Winkler-Hermaden

The Winkler-Hermaden Winery, located in the heart of the Styrian Vulkanland region in southeastern Austria, has been a family-run business since 1918. Situated near the Slovenian and Hungarian borders, the estate spans 38 hectares of organically farmed vineyards, focusing on sustainability and terroir-driven wines. Since 1981, the winery has been led by Georg Winkler-Hermaden, a master winemaker renowned for his commitment to organic and regenerative farming, producing wines that express the volcanic terroir of the region with minimal intervention. The winery cultivates 21 grape varieties, including Sauvignon Blanc, Burgunder types (Morillon, Weissburgunder, Grauburgunder), and red wines such as Blauer Zweigelt, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and St. Laurent. Notably, the estate is recognized for its distinctive Traminers and Gewürztraminers, often produced as Prädikatswein. The winemaking philosophy is rooted in selective hand-picking, gentle grape processing, and long maturation periods in small oak barrels made from wood sourced from the family’s own forest on the Kapfensteiner Kogel.

Organic farming has been at the heart of the winery's practices since 2009, with a focus on regenerative agriculture since 2022, which includes homemade compost, natural pest control, and permanent cover crops to support soil health. The winery's prime vineyard sites—Ried Kirchleiten, Ried Schlosskogel, and Ried Rosenleiten—highlight the distinctive volcanic soils, producing wines with a unique sense of place. The estate’s rich history includes an 11th-century castle and wine cellars, with the 350-year-old Long Cellar providing the ideal environment for aging wines. Regionality, sustainability, and hospitality are the cornerstones of the Winkler-Hermaden philosophy, reflected not only in their wines but also in their winery, hotel, and restaurant. The winery's current management, under Christof, Thomas, and Wolfgang Winkler-Hermaden, continues the family tradition, with support from Georg and Margot. Their shared vision is to produce reductive, long-lasting wines with a focus on complexity, grown on steep volcanic slopes where manual labor is essential due to the challenging terrain and high rainfall.