Markus Altenburger grew up on a farm in Jois, a small village northwest of Lake Neusiedl in Burgenland, where his family had cultivated vines alongside livestock and grain for generations. When it came time to decide his own path, it was Blaufränkisch — Austria's most compelling indigenous red grape — that made the choice for him. He took over the family winery in 2006 with a single hectare and a clear conviction: to let the Leithaberg speak without interference.
The Region
Markus Altenburger works in the Leithaberg DAC, one of Burgenland's most distinctive sub-zones, defined by the Leithagebirge ridge along the western shore of Lake Neusiedl. The ancient seabed geology left behind a remarkable mosaic of fossilized limestone (Leithakalk), chalky loam, and slate. These soils give the wines a mineral tension and precision that sets them apart from Burgenland's richer, more lake-influenced bottlings.
Vineyards & Farming
Markus now farms 17 hectares across 30 individual parcels, half estate-owned and half on long-term lease. The oldest vines date to 1969. He converted to certified organic farming in 2014 and practices biodynamic principles — including Demeter preparations and planting by the Maria Thun calendar — with no-till management and permanent soil cover. On the steepest parcels, work is done entirely on foot, without tractors.
Winemaking
In the cellar, Markus ferments with spontaneous native yeasts in wooden vessels, concrete eggs, and amphora. Blaufränkisch is aged in Stockinger barrels; whites see three to five days of skin maceration to build phenolic structure without heaviness. Sulfur is added only at bottling, at a maximum of 7–15 ppm. All wines are unfined and unfiltered. His labels are stamped with handprints made from wine lees — a quietly expressive signature.
The Wines
Blaufränkisch Vom Kalk is the anchor of the range: a single-vineyard expression from limestone parcels that delivers transparency and precision. The Skins & Stones is an extended-maceration white of rare texture and depth. Across 50,000 to 60,000 bottles per year, the lineup offers consistently soulful, place-specific wines that have made Markus one of Austria's most-watched producers.
