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Domäne Wachau: All about the grape

Austria’s most precious collection of old brandies lies in the impressive cellars of Domäne Wachau in Dürnstein. Approximately 250 winegrowing families belong to this internationally renowned wine-growers’ association. They cultivate their vineyards throughout the Wachau with an artisanal ap-proach as well as an abundance of experience and passion.

A wide range of quality wines is the foundation of production, while there is also a focus on high-proof specialities. Domäne Wachau can look back on a very long tradition of wine distillery. Over 300 years ago, Provost Hieronymus Übelbacher, builder of the Dürnstein Kellerschlössl wine cellar, wrote about the Wachau ‘Prandewein’ (brandy). Distillation has taken place in the modern style since the 1960s, with terrace wines from the Wachau and particular emphasis on the regional character.

With a regional focus and characterised by the Grüner Veltliner grape variety and the unique Wachau terroir, Veltliner brandies are double distilled in copper vats and then stored for many years in the baroque cellar at the foot of the Ried Kellerberg vineyard. The XA22 Grüner Veltliner wine brandy matures for about 22 years in small, wooden barrels to become a spicy Veltliner brandy with a strong structure and authentic character.

At the World Spirits Award, the XA22 Grüner Veltliner wine brandy won gold.

Achim Lohner: Traditional enterprise with a future

Founded in 1912, the Lohners boast an impressive growth story of 110 years of a family bakery chain. Almost 170 bakeries with over 2,000 employees in Germany sell fresh baked goods, including cakes, to more than 60,000 customers daily. Sustainability concepts have always been considered and observed throughout the long company history. Thinking of tomorrow already today is not an empty slogan here but a practiced company philosophy. This ranges from using local suppliers, reducing energy consumption by using the latest technologies to cooperating with sustainable agriculture.

The new managing director Marc Kranz has now gone one step further. He has combined his longstanding fascination with gin with the reduction of returns from the branches. The crust of one of the top breads of the bakery, the ‘Raubritter’ (robber knight), has been used as a basis for the high-quality London Dry Gin ‘The Bread Knight’. Together with the Hubertus Vallendar Distillery, Marc Kranz and Mario Vallendar have created a unique product, as it were – a taste journey lined with juniper trees and fresh bread, accompanied by various botanicals. The partiality to traditional and artisanal procedures, coupled with great dedication, has resulted in a unique experience.

At the World Spirits Award, gold was awarded to The Bread Knight London Dry Gin.

MBG International Premium Brands – Brands with added value

“We Love Liquids.” This slogan has accompanied MBG on its worldwide path of success since it was founded in 1993 under the name P.O.S. Marketing + Vertrieb GmbH: Strong brands have been established around the world in nearly 60 countries, with innovative own brands, renowned retail brands, great ideas and a lot of energy. With over 250 employees, the MBG Group currently generates over € 200 million and, every year, more than a million hectolitres are produced. The portfolio in Germany includes 12 own brands and 6 retail brands (from non-alcoholic drinks to low proof drinks to wines & spirits) for 90,000 customers.

“Our recipe for successful brands is the mixture of passion, conviction and knowledge of the market. If all goes well, names and products become new worlds which consumers love. Success is not always predictable, which means that courage is needed above all. The right moment has to be found and hard work put in, just like with a hit single: some are one hit wonders while others become classics.” Little can be added to this definition from Managing Director Andreas W. Herb. From the MBG Group headquarters in Paderborn, a great deal of expertise makes successful brands, tailored to the respective target group and the market segment. Many brands that are well known on shop shelves and in the gastronomy sector have played a role in the history of the company.

Participation in the World Spirits Award yielded gold for Dos Mas Nasty Nuts Shot.