Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Anita and Hans Nittnaus, Burgenland, with Anita, Hans and Martin Nittnaus - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours took place from Sunday, May 28 - Thursday, June 08, 2023. We toured Austria for 12 days, starting and ending in Vienna: Wien, Wagram, Carnuntum, Burgenland, Steiermark, Wachau, Kamptal, Kremstal, Traisental, Wien.  

If you walk through the doors of any restaurant in Austria, ordering a bottle of Nittnaus will certainly give you a respectful nod from the Sommelier. The winery - Anita und Hans Nittnaus - has been among the 'créme de la créme' of Austria’s leading wineries for over 30 years now. The winemaker behind this success is Hans 'John‘ Nittnaus, a true pioneer, and still today, a mastermind behind many important developments in Burgenland. Many of Austria’s great vignerons, including our very own Jutta Ambrositsch and Claus Preisinger, have learned their trade under his wings. But behind the shadow of his legacy, sons Martin and Andi, as well as their cousin Lydia Nittnaus (an alumni of Newcomer Wines), have been working hard to slowly take over the reins of the winery today. We first started importing micro amounts of Martin’s own wines a few years back, but we are excited to finally release the trio’s first joint project - a selection of different interpretations of Grüner Veltliner and Blaufränkisch from various plots of the biodynamic estate (newcomerwines.com).  .  

When we visited Weingut Anita und Hans Nittnaus in Gols, Burgenland, Lake Neusiedl, we were welcomed by Anita Nittnaus and Martin Nittnaus. 

Martin Nittnaus was our host. He showed us the winemaking facilities, where we also met Andi Nittnaus and Hans (John) Nittnaus. Then we sat down in the tasting room for a tasting of the "old" and the "new" Anita und Hans Nittnaus wines.

Weingut Anita und Hans Nittnaus, Gols, Burgenland, Neusiedlersee

Annette Schiller: Wine making in the Nittnaus family in the town of Gols at the northern tip of Lake Neusiedl goes back to 1684. Today it is Anita and Hans Nittnaus and their two sons who are managing the winery. The family’s philosophy is complete devotion to making wines reflecting the origin and terroir of the area. They work according to strict biodynamic principles, and since 2013 they are certified biodynamic by the small, rigorous “respect-BIODYN” organization. They have around 100 acres of vineyards in two distinctively different areas: around Gols with gravel, clay, sandy loam soils and in the Leithaberg with shell-limestone, quarzit, and slate soils. The wines from these two areas are vinified completely separately so that the terroir character is prominently displayed. 

The Nittnaus are influencial pioneers of the contemporary dynamic wine scene in Burgenland. However, their pole position among Austrian red wine producers is due to an unusual blend, the Comondor. 

I quote Anita and Hans Nittnaus: “In 1985 we took over the winery. We drank Bordeaux, Burgundy, Barolo etc, and planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Internationality was the of the talk of the day. Only in the Ungerberg, our best vineyard, did we experiment and planted Blaufränkisch. The 1990 harvest then produced two outstanding wines. On the one hand the Cabernet Sauvignon from Edelgrund and on the other hand the Blaufränkisch from Ungerberg. For us it was clear that the two represented a dream couple that should be married. This is how the Comondor was born, which bears the Pannonian name of a historic Hungarian shepherd dog breed and has been something of the flagship of our winery ever since.”

Kalk und Kegel: Weingut Hans&Anita Nittnaus

Der John vom Leithaberg

Er wollte Profi-Musiker werden. Und übernahm dann doch das Familienweingut. Er gründete die Pannobile-Gruppe und sein Comondor zählt zu den besten Cuvees des Landes.

"John haben sie immer schon zu mir gesagt“, sagt Hans Nittnaus, „wahrscheinlich wegen der langen Haare und weil ich Rockgitarre gespielt habe. Seit anno 1684 ist die Familie in Landwirtschaft und Weinbau verwurzelt. Der Großvater gründete 1927 den heutigen Standort, der Vater stellte die gemischte Landwirtschaft auf Weinbau um, John übernahm 1986. Was nicht immer so klar war, jedoch: „Nicht nur als Musiker, auch als Winzer kann man seine Kreativität ausleben“. Bis heute komponiert er, tritt auch mit Freunden auf, die rockige Gitarre gegen ein jazziges Klavier getauscht.  

