Summary
Weingut Hannes Reeh in Andau in Burgenland is one of the most striking success stories of young Austrian winemaking. Since the first estate vintage in 2007, winemaker Hannes Reeh has transformed his parents’ operation into a nationally known red-wine address within just a few years. On around 120 hectares near Lake Neusiedl, he crafts powerful, modern wines – with Zweigelt at the centre, which Reeh has raised to a high stylistic level with his barrique-aged “Unplugged” range. Sun-drenched sites, consistent cellar work and a clearly recognisable, dark-fruited, dense style have made the estate a hallmark of contemporary Burgenland red wine.
History
The estate’s roots lie in a small family winery in Andau that, for generations, mainly produced grapes and bulk wine. The decisive break came with Hannes Reeh, who bottled his first estate vintage in 2007 and radically reoriented the business towards high-quality bottled wine. Within a few years production rose from a few tens of thousands to several hundred thousand bottles, and in 2009 the estate was converted into a GmbH.
Growth brought investment: a new, functional cellar building was completed in 2012 and expanded again in 2019. The former part-time operation became a modern winery with a well-drilled team – and one of the best-known young winemaker faces in Austria.
Location & Terroir
Andau lies on the far eastern edge of Burgenland, in the Heideboden east of Lake Neusiedl. This region is one of the warmest and driest wine areas in Austria. The shallow steppe lake acts as a heat store and climate regulator, while the Pannonian lowland brings many hours of sunshine and low rainfall – ideal conditions for fully ripe, full-bodied reds.
The soils are predominantly sandy loam with gravel and pebble content. They are well aerated, warm up quickly and give the wines ripeness and power. Zweigelt in particular finds optimal conditions here to develop dark fruit and structure.
Style & Philosophy
The Hannes Reeh style is deliberately modern: dense, dark-fruited reds with ripe tannins, clear fruit and well-integrated barrique ageing. Reeh relies on consistent yield reduction, careful selection and precise cellar work, without overloading the wines. The aim is an accessible yet serious drinkability that makes the estate’s signature instantly recognisable.
The red-wine programme is complemented by fresh, uncomplicated whites and rosé that follow the same clear, fruit-driven line. Above all stands the idea that modern Burgenland wine can combine character and accessibility.
Notable Sites & Wines
The range is clearly structured – from accessible estate wines to the ambitious top wines:
- Zweigelt Unplugged – the flagship: single varietal, barrique-aged, dense and dark-fruited
- The Unplugged range as a whole, which puts the pure expression of each grape at the centre
- Powerful red blends from Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
- Fruit-driven white wines from Chardonnay, Weißburgunder, Sauvignon Blanc and Grüner Veltliner
The wines clearly carry their origin from the warm Lake Neusiedl area: ripe, powerful and clearly structured.
Awards
Hannes Reeh is today regarded as one of the flagship estates of the young Austrian red-wine scene. The Zweigelt Unplugged in particular regularly earns high ratings in the trade press, for example at Falstaff, and has played a major role in cementing the reputation of Zweigelt as a serious top-quality red. The rapid growth, the clear style and the consistent modernisation of the estate make it one of the defining names of today’s Burgenland.