Collection: Johannes Zillinger

Johannes Zillinger learned the craft of organic winemaking from his father at an early age, developing a philosophy that sees the vineyard not just as a plot of land, but as a living habitat. His father, Hans, who turned to organic viticulture in 1983, two years before the glycol scandal, became one of Austria’s early pioneers in the field.

Johannes took over the estate in 2012, carrying forward his father’s philosophy and elevating it by converting the 350-year-old estate to biodynamic farming. Today, the wines are fully Demeter certified. He grows his own herbs for tea tinctures, which are used in various vineyard treatments, reflecting his hands-on, holistic approach.

In the cellar, Johannes favors spontaneous fermentation and minimal intervention. The wines might be lightly filtered, with sulfur added only in small amounts to selected batches before bottling, though most are made entirely without sulfur. Fermentation methods vary, including partial or full amphora fermentation and carbonic maceration. Afterward, wines may remain in the amphorae until bottling or be transferred to large, aged oak or acacia barrels, with Johannes even blending multiple vintages using a solera-style approach.

“Healthy soil is the key to making outstanding and exciting wines. This is especially true when we don’t restrict the development of the wines in the cellar. Nature paints the most beautiful pictures, and I frame these masterpieces with the tool of minimalist intervention.”

What sets Johannes apart is that his wines appeal not only to natural wine enthusiasts but also to those less familiar with the style of natural wines. Their purity, clean flavors, and inherent precision make them accessible while remaining profoundly expressive.