Markus Huber

Markus Huber’s family has been producing wine since 1648, and he carries on this tradition in Austria’s Traisental wine region as the 10th-generation owner of Weingut Markus Huber. After graduating from the Federal College of Viticulture and Pomology in Klosterneuburg, Austria, Markus interned at a number of Austrian wineries before traveling to South Africa, where he worked for some of the country’s finest wine producers, including Kaapzicht and Lammershoek. Upon his return in 2000, he took over his family’s winery. And in less than two decades, his leadership and uncompromising dedication to making high-quality wines saw to the growth of Weingut Markus Huber into not only one of Austria’s leading wine companies but also an internationally recognized name. This success has earned the winery numerous national and international awards, with Markus himself honored in 2015 as the Falstaff Vintner of the Year, the Oscar of the Austrian wine industry.

Erich Machherndl

Erich Machherndl is the owner of Weingut Machherndl, which has been in his family since it was established in Austria’s Wachau Valley back in the late 18th century. Becoming a vintner, however, was not what Erich originally envisioned for himself. He completed his secondary education at a technical high school for communications, engineering and electronics. And this led to a successful career in medical engineering. But when his father passed the family winery onto him in 1998, Erich accepted the responsibility and managed to maintain his job as a medical technician until 2002. At that time, he had to make a decision, and he chose the family business—of which he says he has no regrets.

Since taking over the helm, Erich has refined the distinctive Machherndl wine style, melding the traditions of previous generations with modern, innovative techniques. His 20-acre winery is now also recognized as a certified organic wine grower.