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Esterházy unveils first Pinot Blanc from Oberer Wald vineyard

by Bettina Bäck
Esterházy Winery at sunset

Esterházy has a rich history of melding tradition and pioneering winemaking techniques. In October 2025, it again makes Leithaberg history by releasing its first ever Pinot Blanc from one of the most admired vineyards in Rust. The debut of Pinot Blanc Leithaberg DAC Ried Oberer Wald 2023 cements Esterházy’s reputation for crafting premium quality, elegant wines that give full expression to the region’s diversity.

Esterházy has a long history of being a viticultural leader in the Pannonian region, dating back more than 300 years. And now the 2023 Pinot Blanc from Oberer Wald demonstrates not only the winery’s continuing innovation but also how the grape variety can flourish in the right hands – and by choosing the perfect site.

Limestone soils in the Obererwald vineyard of the Esterházy Winery
© Roman Seidl

All about limestone

Esterházy planted Pinot Blanc in the Oberer Wald vineyard on a gentle hill around 160 metres above sea level in 2012. The choice was far from an accident. The southeast facing slope towards Neusiedler See is one of the most sought-after locations in Rust, on the border with Oggau. That’s because its deep soil, rich in limestone and decomposed chalk deposits, retains a lot of water, only warming up very slowly. This chalky soil and mild climate offer the ideal conditions for Pinot Blanc to fully express itself as a marvellous solo player rather than a worthy accompanist.

Initially, Esterházy began making Pinot Blanc village wine from Oberer Wald but quickly realised the potential of this “absolutely world-class site”, explains winery manager Wolfgang Hewarth.

Wolfgang Herwarth Weingut Ésterhazy
©

“We decided only a single site wine would do justice to this e variety, the youngest member of the Pinot family, and Oberer Wald’s singular character.”

Wolfgang Hewarth

While Oberer Wald is unique, it is cultivated by hand according to best practice techniques that Esterházy has applied across its estate. There is no irrigation, organic compost from the Esterházy farm is applied and the “gentle pruning” method is used on the vines to ensure optimal vigour and health.

Just as much care was taken in the cellar. The Pinot Blanc was matured in 500-litre oak barrels from Esterházy's own forests on fine lees for 10 months to help give it structure and reach optimal quality.

Limestone soils in the Obererwald vineyard of the Esterházy Winery
© Roman Seidl
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Uncompromising quality

The barren shell limestone of the Oberer Wald vineyard gives this Pinot Blanc a very elegant mineral character. Initially, it has delicate aromas of white flowers, quince and pears. The minimal use of Leithaberg oak subtly supports the wine’s structure and leaves enough room for the bright acidity and pronounced minerality. This organic certified wine is a delight to drink alone as it is already at the peak of its freshness. However, it also embodies all the characteristics of a “food-friendly” wine, with its vibrant acidity and balance making it an ideal sparring partner for everything from sushi and other fish dishes to tender meats.

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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

Esterházy Winery’s leadership team: Jakob Holzmann, Wolfgang Hewarth & Ticiana Nagy
Bettina Bäck von Wine+Partners
Bettina Bäck
Senior Project Manager

No idea too big, no detail too small: Bettina impresses with her dedication to all things delightful. With years of experience in public relations, she masters even complex tasks with ease and great sensitivity. When she tells her clients’ stories, people listen — and she always manages to spark curiosity, as her passion is both contagious and inspiring. Today, she looks after some of the most prestigious names, such as Baur au Lac in Switzerland, the innovative top chefs of JRE, entire wine regions like Vinhos Verdes in Portugal, and emerging wineries around the world.