Watermill Wines’ launches second wine in its Terra Organica Parcel Series

Sustainability is central to the second wine in Watermill Wines’ Terra Organica Parcel Series, which was released earlier this month.

This month sees the release of a new Grüner Veltliner in the Terra Organica Parcel Series, a line of organic, vegan and sustainably sourced wines from brand owner Watermill Wines that seeks to showcase outstanding-quality, and organically cultivated parcels of grapes. The new wine is made by Weingut Huber with grapes sourced from the Traisental Valley in Niederösterreich. Although one of Austria’s smallest and youngest wine-growing areas, it is establishing a reputation for delicious, fruity and spicy Grüner Veltliners that thrive on the area’s unique limestone soil. Dynamic 10th-generation winemaker Markus Huber, with whom Watermill Wines has worked for more than 10 years, farms 60 hectares of land there, mostly planted on terraces of limestone soils where the Pannonian influence meets the cool air coming from the Alps.

The wine itself is “a perfect example of the area’s style”, Huber notes, with a strong body, solid backbone, very fine aromas and spicy finesse. It also reflects the growing interest in organic wines, particularly among environmentally aware younger generations. Huber himself converted the estate to organic viticulture in 2012 (applying for certification in 2018), which he admits is challenging, given the valley’s cool climate and frequent rainfall.

However, organic is “the way to go”, he says, in spite of the inherent risks. “It preserves the biodiversity, and this and the soil is the capital of every farmer. It is more risky, but it also provides healthier plants, which result in better wines.” This ethos of organic and ecological viticulture is “an interplay of instinct, readiness to take risks and trust in nature”, which in practice means great importance is attached to doing “as little as possible in terms of the impact with the farming, but as much as necessary to produce 100% healthy grapes”, Huber explains. The grapes have been gently pressed and fermented in stainless steel before being aged on fine lees for four months to increase the wine’s complexity.

“This is always a tricky tightrope to walk, but it is worth the risk,” he says.

Walking hand-in-hand with Huber’s organic beliefs is that of viticultural sustainability – evident in Weingut Huber’s investment in creating its own, green electricity supply, installing a 3MW solar panel plant producing electricity for the winery and 750 households.

“We also have our own water supply, as well as heating with our dead wood from our own forest. So, we are completely self-powered and have negative CO2 balance,” Huber notes.

The new Grüner Veltliner takes the “No. 2” spot in the Terra Organica Parcel Series, which launched last year with a DOC Grillo from Cantina Ottoventi in Sicily. The pioneering range has already won multiple awards, and has shown how a commitment to sustainable winemaking and organic production can inform brand growth, including going capsule-less to reduce non-esstential packaging weight. Watermill Wines was established in 2012 as a technical wine agency specialising in off-trade sales. In addition to the Terra Organica brand, its portfolio includes Santa Julia and Marlborough Heartland, with new additions already in the pipeline for 2025-26.

Terra Organica Grüner Veltliner launched with UK retailer Ocado – winner of the Retail Buying Team of the Year accolade at The Drinks Business Awards 2025 last month. The wine is available with an RRP of £10.50.