Gernot & Heike Heinrich
– Burgenland, Austria
Gernot and Heike Heinrich founded Weingut Heinrich in 1990 with only one hectare. In 2006, they switched completely to biodynamic farming. They believed this was the best for the vineyards and the people working on them. Back then they were one of the first in the region/ Today to tend to 80 hectares, which is no small feat.
When they started they were one of the first producers in the area to focus on making quality red wines rather than simple table wines. While Blaufrankisch is their focus, they now have a broader range and experiment with different varietals and winemaking styles. Meanwhile, they are also getting their son Laurenz ready to take over at some point.
Gernot works precisely and knows every vineyard, every barrel, and every tank by heart.
All wines mature with their natural yeasts in old wood or new amphora, and only the most minimal sulphites are added. Everything is done with the same precision and attention and always with the same goal: to make clean and elegant wines. Flawless wines that translate their terroir.
The vineyards are spread from Gols to the north and the northwest side of Lake Neusiedler: the Leithaberg. The latter is a relatively new project, and you will be tasting some of these wines at Natural Wine Festival A’dam. Heinrich believes this area will be their solution to the ever-increasing temperatures. The vines on the mountain slopes here are exposed to the sun while being chilled by the winds from the big western forest. The nights are cooler. Together with the chalk and schist soils, this provides the elegance and energy that they are looking for in their wines.
Come and taste their new white and Claret Blaufränkisch from amphora, the Leithaberg Blaufränkisch reds, the orange Grauer Freyheit, and red Pinot Freyheit on November 18th.
Cultivation: 90 ha
Production: 500,000 bottles/year
Varieties: Blaufränkisch, Grau-/Weiss-/Spät-Burgunder
Approach: Biodynamic, Natural
Certifications: Demeter, Respekt, Pannobile
Sulfites: Minimal at bottling
