Esterházy Winery

For many years wine was made in the cellars under the palace which dominates the town of Eisenstadt but in 2006 a new, high-tech winery was opened at Trausdorf, just outside the town, to deal with the production from the estate’s 65 hectares, 48 situated between the Neusiedlersee and the hills behind Eisenstadt, 17 over the Hungarian border in Sopron. 35% is white with Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Blanc and Sauvignon being the mainstay, 65% from Blaufränkisch, Pinot Noir, Zweigelt and even some Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. All modern ideas are incorporated in the winery from sorting tables, cold maceration, semi-carbonic maceration, movement by gravity, humidity and temperature control. Stainless steel and oak are used according to the style required and reminders of the family’s history of patronage of the arts (which includes Haydn and Goethe) hang on the walls and are reproduced on the labels.