Thanks to its steep slope and orientation, the terraced vineyard above the St. Johann church in Mauerthale allows the grapes growing there to reach the desired degree of ripeness. The sandy soil texture that developed through the weathering of gneiss also contributes to the favourable conditions, providing good rooting, soil warmth and early budding of the vines.
The Johannserberg, a little idyll high above the Danube near St. Johann in Mauerthale, lies on the western slope of the Dunkelstein Forest. Versatile paragneiss with layers of amphibolite form the subsoil. In the soil profile, the parent rock is conglomerated, weathered slope debris. The dark rocks are amphibolites, and the lighter ones are paragneisses. The white elements and coatings are precipitated carbonate, which probably comes from the former loess cover. The sandy soil texture provides good rooting, soil warmth and early budding. The moderate carbonate content gives Grüner Veltliner a decent body and plenty of strength.