MARTIN PAMINGER - SAUWALD WODKA: HOW EARTH APPLES FROM THE SAUWALD BECOME A TASTE EXPERIENCE WITH A SHOT

"Yes, we know that the better potatoes grow back there in the forest anyway," Martin Paminger's father once heard a neighbour badmouth the Sauwald area. But from this sentence, which initially annoyed him, an idea grew: why not show off the best that the Sauwald has to offer? What for many was long just a remote stretch of land between rolling hills and ancient granite rocks in Sankt Aegidi is now a place that attracts gourmets from all over Austria and is full of authentic soil work. The potassium-rich soils of the Danube region not only produce potatoes of exceptional quality, but also the Sauwald vodka, which has long delighted every connoisseur with its unmistakable flavour.
 
The family business - which was founded in the 1990s to take regional potato production into its own hands - has since made a name for itself far beyond the region's borders. Under Martin's proud, traditional management and the addition of Sauwald vodka, the company has succeeded in elevating potatoes from the role of a traditional foodstuff and reinterpreting them as a luxury food. The distillation of the regional Freya variety, the refinement with primary rock water and a great deal of loving dedication produce a vodka of exceptional purity and intensity, which also tells the story of the Sauwald in its flavour. Martin Paminger's "schnapps idea" shows that the earth apple can be more than just a staple food. The slanted bottles in which the vodka is bottled reflect the hillside location where the potatoes grow - a charming detail that emphasises the connection to the Danube region. In their farm shop, the Paminger family not only sells their potatoes - from bacon to waxy - and vodka, but also a variety of regional products from neighbouring farms.
 
The hilly forest landscape of the Sauwald in Upper Austria is characterised by sandy primary rock soils. The area, which has been known as the "potato region" since the 1950s, lies at around 600 metres above sea level. The natural characteristics of the mineral-rich soil contribute to the special flavour of the Sauwald potatoes. Martin remains true to the region and only processes the potatoes that grow in these special soils - in this way he tries to get the best out of the land and pass it on to his customers in his own vodka or as table potatoes. The region, once considered backward, has developed into a popular tourist destination. The Sauwald Panorama Road, the Donausteig trail and the treetop path invite visitors to discover the beauty of the Sauwald by bike or on foot.

Visitors travelling along the Donauengtal-Runde or the Sauwald-Panorama-Runde by bike or on the Pankraziasweg or the Alkovener-Donausteig-Runde on foot, Martin Paminger's farm offers an inviting atmosphere where you can experience his  products up close. In addition to potatoes and vodka, guests can also enjoy various events and tastings here. The annual potato festival, which celebrates the start of the season and offers a colourful programme, is just as popular as the tasting week at the farm in autumn.