It is hotter here, beside the little Zicksee lake, than in the better-known vineyards around Lake Neusiedl, yet Andreas Ziniel keeps his wines light and almost dangerously drinkable, helped by the Alpine winds that sweep through.
Backstory
Known to friends as Zini, Andreas Ziniel studied viticulture and worked in wineries across South Africa, Germany, and Switzerland before returning to take over his family estate. He has become one of the most talked-about young names in the Austrian natural-wine scene.
The Region
The estate lies in the southeastern part of Burgenland, right on the Hungarian border, near the shallow Zicksee. The setting is warmer than the more famous zones around Lake Neusiedl, but Alpine winds keep the grapes fresh and the wines lively.
Vineyards & Farming
Ziniel farms 15 hectares, with main parcels in sites named Heulage, Johannishöhe, and Hutweide. Soil health is his central concern, a pointed commitment in a region where decades of chemical farming have left their mark. He works with minimal intervention, letting flora and fauna flourish alongside the vines and farming for the long term rather than the next vintage.
Winemaking
In the cellar Ziniel keeps things low-intervention and favors short maceration times, prioritizing freshness and drinkability over weight and extraction. Whites are mostly raised in stainless steel, while the reds move through a varied set of vessels including large old foudres, barriques, concrete, ceramic, and amphora. The results are light, bright, and easy to drink without being simple.
The Wines
He grows Sylvaner, Welschriesling, Weißburgunder, Chardonnay, Muscat, Zweigelt, and Sankt Laurent. The range runs from a fresh pet-nat and a Muskat through varietal whites to light, juicy reds like the Sankt Laurent and the Zini Light Red. He has also collaborated with Jas Swan of Katla Wines on a cuvée called Fira. The common thread is energy and freshness from a warm corner of Burgenland.
