Summary
Weingut Gesellmann in Deutschkreutz is one of the leading red-wine estates in Mittelburgenland. Across around 50 hectares – roughly 90 percent red wine – Blaufränkisch is at the centre, complemented by Zweigelt, St. Laurent and international varieties. The Gesellmann family is documented as growers in Deutschkreutz since 1767; Engelbert Gesellmann made the estate known as a red-wine pioneer from the 1980s. Since 1993 his son Albert Gesellmann has run the estate, shaping icon cuvées such as Opus Eximium and Bela Rex as well as powerful single-vineyard Blaufränkisch.
History
The Gesellmann family has been documented as growers in Deutschkreutz since 1767 and thus looks back on a long tradition. Yet the estate gained supra-regional fame only under Engelbert Gesellmann (1935–2021), one of the pioneers of Austrian quality red wine. In the mid-1980s he planted international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and experimented with ageing in barrique – a rarity in Austria at the time. From this came the icon cuvées Opus Eximium (from the 1988 vintage) and Bela Rex.
Since 1993 Albert Gesellmann has run the estate. He expanded the single-vineyard work, converted the estate to organic farming in 2015 and led it to the top of Mittelburgenland. The next generation is already active in the business.
Location & Terroir
The estate lies in Deutschkreutz in Mittelburgenland, known for its importance to the variety as the 'Blaufränkischland'. The region lies sheltered between the Sopron hills and the Hungarian plain, right on the border with Hungary.
Decisive is the Pannonian climate with warm, dry summers and the influence of the nearby Lake Neusiedl, which ensures balanced conditions. The deep, often clay-rich, heavy soils with limestone and gravel components give Blaufränkisch ideal conditions for dense, long-lived reds with firm tannin and fine spice.
Style & Philosophy
Gesellmann stands for powerful, precise reds with clear origin. The focus is on regionally typical Blaufränkisch – from fruit-driven varietal wines to densely built single-vineyard growths that age for a long time in wood. Since 2015 the estate has been farmed organically.
Alongside Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt and St. Laurent play an important role, together with international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, which go above all into the great cuvées. The range is rounded out by a few whites, for example from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. In total, production amounts to around 200,000 bottles per year.
Notable Sites & Wines
The range is clearly tiered, from accessible varietal wines to the icon cuvées and single vineyards. Among the best-known wines are:
- Opus Eximium – the estate's most famous cuvée, consecutively numbered since 1988; one of Austria's most prestigious red blends
- Bela Rex – a barrique-aged cuvée named after the Hungarian king Béla IV
- Cuvée G – a top wine based on Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent
- hochberc – a single-variety Blaufränkisch from the Hochberg vineyard
These wines regularly rank among the highest-rated reds of Mittelburgenland.
Awards
For years, Gesellmann's wines have received top marks in the leading wine guides and tastings, including Falstaff and wein.plus. Opus Eximium and the single-vineyard Blaufränkisch in particular are regarded as a benchmark for Mittelburgenland. As a member of the Renommierte Weingüter Burgenland (RWB) and with a reputation grown over decades, the estate is today one of the fixed reference points for top Austrian red wine.