Heinrich

Gernot and Heike Heinrich, a husband-and-wife winemaking team who are pioneers of biodynamic viticulture and natural winemaking in Austria.

Region

The Heinrich winery is located in Burgenland, a key wine-growing region in Austria. Their vineyards are unique because they are situated on both sides of Lake Neusiedl, allowing them to work with two distinct terroirs:

  • Gols: The vineyards in this area, such as Gabarinza and Salzberg, have warm, sandy loam soils and a Pannonian climate influenced by the lake. This terroir is ideal for producing rich, powerful red wines.

  • Leithaberg: On the other side of the lake, in the Leitha Mountains, the soils are a mix of limestone and schist. This cooler climate and soil type produce wines with a distinctive minerality and vibrant acidity.

Grapes Used

Heinrich cultivates a wide range of grapes, with a strong focus on indigenous Austrian varieties.

  • Red Grapes: 🍇 Blaufränkisch is their flagship grape. They also work extensively with Zweigelt, St. Laurent, and Pinot Noir. They use international varieties like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon as well.

  • White Grapes: 🥂 Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc (Weißburgunder), Pinot Gris (Grauburgunder), and Neuburger are key white grapes in their portfolio.

Representative Wines and Philosophy

Gernot and Heike Heinrich are among the most respected natural winemakers in the world. They were founding members of the "Respekt-BIODYN" group, a certifying body for biodynamic viticulture. Their philosophy is centered on minimal intervention, both in the vineyard and the cellar.

  • Biodynamic Viticulture: They farm all of their vineyards biodynamically, which means working in harmony with natural cycles, promoting biodiversity (they have sheep, ducks, and beehives on their land), and forgoing synthetic chemicals.

  • Natural Winemaking: In the cellar, they use spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, extended aging, and very little to no sulfur. They are famous for their orange wines, which are made with white grapes fermented on their skins in clay amphorae.

Their wines are often categorized by their stylistic approach:

  • "Naked" Series: These are entry-level wines that are fresh, easy-drinking, and made with minimal intervention.

  • "Freyheit" Series: This line includes their celebrated natural and orange wines, aged in amphorae with extended skin contact and no added sulfites.

  • Single-Vineyard Wines: These premium wines, such as Gabarinza and Salzberg, are a pure expression of their individual terroirs, known for their power, complexity, and aging potential.

  • Pannobile: They are also members of the "Pannobile" group, which focuses on producing high-quality, terroir-driven red wines from the Burgenland region.