Weingut Anita & Hans Nittnaus (Gols / Burgenland, Austria)

Weingut Anita & Hans Nittnaus is one of the most respected and influential wineries in Austria, located in Gols, in the Neusiedlersee region of Burgenland. The family has been rooted here since 1684, but it was Hans ("John") and Anita Nittnaus who, after taking over in 1985, became pioneers in redefining the quality and reputation of Austrian red wine.

Philosophy and Biodynamic Commitment

Hans Nittnaus is a visionary who, along with Anita, was among the first to move away from international trends and focus on the unique potential of Burgenland's indigenous varieties.

• Biodynamics: The winery has been fully committed to biodynamic farming since 2003, achieving certified organic status in 2006 and becoming a founding member of the respekt-BIODYN association.

• Terroir Focus: Their 36 hectares of vineyards are spread across two distinct terroirs: the sandy-loamy, warm Pannonian plains around Gols (Heideboden, Ungerberg) and the cooler, limestone and slate soils of the nearby Leithaberg mountain. This diversity allows them to produce wines with great complexity.

• Cellar Work: Winemaking is characterized by minimal intervention, including selective hand-harvesting, spontaneous fermentation, and extremely cautious use of wood and extraction, resulting in highly precise, authentic, and "untouched" wines that clearly reflect their origin.

Wines and Legacy

While they initially experimented with international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the Nittnaus family has since become champion of the indigenous reds.

• Flagship Reds:

  • Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt: These are the most important varieties, used to create classic single-varietal wines and their prestigious cuvées.

  • Comondor: Their signature red blend, named after a historical Hungarian sheepdog, which cemented their position among Austria's top red wine producers. It has evolved over the years to focus on Merlot, Blaufränkisch, and Zweigelt.

  • Pannobile: Hans Nittnaus is a founding member of the Pannobile group, an association dedicated to defining and promoting top-quality, terroir-driven wines from the Neusiedlersee area.

• Next Generation: The winery is now run collaboratively by Hans and Anita, and their sons, Andreas and Martin Nittnaus, who continue to refine the biodynamic approach while introducing new, lower-intervention and experimental styles.