It is as if a fool were to stomp on and break the tiles of his roof. Then when it starts to rain and the ceiling begins to rot away, he hastily climbs up to mend the damage, rejoicing in the end that he has accomplished a miraculous solution.

Markus Altenburger epitomizes the evolution of New World winemaking. Since taking over his family’s Jois winery in 2006, he has focused exclusively on varieties that reflect the unique terroir. Over the past 15 years, he has transformed his approach in both the vineyard and the cellar. All vineyards are certified organic and biodynamic practices are followed. At the heart of his philosophy lies the Blaufränkisch grape, valued for its key role.

Together with his wife Bernadette, he manages 17 hectares of vineyards across Leithaberg DAC top single-vineyards, Gritschenberg and Jungenberg. Gritschenberg, rich in limestone from the Alpine foothills, contrasts with Jungenberg’s schist soils just meters away. These distinct terroirs yield wines that vary from fruit-forward to more linear expressions. Markus also produces single-vineyard wines from old-vine Chardonnay (limestone), Neuburger (schist and limestone), and Grüner Veltliner (limestone), focusing on minimal intervention winemaking.

Markus’ wines showcase some of the most serious Blaufränkisch we’ve found so far. His ability to express his local terroir is particularly impressive, from his estate blend ‘Vom Kalk’ to his exclusive single-vineyard releases, establishing him as exceptional in the Austrian wine scene.