Längst werkt die gesamte Familie im Betrieb. Johns Frau Anita als Geschäftsführerin im administrativen Bereich („Sie ist aber auch beim Kosten immer dabei und eine sehr strenge Kritikerin“), die drei Söhne Martin, Andreas und Sebastian im Verkauf, Keller bzw. Weingarten und Nichte Lydia in der Administration, PR und Verkauf. John, offiziell in Pension, will aber noch nicht ganz loslassen. Überhaupt: „Wir möchten uns laufend verbessern, nie auf der Stelle treten. Man kann immer was lernen! Wir haben als Weingut in den letzten Jahren einen weiteren Qualitätssprung hingelegt.“

Elektrisierender Natural

Reichlich Raum zur blühenden Entfaltung lässt der musikalische Winzer aber auch der nächsten Generation. Die keltern unter „Nittnaus“ erfolgreich eine Natural Wine Linie. Der Grüne Veltliner „Elektra“ stammt von alten Veltliner-Reben der kühlen, extrem kalkhaltigen Lage Lindauer. „Manila“, ebenfalls Grüner Veltliner, aus biologisch bewirtschafteten Weingärten der nordwestlich ausgerichteten Lagen Strassacker in Jois am Leithaberg. Manila in rot – klar, ein Blaufränker –, kommt aus dem oberen Teil des Joiser Jungenbergs. Einem von reinem Schiefer geprägten Südosthang, wo auch der Blaufränkisch Jungenberg Leithaberg DAC gedeiht.

John selbst liegen seine Leithaberg DAC Weine (Blaufränkisch und Chardonnay) besonders am Herzen. Stichwort DAC: „Am Leithaberg ist DAC überhaupt keine konservative Angelegenheit, sondern fast revolutionär. Es gibt fast nichts Spannenderes als auf diesen außergewöhnlichen Böden mit den geeigneten Rebsorten die Herkunft in Weinen auszudrücken. Da wird noch viel passieren.“

• Größe: 40 Hektar
• Wichtigste Rebsorten: Blaufränkisch, Merlot, Zweigelt, Chardonnay
• Zertifizierung: Respekt biodynamisch, EU-Bio
• Wichtigste Lagen: Jois: Jungenberg, Gritschenberg, Altenberg, Freudshofer, Bergschmallister; Neusiedl am See: Lange Ohn
• Wichtigste Böden: Kalk
  
• Arbeit im Weingarten: viel Handarbeit, Triebausdünnung, Traubenausdünnung
• Arbeit im Keller: lange Lagerung auf der Hefe, wenig Filtration, keine Zusätze
• Fässer: 500 Liter Tonneaus von Stockinger, Ybbstaler Eiche, LDL Toasting
• Exportanteil: 30%, steigend

Arriving at Weingut Hans and Anita Nittnaus in Gols

Cellar Tour with Martin Nittnaus

Hans Nittnaus Joining

Tasting with Martin Nittnaus

newcomerwines.com:  While the 'Manila‘ line represents the entry point of the project, with a macerated Grüner as well as a juicy Blaufränkisch, the 'Elektra‘ - a highly energetic white from a limestone vineyard on the North tip of Lake Neusiedlersee - as well as the more advanced cuvées under the ’Tochter’ label, display micro cuvées that try to redefine the idea of the native varieties and showcase a side of the Burgenland we have yet to come across.

Bye-bye

Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours - Published and Forthcoming Postings

ombiasy WineTours: Wine Tour Schedule 2023 - Austria, Germany/East, Burgundy/ Champagne, Germany/ North

Announcement: Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours - 12 Days: May 28 - June 08, 2023 

The Wines of Austria - Presentation by Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, at the 2021 American Wine Society National Conference in Atlantic City 

Wine Producer Austria - Not Only Gruener Veltliner

Summary: Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Schiller’s Favorite Spots to Drink Wine in Vienna, Austria

Dinner at an Iconic Beisl in Vienna: Griechenbeisl - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Tour of the Monastery/ Palace Klosterneuburg and of the Weingut Klosterneuburg, with Wine Tasting - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Wiener Schnitzel and Tafelspitz at Plachutta in der Wollzeile, Vienna. Plachutta is more than a Restaurant: it is a Vienna Institution - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

