Andreas Ziniel's natural wines embodies the young Burgenland: light-footed, dynamic and hedonistic!
Shortly after New Year's Eve in early 2023, we took a detour to Burgenland to visit Andi Ziniel. Past Heinrich, Tschida and Co. to the final stop of St. Andrä, where the idyllic Zicksee is located, at the flattest point in Austria and just before the border to Hungary. Meinklang is also just around the corner. A sun-drenched and summer-hot area where Burgundy grape varieties, St. Laurent, Zweigelt and some Muskateller really feel at home. As the sun slowly set on the horizon, we realised why.
The soils here are characterised by chalky gravel and form the backbone of Andi's work. And with a lot of care and sustainable organic farming, he brings out the best in them. Andi has now taken over his parents' business and is blazing new trails. In the cellar, he relies on minimalist and natural vinification; he lets the wine speak without exerting much influence. The red wines mature carefully in traditional foudres, large wooden barrels, while the whites retain their lively freshness and energy in stainless steel.