Neckenmarkt - die Winzer

Neckenmarkt die Winzer is a winegrowers' cooperative in the heart of Mittelburgenland, with a history reaching back to Celtic times. The Romans recognised the potential of these soils almost two thousand years ago; Neckenmarkt then lay on the Amber Road, one of the most important trade routes between the Baltic and the Mediterranean. The modern cooperative was founded in 1968, when the mayor of the day persuaded the village's winegrowers to manage quality and sales together.

Today the cooperative has around 100 members, who farm 280 hectares of vineyards between them. Only those who own a vineyard in Neckenmarkt itself can become members. For the top wines, the vines must be at least twenty years old and grow in the best sites. Every grape is picked by hand, carefully sorted by variety and quality, one of the key reasons for the consistently high standard.

Cellar master Gerald Wieder has led production for decades and firmly upholds the house's strict quality philosophy. Close-to-nature viticulture, careful use of resources and close cooperation with the member estates are everyday practice. In 1992 the cooperative received the Burgenland environmental award for its "Weinbau naturnah" (close-to-nature winegrowing) project.

The loamy, chalky soils of Mittelburgenland and a microclimate shaped by Lake Neusiedl, with over 1,200 hours of sunshine a year, cool nights and constant wind, create ideal conditions for Blaufränkisch, which defines the range. The cooperative's flagship is made in strict selection and small quantities and has received 92 to 95 points from Falstaff and A la Carte across several vintages.