After Dinner Drinks at Vis-a-Vis Wine Bar, Vienna - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Vienna: Viaker City Tour and Tour of Schloss Schönbrunn - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Restaurant Die Seejungfrau in Jois at Lake Neusiedl - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Leo Hillinger, Burgenland, with Jakob Scharner, Diplom-Sommelier - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Netzl, Carnuntum, with Franz, Christine and Christina Netzl - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Lunch at Restaurant Mole West at Lake Neusiedl - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Meeting “John” Nittnaus from Gols, Burgenland, Austria

Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Anita and Hans Nittnaus, Burgenland, with Anita, Hans and Martin Nittnaus - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Umathum, Burgenland, with Joseph Umathum

A Wedding and a Wine Tasting at Schloss Halbturn in Austria

Sekt Reception in the Court Yard and Dinner at Schloss Halbturn, Burgenland

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Steindorfer, Burgenland, with Ernst and Roland Steindorfer

Light Lunch at Gránátos Étterem at Esterházy Kástely in Fertöd, Hungary

Tour of the Liszt-Haus in Raiding

Tasting at Weingut Straka, Burgenland, with Thomas Straka

Wine and Food from Burgenland at Wachter-Wieslers Ratschen, Deutsch-Schuetzen, Austria - with Tom and Christoph Wachter and Julia Sevenich

Eating and Sleeping in the Vineyard: Wohnothek am Ratschen, Deutsch-Schützen, with Chef Daniel Sulzer, Restaurant am Ratschen, 16 Points Gault-Millau

Tasting at Weingut Wachter-Wiesler, Burgenland, with Julia Wachter 

Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Weingut Jalits, Burgenland, with Mathias Jalits

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Neumeister, Steiermark, with Christoph Neumeister

Dinner with a View at Hotel Weinrefugium, Steiermark

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Sattlerhof, Steiermark, with Justė Sattler

Visit: Gerhard Wohlmuth sen. and his Weingut Wohlmuth in Austria

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Wohlmuth, Steiermark

Lunch and Tasting at Buschenschank Weingut Trummer, Steiermark, with Jürgen Trummer

Tasting at Weingut Polz, Steiermark, with Sommelier Philipp Heidenbauer

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Tement, Steiermark, with Sommelier Andy Bodor

Lunch at Restaurant Magnothek/ Weingut Tement, Südsteiermark

Gustav Mahler, Sinfonie Nr.3 at Graz Opera, Steiermark

In Eisenstadt, Burgenland: Tour at Haydn House, Lunch at Restaurant Henrici, Tour at Esterhazy Castle

At Loisium Wine & Spa Resort Langenlois, Kamptal: Impromptu Steininger Sekt Reception with Eva Steininger and Klaus Wittauer

Wine-pairing Dinner at Heurigenhof Bründlmeyer with Chef Jan Pfeiffer, 15.5 Point Gault Millau

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Steininger, Kamptal, with Brigitta Steininger

The Wines of Stefanie and Alwin Jurtschitsch, Weingut Jurtschitsch, Kamptal, Austria

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Stephanie and Alwin Jurtschitsch, Kamptal, with Alwin Jurtschitsch

Lunch at Braugasthaus zum Fiakerwirtin Langenlois, Kamptal

Tasting at Weingut Markus Huber, Traisental, with Markus Huber

2 Days in Dürnstein, Wachau, at Hotel Richard Löwenherz

Martin Mittelbach from the "Tegernseehof" and Klaus Wittauer from "KWSelection" Presented Tegernseehof Wines and Stefan Trummer and Chef Austin Fausett from “Trummer’s on Main” in Clifton Austrian Appetizers at the Austrian Embassy in Washington DC, USA

Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Weingut Tebernseerhof, Wachau, with Owner/ Winemaker Martin Mittelbach

Tour and Tasting at Domäne Wachau, Dürnstein, Wachau

Tasting and Dinner at Weingut Nigl, Kremstal, 13.5 Points Gault Millau

Vintage 2011 Tasting with Lucas Pichler, Weingut F.X. Pichler, with Dirk Wuertz at his Koenigsmuehle in Rheinhessen, Austria/Germany

Tour and Tasting at Weingut F.X.Pichler, Wachau, with Lucas Pichler

Tasting at Weingut Matthias Hager, Kamptal, with Doris Hager

Lunch at Gasthaus Gutmann, Zöbing, Kamptal

Tour and Tasting at Weingut Schloss Gobelsburg, Kamptal, with Stefan Tabery

Farewell Dinner at Café Central in Vienna