Weingut Judith Beck (Gols / Burgenland, Austria)

Judith Beck is the owner and driving force behind the family winery located in Gols, within the Neusiedlersee region of Burgenland, Austria—the country's warmest wine-growing area. The estate, founded by her parents Matthias and Christine Beck in 1976, is a key figure in Austria's natural and biodynamic wine movement.

Philosophy and Evolution

• Family Heritage: Judith Beck took over full control of the winery in 2004, having made her first vintage in 2001. She built upon her viticulture education at Klosterneuburg with international experience gained through internships at world-renowned wineries, including Château Cos d'Estournel (Bordeaux), Braida (Piedmont), and Errazuriz(Chile).

• Biodynamic Commitment: Inspired by the principles of Rudolf Steiner, she began transitioning the vineyards to biodynamic practices in 2007. The entire 13.5-hectare estate is now certified organic and biodynamic (AT-BIO-402), focusing on cultivating grass between the rows, using their own compost, and following the rhythms of the biodynamic calendar.

• Natural Winemaking: This commitment to healthy soils and vines led naturally to minimal intervention in the cellar. Her winemaking is described as hands-off, often using spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts and bottling many wines unfined, unfiltered, and with zero or minimal added sulfur dioxide (SO2​).

Wines and Identity

The vineyards sit on diverse soils, ranging from loam and clay to limestone and gravel, and are largely dedicated to red varieties, reflecting the region's climate.

• Regional Champions: Judith focuses on the indigenous Austrian and Hungarian varieties common to Burgenland, including Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, and St. Laurent. Her wines are known for being elegant, fruit-forward, and complex.

• Signature Lines:

  • The "Ink" cuvée (a popular blend of Zweigelt and St. Laurent) is an approachable red that serves as an entry point to the style.

  • The "Bambule!" line represents her more experimental and free-spirited approach to natural wine, often featuring skin-contact white wines (Orange Wines), Pet-Nats (naturally sparkling), and minimal-intervention reds.

• Community Involvement: Judith is a respected member of the regional winemakers' association Pannobile and the biodynamic growers' association respekt-BIODYN.