On the flat, light-flooded shores of Lake Neusiedl in Burgenland, Alexander and Maria Koppitsch make some of Austria's most sought-after natural wines. Their bottles, all crafted by hand on a tiny scale, express a mosaic of soils across a modest holding.
Backstory
Winemaking runs five centuries deep in the Koppitsch family, passed down through generations near Neusiedl am See. Alex and Maria took over his parents' vines and began making natural wine in 2011, carrying forward a family tradition in which, by the last generation's account, no chemicals or additives were ever used.
The Region
The estate sits in the Neusiedlersee area of Burgenland, beside the vast, shallow lake that straddles the Austrian-Hungarian border. The lake moderates the climate and shapes a warm, breezy growing environment.
Vineyards and Farming
Koppitsch farms roughly six hectares across limestone, clay and sandy soils, following the biodynamic principles of Rudolf Steiner. The focus is on healthy soils and vibrant fruit, with every aspect of vineyard and cellar work done by hand.
Winemaking
Alex does not believe in adding anything to the grapes or the wine. Fruit ferments spontaneously and the wines mature carefully and without intervention, staying true to the family's additive-free heritage.
The Wines
Popular bottlings include Homok, Ret, Perspektive and Lemon, the last of which gained extra fame after pop star Dua Lipa declared her love for it.
