Wine is only one crop on the Michlits family's land. At Meinklang, vines share the same soil as Angus cattle, sheep, pigs, and fields of ancient grain, all worked as a single biodynamic organism rather than a vineyard with livestock attached.
Backstory
The farm sits in Pamhagen, in Austria's Burgenland, at the lowest point in the country. Anneliese and Werner Michlits Senior converted to organic farming in the late 1980s, when that was still rare, and the estate earned Demeter biodynamic certification in 2003. Today the next generation, brothers Werner, Hannes, and Lukas, runs the operation.
The Region
Meinklang lies within the UNESCO World Heritage area around Lake Neusiedl, the warm, shallow lake that moderates this flat, sunny corner of eastern Austria. The family's holdings stretch across the Austrian-Hungarian border, putting vineyards on both sides of the frontier.
Vineyards & Farming
The farm covers roughly 2,500 hectares, making it one of Europe's largest biodynamic operations. More than 300 Angus cattle graze the pastures, and their manure fertilizes the land. Sheep, pigs, chickens, and goats add biodiversity, while the family also grows ancient grains such as Einkorn and Emmer. The vineyard work is divided among the brothers, with Werner managing vines and winemaking.
Winemaking
Werner Michlits and his wife Angela ferment spontaneously with native yeasts and work with minimal intervention. The cellar produces still and sparkling wines alongside skin-macerated styles, including amphora-aged bottlings, all meant to taste like the agriculture behind them.
The Wines
The range runs from the easygoing Burgenland Red and White blends to the Mulatschak skin-contact orange wine and the Prosa frizzante. Beyond wine, the family makes Demeter-certified beer from its own grain, a reminder that Meinklang is a whole farm first and a winery second.
