2025 – A year of give and take

It must be our age but it feels like we were writing our 2024 Christmas letter only yesterday. 2025 has gone in a flash because so much has happened. Succinctly put it was a year of give and take.

Take from the ‘big man over the pond’ who kept us on our toes with the announcement of tarrifs in the spring. Take from an unusual hail storm in June that reduced our yields significantly and a gut wrenching take as as we lost one of Hoepler’s biggest fans, a person who, shaped my soul, who was widely adored and sorely missed.

Take was also balanced by ‘give’. Our wines continued to achieve awards with our Pinot Blanc 2024 being ranked in the top 10 PB’s in Austria and Rose Celestia 2024 awarded the best rose in the country by Gault & Millau. We also won a string of points from A la Carte.

In the vineyards nature blessed us with more ‘usual’ weather and delivered an excellent harvest of high quality. Aromatic, ripe grapes with great acidity and lower alcohol than in recent years. The new vintages are also looking and tasting well. We hope you will agree with us many of the new wines are already bottled with Grüner Veltliner and Rose 2025 currently on their way to the US.

Despite all the noise, volatility and energy sapping moments sales overall have ended up on the year. Some welcome good news to keep us fighting!

So we wish you a wonderful break with family and friends. Thank you for supporting us and don’t forget a small amount of wine is often at the heart of many a wonderful celebration. Life is precious, so keep celebrating and cherishing even the small things in life.