How can a young winery already possess more than 100 years of experience? The answer lies in the strength of family.
Weingut Gattinger, founded by Simon Gattinger in 2017, is built on four generations of winemaking tradition in the Wachau’s Loiben Kellergasse. Since 1912, when Simon’s great-grandfather Anton laid the foundation of the family’s wine legacy and co-founded the Wachau Winemaker’s Association Dinstl-Gut, the Gattingers have been deeply rooted in the region. Over the decades, Anton was followed by Leopold and then Leo, who focused exclusively on grape production. It was Simon, however, who revived the vision of bottling wines under the family name—transforming inherited knowledge into a fresh, modern winery.
With studies, internships, and an early passion for wine, Simon built upon tradition to create something new. In 2023, he reconstructed the historic cellar into a modern gravity-flow facility, designed on three levels to move the must without pumps—an approach that combines sustainability with precision. For Simon, it’s less about trend and more about continuity: using generational knowledge to craft wines with a future.
Weingut Gattinger is also very much a family endeavor. Simon’s parents, Sissy and Leo, remain hands-on in the vineyards, while his partner, Marlies Auer, leads marketing and communications. Together, they embody what makes the winery distinctive: innovation rooted in heritage.
The Excitement of the New, the Knowledge of Generations
For Simon Gattinger, great wine is never defined by alcohol or numbers—it’s defined by origin. Each vineyard tells a unique story, and his mission is to capture these nuances in the glass.
All of his vineyards lie in Unterloiben and Oberloiben in the municipality of Dürnstein, the easternmost part of the Wachau. Here, the Pannonian climate provides warmth, while the Danube and northern forests add refreshing coolness. The soils are equally diverse—gneiss, granite, and the Danubian gravel known as Donauschotter, which imparts a signature minerality, particularly in wines from Ried Klostersatz.
For Simon, the Wachau is a mosaic of terroirs. Kreutles is not Klostersatz. Höhereck is not Loibenberg. Each vineyard reflects a unique interplay of soil, altitude, and microclimate. With Grüner Veltliner and Riesling as his focus, he translates this diversity into wines that are clear, structured, and precise—yet always full of enjoyment.
The work is demanding: terraces built on dry stone walls, steep slopes that require hand labor, and hundreds of careful touches throughout the growing season. These terraces are not only iconic but also ecological havens, functioning as the largest “insect hotels” in Austria, supporting biodiversity while ensuring healthy soils.
Certified sustainable since 2021, Simon’s approach balances minimal intervention with careful protection of the vines. He believes in patience, allowing wines to mature on fine lees, or giving them longer maceration when needed. Each detail is intentional, each decision aimed at creating wines that are authentic, refined, and memorable.
The result is wines with finesse, precision, and joy—wines that invite you to say: “Another glass, please!”
Wine Tasting
We are delighted to share our next tasting highlights: Riesling Smaragd Ried Höhereck and Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Ried Kreutles.
A perfect opportunity to explore the contrast of these Smaragd wines – two varieties, two vineyards, one unforgettable experience.
Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Ried Kreutles offers vibrant herbal aromas, ripe yellow apple, and bright citrus notes. With precise acidity and mineral depth, it reflects the unique gneiss and loess soils of eastern Wachau.
Riesling Smaragd Ried Höhereck offers vibrant white peach, tropical notes, and bright lemon zest. With fine acidity and pure minerality, it’s a precise, elegant expression of Wachau’s unique terroir.
Conclusion
Weingut Gattinger represents the best of two worlds: the strength of heritage and the vision of innovation. From Grüner Veltliner shaped by Danubian gravel to Rieslings grown on the highest terraces, every bottle is an invitation to experience the Wachau’s complexity through Simon Gattinger’s clear and precise lens.