Zillinger

At the edge of the Vienna Basin, where loess and gravel define the soils, Herbert and Carmen Zillinger are reinterpreting what Weinviertel can be. In a region often associated with large-scale production, they focus instead on precision and remaining authentic to their terroir. Herbie, a third-generation winegrower, took over the family estate in 1998. Since then, he has shaped its 16 hectares into a benchmark for biodynamic viticulture in Austria. The vineyards—certified organic since 2008 and Respekt-biodynamic since 2017—are farmed with a focus on biodiversity and soil health. In the cellar, the philosophy is minimal intervention: no additions or subtractions, with only a small amount of sulfur added before bottling, if needed. Carmen, who joined the winery full-time in 2016 after a career in speech and language therapy, brings a thoughtful presence to both the vineyard and the business. Together with their three children, the Zillingers run the estate as a cohesive and deeply rooted family operation. Their most important sites—Weintal, Hohes Eck, Steinberg, and Vogelsang—form the core of their work. Grüner Veltliner makes up around 65% of their plantings, but each parcel is cultivated and vinified with precision, allowing for clear site expression and structural depth. They have chosen not to label their wines under the Weinviertel DAC, opting instead for greater freedom in expressing site and style. The resulting wines are precise, character-driven, and built to reflect their origins while remaining kind to the land they were grown on—offering a distinctive and confident voice within Austria’s evolving wine landscape.