Thursday, 8 September 2022. Sunset. A group of wine professionals stood outside a restaurant in the heart of Austria's Burgenland, and we watched poo burn. 

Yes, you read that right. This was a controlled fire, a bronze age ritual, called Agnihotra. This practice sits at the heart of the viticulture practices for the man who lit the flame and recited the incantation, Georg Preisinger. Georg starts and ends each day with this practice, and the resulting pure ash is used as a treatment in the vineyard.

Georg is the fifth generation to manage the land, and makes wines that are typical of the area. Creamy yet structured Chardonnay, with lashings of tropical fruit, and richly red-berry flavoured Zweigelt. His Petnat is made from Pinot Nero and Zweigelt, and is a pink, delicate fruit laden delight.  

Check them out here.