For more than 300 years, Esterházy winery in Leithaberg, Austria has united tradition and innovation – crafting wines of character and authentic expression of their terroir.
Esterházy winery
More than 300 years of tradition & innovation
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Esterházy melds more than 300 years of tradition with sustainable innovations to produce cool climate wines that are as expressive as its rich cultural heritage.
This historic winery is owned by the foundation of a family, who for centuries have been leaders in viticulture, farming and forestry as well as patrons of the arts in the Pannonian region spanning modern day Austria and Hungary.
Esterházy wines became inextricably linked with its cultural endeavours, which showcased world-famous composers, musicians and artists who formed an integral part of the court at the baroque Esterházy Palace in the Burgenland state capital, Eisenstadt.
Joseph Haydn, who held the prestigious position of Composer-in-Residence in the 18th century, created some of his most beautiful works here – and his reward included an annual allowance of Esterházy wine.
Origin Leithaberg
Since it first recorded planting vines in 1758 in Leithaberg on the Burgenland side of the Leitha Range, in the east of Austria, Esterházy has set ever higher standards for viticulture and conservation management.
Today it makes wines from an impressive array of soils and microclimates across Leithaberg, which is bordered by the Neusiedlersee lake to the east and dense forest to the north. Detailed soil analyses and individual cultivation concepts for each of the 21 vineyards allow the wines to express the full diversity of the appellation.
Single vineyard, village and regional wines are produced from 65-hectares of vineyards with predominately Leitha limestone and mica slate soils spread across six municipalities: Grosshöflein, Eisenstadt, St. Georgen, Oslip, Rust and St. Margarethen.
Organic precision
The entire estate has been cultivated organically since 2019, with the wines certified 100% organic since the 2023 vintage. Compost from the local Esterhazy organic farm is applied and ‘gentle pruning’ preserves the vines’ vitality and ensures optimal grape growth. In keeping with Esterházy winery’s environmental philosophy, irrigation has been banned.
Esterházy’s winemaking approach also reflects its legacy of innovation and respect for tradition. The grapes are handpicked in the vineyards – all of which are less than 10km from its modern winery with state-of-the art equipment in Trausdorf.
From oak to eggs: Esterhazy redefines ageing
There, the talented winemaking team has experimented with different ageing vessels to find the perfect match for each wine. Oak barrels from Esterhazy’s own forests in Leithaberg add structure and complexity to the single vineyard native Blaufränkisch and Chardonnay wines. The village and regional wines spanning indigenous and international grape varieties are matured in wood and stone barrels. Since 2023, the winery has also used three of the world’s largest concrete eggs holding 3,800-litres each, partly made from basalt mined nearby in Esterhazy’s Pauliberg quarry, as well as amphorae.
Just as Esterházy’s palace offers an impressive journey through Europe’s cultural history whilst being a decidedly 21st century hub for stunning music and performances, the wines are also testament to the Esterházy’s legendary heritage and vision. Elegant wines with a mineral character that reflect the uniqueness of the terroir – a terroir as singular as the noble family who championed quality central European winemaking for centuries.
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About Esterházy winery
Esterházy melds more than 300 years of tradition with sustainable innovations to produce cool climate wines that are as expressive as its rich cultural heritage. This historic winery, owned by a family foundation, has been producing varietal and single vineyard wines in the Burgenland appellation of Leithaberg in the east of Austria, since 1758. Their wines were originally made in the cellars beneath the baroque Esterházy Palace in the Burgenland state capital of Eisenstadt, where world-famous composers such as Joseph Haydn formed an integral part of the court. Today it produces single vineyard, village and regional wines from 65-hectares of vineyards spread across six Leithaberg villages: Grosshöflein, Eisenstadt, St. Georgen, Oslip, Rust and St. Margarethen. The entire estate, with its fossil-rich limestone and mica slate soils, is certified organic, compost from the Esterhazy organic farm is applied, and there is no irrigation. The grapes are handpicked in the vineyards – all of which are less than 10km from its state-of-the-art winery in Trausdorf. There, the talented winemaking team has experimented with different ageing vessels to find the perfect match for each wine. Oak barrels from Esterhazy’s own forests add structure and complexity to the single vineyard native Blaufränkisch and Chardonnay wines while the other wines are matured in wood, stainless steel and vessels made from clay and granite. Since 2023, the winery has also used three of the world’s largest concrete eggs holding 3,800-litres each, partly made from basalt mined nearby in the Pauliberg quarry.
Esterházy winery
Trausdorf 1
7061 Trausdorf an der Wulka
Austria
Esterházy winery
