Her vineyards sit in Burgenland, close to Lake Neusiedl – a UNESCO World Heritage landscape shaped as much by people as by nature. Longterm stewardship matters here. Birgit farms not just with the next harvest in mind, but with the next generation – and the next – firmly in view. That mindset runs through everything she does, from the soil under the vines to the way her wines taste in the glass.
This is why we’ve chosen her as one of The Society’s Pioneers.
Farming as a living system
Birgit’s vineyards are farmed both organically and biodynamically, but labels only tell part of the story. What really sets her apart is the depth of thought and consistency behind her approach.
The vineyards are never irrigated. Instead, the focus is on building healthy, humus-rich soils that can hold onto water naturally – a vital strategy in a warm, dry region. Permanent cover crops, seeded with drought-resistant herbs and grasses, protect the soil, feed microbial life and help regulate temperature. The ground is left as undisturbed as possible, allowing root systems and soil biology to develop over time.
Animals play a central role. Sheep, goats and chickens are part of the wider farm ecosystem, contributing natural fertiliser and encouraging biodiversity. Bees are everywhere. Trees and hedges are planted to create shade, habitat and cooler microclimates. Birgit works closely with the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, using her vineyards as real-world case studies for students and researchers.
This isn’t nostalgia or a romantic gesture. It’s a practical response to climate pressure, built around resilience. Healthy soils and balanced vines are simply better equipped to cope with heat, drought, disease and weather shocks.
Low intervention winemaking, with purpose
In the cellar, the same philosophy applies: do less, but do it properly.
Grapes are harvested by hand from Birgit’s own vineyards and carefully selected. Fermentations rely on native yeasts, with no added enzymes and minimal handling. The wines are not fined, and sulphur is used sparingly and only where it’s genuinely needed. Many wines are left on their lees for extended periods, building texture and complexity naturally rather than through technical shortcuts.
This isn’t about chasing trends or making ‘natural’ wine for effect. It’s about allowing fruit grown in healthy vineyards to express itself clearly, without being pushed into a particular shape.
What does all this mean in the glass?
It isn’t possible to scientifically prove that wines grown with nature rather than with synthetic chemistry inputs taste better. But it’s also hard to shake the feeling that this way of farming simply makes sense. If a vineyard is more balanced, more resilient and more alive, logic suggests the grapes should be better balanced too – and that the winemaker has less need to intervene.
I like to think that even if you can’t measure it, there’s a sense that you’re tasting more than just a place — you’re tasting her philosophy, patience and effort as well.
Thoughtful choices beyond the vineyard
Being a Wine Society Pioneer isn’t just about how vines are farmed. It’s about the quieter, less visible decisions too.
Birgit’s wines are bottled in lightweight glass, significantly reducing the footprint of each bottle. The winery is powered by onsite solar energy, supported by efficient heatpump systems that regulate the cellar naturally. Rainwater is collected and reused where possible. Waste is minimised, composted or reused, feeding animals and vineyards in a closed loop.
People matter just as much. The core team has worked together for decades, employed directly on longterm contracts. Seasonal harvest workers return year after year, properly contracted and insured. Knowledge is invested in people, and it stays within the business.
Beyond the winery gates, Birgit is deeply embedded in her local community. She helped found a Waldorf school, supports cultural and educational initiatives, and runs a certified Green Care winery — opening the farm to people dealing with illness, burnout or mental health challenges, and using nature as a place of restoration.
None of this is done for show. It’s simply how she believes a farm should function.
Why Birgit Braunstein is a Wine Society Pioneer
The Society’s Pioneers exists to highlight producers who are not only making excellent wines today, but who are actively shaping what responsible, high-quality wine production looks like for the future.
Birgit Braunstein embodies that idea. Her work shows that caring for soil, water, wildlife and people isn’t a compromise – it’s a way of making wines that feel grounded, honest and quietly compelling.
We do the work of finding and verifying producers like Birgit so our members don’t have to. All that’s left is to open the bottle, pour a glass, and decide for yourself.
>> Explore Birgit Braunstein’s wines
>> Discover more of our Wine Society Pioneers’ wines
