ARACHON T.FX.T
Arachon = Horitschon in the year 1540 AD
ARACHON, which incidentally is the old Slavic name for the town of Horitschon, was created in the early 1990s after much discussion.
The dream of Tibor Szemes (pronounced Zemesh) was to produce a great Austrian red wine, in large enough quantities for exporting, and to market it world wide.
Ever since 1985 Tibor Szemes had been associated with Austria´s most prestigious wine-growers´ co-operative in Horitschon and its former cellarman Josef Pusch (who transferred to the Esterhazy wine-growing estate in 2008). It was an easy decision for Tibor to centre his show project at the heart of Blaufränkisch country. His two friends and fellow vintners FX Pichler and Manfred Tement were also asked to support the venture.
Within a few months the first contracts with the Union of Horitschon wine-growers were made. The first vintage of this exceptional wine was presented in 1996. In it the know-how and expertise of the three wine celebrities Tibor Szemes, FX Pichler and Manfred Tement came together. Though unaware of it at the time, Tibor Szemes created his own memorial, Arachon T.FX.T . His wine stands for international, professional cooperation, born of friendship. An idea to be emulated!
The entire vinification of ARACHON T.FX.T is supervised by the present cellarman Gregor Wolf at the facilities of the Union of Horitschon wine-growers. The main objective being to publicise the quality potential of Austrian red wines, also abroad.
ARACHON T.FX.T is not alone in its new cellars – an up-to-date building designed by the architects Wilhelm Hozbauer and Dieter Irresberger. The ARACHON T.FX.T vintage 2001 was joined by little brother A´Kira T.FX.T (which means joyful shout, in the local vernacular). For early drinkability, the barrels, used once for Arachon T.FX.T go on to be used for A´Kira T.FX.T, a Blaufränkisch dominated red-wine.
The cellars
The star architects Dieter Irresberger and Wilhelm Holzbauer designed a simple, yet impressive building, fusing local building materials with expressive architecture. Its sandstone facade is visible from afar, yet perfectly integrated into the vineyards of Horitschon. The beautiful, yet functional ARACHON cellars were officially opened in July 2004.
SCHLUMBERGER DOM T.FX.T
A further ambitious projec, quietly started, but with plenty of zest in the year 1999, goes by the name of Schlumberger DOM T.FX.T. The wine-making qualities of Illa Szemes, F.X.Pichler and Manfred Tement have been coupled with the enormous know-how of Austria´s leading sparkling wine makers Schlumberger in this highly successful joint venture.
The grapes come from the Wineviertel ( in Lower Austria) and the north of Burgenland. These are processed at Schlumberger in Bad Vöslau and vinification takes place in the large DOM cellars in Vienna, Heiligenstadt. The secondary, yeast fermentation of Schlumberger DOM T.FX.T takes all of two years. Schlumberger DOM T.FX.T is a cuvee of chardonnay and pinot noir, made according to the traditional champagne method.
