Nikolaihof is the oldest wine estate in Austria, whose history goes back almost 2000 years to Roman times. In the walls of Nikolaihof can be found remains of the early Christian Agapit basilica in which Bishop Pilgrim of Passau held a synod in 985 A.D. In 1075 the former ‘Freihof' was referred to in a document as the central administrative seat of the Passau monastery of St Nikola; the present-day chapel was established by the Augustinian canons of this monastery.
Wine has been produced here since the time of the Celts. The first documentary evidence of this dates from around 470 A.D. in the time of St Severin and the Romans.
Nikolaihof is also one of the first in the world to have begun working by biodynamic principles according to the regulations of the Demeter Association. No herbicides, fertilizers, pesticides, or synthetic sprays are used in the vineyards. The grapes are harvested by hand, fermented without artificial yeast and stored in big, oald Austrian oak casks up to 20 years.
The Saahs family acquired the estate in 1894, and is currently run by 3rd generation Nukolaus Saahs Jr.
Organic Vineyard Management
Biodynamic Principles
The vineyards of Nikolaihof are situated in a remarkably privileged region: Wachau, one of the most beautiful river landscapes in Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and place of origin of some of the best white wines in the world. Its climate and geological conditions are ideal for white wine, and it is precisely here where the Saahs family vineyards lie - with melodic-sounding names such as "Im Weingebirge, "Vom Stein", "Steiner Hund" and "Klausberg". The mild breezes of the Danube region are ideal for the growth of Riesling and Veltliner. Also Gelber Muskateller, Neuburger and Gewürztraminer reach their optimum qualities.
The "Im Weingebirge" vineyard is part of the “Alte Point" and consists mainly of loess, in the deeper subsoil paragneiss comes through.
Beside the Silberbichl vineyard, Alte Point is one of the two largest vineyards and also one of the most often used terms as a designation of origin in Mautern. Deep soils, in most cases characterised by loess, form the basis for very expressive wines, especially Grüner Veltliner.
"Vom Stein" refers to a parcel of the Silberbichl vineyard, which lies directly at the eastern boundary to the neighbouring wine-growing area, Kremstal. It's soils are predominantly terraced loess deposits. Loess was deposited in the Wachau by west winds during the most recent ice age, the Riss glaciation (110,000–12,000 years ago). A relatively balanced water content can be observed for this deep, fertile and calcareous soil over the entire vegetation period.
The continuation of Achleiten, one of the most famous vineyards of the Wachau. It is separated by a path that serves as a boundary, which also represents a geological fault. The name can be followed back to the old term "Kleyss" and designates a constriction; this is self-explanatory when looking at the old road to Wachau leading along the Klaus vineyard.
It has a sandy, stony topsoil, with amphibolite rock below. The generous fine-soil cover ensures an adequate supply of water and nutrients, and the fissures in the weathered rock allow the vine roots to penetrate to a deep level.
The Steiner Hund is a stony vineyard, extremely difficult to work. A local legend says that it once was owned by a wealthy winemaker, who exchanged it for a dog when there was famine in the region. Today producers from Kremstal to the east and Wachau in the west has ownership in the vineyard. The site is south-facing and is comprised of conglomerate rock with a thin topsoil of loess and loam.
Letting nature take its course, interfering as little as possible, and giving the wines plenty of time to develop - that's the wine-growing philosophy of Nikolaus Saahs. It's something you can certainly taste in his wines, which are focused, full of flavour and youthful longevity, complex with a modest alcohol content, and reflect the terroir perfectly.
After undergoing careful and mild pressing processes, Nikolaihof wines are fermented with natural yeasts, thus developing their excellent character. Lastly, they find their way into the estate's historic wine cellar, which was built in a Roman crypt. The light "Federspiel" wines come from the precious year's vintage, whilst "Smaragd" wines are aged longer in the cellar. Some wines stay here for up to 20 years in some of the 2,000 to 12,000 litre oak barrels.
