PRODUCER: Ebner-Ebenauer
REGION: Poysdorf, Weinviertel, Austria
WINEMAKERS: Marion & Manfred Ebner-Ebenauer
Meet Marion and Manfred Ebner-Ebenauer, an award-winning duo at the helm of Ebner-Ebenauer, nestled in Austria's Weinviertel. Famed for their diverse range of wines crafted from ancient vines spanning a 20-hectare estate, their commitment to spontaneous fermentation, and painstaking manual harvesting techniques, the couple has secured the title 'Winemakers of the Year 2022' by Falstaff. Utilizing a kaleidoscope of terroirs across 38 vineyards, they produce singular expressions of each grape variety that reflect their unique growing conditions.
WINERY HISTORY
Ebner-Ebenauer's roots are as deeply embedded in history as their old vines, centered around a 400-year-old winery. This journey began with Manfred Ebenauer, originally a marketing student, who took a detour from his intended career path, transitioning to the role of a winemaker under his father's guidance. As fate would have it, he crossed paths with Marion, a fellow wine management student who quickly became his life and business partner. Together, they've successfully grown the winery from its original seven hectares to its current span of 20 hectares, converting to organic farming along the way.
VITICULTURE & WINEMAKING
The duo debuted in 2007 to rave reviews. Continuing to improve with each subsequent vintage, the wines of Ebner-Ebenauer are balanced by the same forces which make its owners a perfect match. The winemaking here is based around patience and nature’s guidance. They leverage spontaneous fermentation, allowing the wines to evolve naturally, undisturbed. Their vineyards are home to vines of above-average age, some over 70 years old, contributing significantly to the complexity and depth of their wines. Each parcel of grapes is harvested by hand and vinified separately, ensuring the truest expression of each site. The winery’s no-frills approach eliminates reliance on pumps and technical equipment, further reinforcing their dedication to authenticity and time-honoured tradition. Focus and precision meet with ambition and excitement in each bottling, resulting in a wide selection of wines firmly ensconced amongst Austria’s finest.
There is a wide range of grape varieties planted at the estate, but Grüner is the star performer. The single vineyard offerings from old vines in some of the Weinviertel’s top sites are intense and complex, while their entry level Grüner shows plenty of this quality despite its humbler origin. Utilising a kaleidoscope of terroirs across 38 vineyards, they produce singular expressions of each grape variety that reflect their unique growing conditions. Having recently been named Falstaff’s ‘Winemakers of the Year 2022,’ the couple’s painstaking work continues to be recognised and rewarded across the globe.
GRAPE VARIETIES
Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Zweigelt, St. Laurent
IN THE PRESS
"Ebner-Ebenauer in Poysdorf has developed over the past few years into a flagship winery in the Weinviertel region and reliably produces top-quality wines, primarily from Grüner Veltliner, on 20 organically farmed hectares. The house's sparkling wines are among the finest in the German-speaking countries, but due to the small production, they sell out very quickly." - Stephen Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
"Over the past two decades, the couple has set new standards for the Weinviertel." - Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous
