Herbert Zillinger, biodynamics at its finest
The wines of Herbert Zillinger are more than worth discovering! The world-famous British Master of Wine Jancis Robinson has been a devoted fan of Zillinger for years — and rightly so. Alongside his entry-level Neuland and mid-range Horizont, he and his wife Carmen produce some of the most distinctive Veltliners in all of Austria, aptly named Elementar and Radikal. He's also a master with Traminer (aka Savagnin in the Jura), with his top wine called Profund. You'll find them all in our webshop.
All wines are made biodynamically, with minimal filtration and barely any sulphite. Top sommeliers such as Noël Vanwittenbergh (ex Ciel Bleu) love working with them.
Zillinger is based in the village of Ebenthal, right on the Slovak border in northeast Austria — part of the Weinviertel in the Niederösterreich wine region. This area is mostly known for bulk wine and simple Veltliner, but there are fantastic exceptions, like the wonderfully idiosyncratic Herbert Zillinger.
Zillinger is based in the village of Ebenthal, right on the Slovak border in northeast Austria — part of the Weinviertel in the Niederösterreich wine region. This area is mostly known for bulk wine and simple Veltliner, but there are fantastic exceptions, like the wonderfully idiosyncratic Herbert Zillinger.
Nature first
Herbert Zillinger leaves conventions behind and trusts his instincts and nature. He combines Austrian winemaking tradition with international experience — as long as it stays natural. He trusts the power of his grapes and his philosophy of closeness to nature: what hasn't reached full ripeness on the vine can never become a great wine in the cellar. Yet much depends on cellar work, so he uses modern techniques thoughtfully. He refuses to adapt to mainstream methods. Herbert doesn't make trendy international wines — he makes unique wines with intensity and character. Wine is his passion, his life.
Herbert and Carmen make no compromises. They make unique wines with a profile, structure, and genuine USP — wines where you can see their signature and the soil their grapes grow in. They never adjust their wines to please a promising business or chase a better score. The wines speak for themselves.
The idyllic wine village of Ebenthal lies in the gentle hills of the southern Weinviertel — a landscape that surprises visitors with many small discoveries, adventures... and great wines. The reason: the vines grow on loess, a nutrient-rich soil of various rocks and minerals that allows the grapes to thrive magnificently. Loess also retains water very well — handy for vines in this dry, warm environment.
Zillinger has been a proud member of the biodynamic winemakers' group respekt-BIODYN since 2016. 2017 was the first certified vintage.
