Leo Hillinger

Leo Hillinger – tenaciously on the road to success

Leo Hillinger was born in 1967 in Eisenstadt, Austria, and grew up in Jois. His love of wine was laid in his cradle, as his father was a wine merchant with a Heuriger. His life is not only marked by success; there were also many setbacks. The road was rocky, but his persistence and determination ultimately paid off. When asked how he achieved his goals, Leo Hillinger answers: “With consistency, consistency, consistency.” 

Leo Hillinger – a winemaker with heart and soul

Leo Hillinger’s heart clearly beats for viticulture. Not only as an entrepreneur, but also as a winegrower he has received multiple awards, and his estate is internationally renowned.

Leo Hillinger spent his first years of training on various wineries in Europe and California. He completed his training in Germany as a state-certified economist and master winemaker. His success story finally began with the takeover of his father’s wine business and the purchase of 12 hectares of vineyards. After building and opening his winery in Jois in 2004, Leo Hillinger set about founding his first wine shop & bar. By now he has four of them, spread across Austria. 

In 2012, Leo Hillinger began his long-term and fruitful cooperation with the South African winery Constantia Glen. This is where the Constantia HILL wine line is created. He therefore also likes to refer to South Africa as his “second home,” which he visits several times a year.

2012 was also the year in which he became the first winemaker ever to be named “Entrepreneur of the Year” by the consulting firm Ernst & Young.

Today Hillinger cultivates 100 hectares of vineyards around Lake Neusiedl in the Leithaberg region. Thirty percent of his wines are now exported to more than 20 countries. Throughout, he has remained true to himself and his vision. This vision and his unconventional approach are ultimately also responsible for the fact that his network has grown and grown over the years. Part of his vision was to produce top wines as close to nature as possible. Various branches opened up along his path, and today he is not only a winegrower but also an investor and marketing strategist. Today he is an organic winemaker, entrepreneur, and ambassador for his region.

After his winery was fully financed, it was time for the entrepreneur and winemaker Leo Hillinger to make new investments. Ongoing reinvestments in the winery continued the course of expansion. The goal has always been and still is that the wine cellar should be one of the most modern in Austria, where, under the aegis of recognized wine experts, exceptional wines are vinified.

Leo Hillinger – a winemaker with (TV) format

As a modern entrepreneur, Hillinger does not shy away from the TV screen. In 2015 he joined “2 Minuten – 2 Millionen,” a Puls 4 television show, as an investor. In this context he helps start-ups and uses his wide network for this purpose. For the series “Dorf braucht Wirt. Die große Wirtshausbelebung” he toured through Austria. In addition, together with the broadcaster Puls 4, he created his own format: “Österreichs nächster Topwinzer.”

Enough life for a biography in book form

Leo Hillinger is not only a winegrower, investor, TV star, and passionate sportsman. In 2017 he also became an author. At least once, because in this year his autobiography “Konsequenz, Konsequenz, Konsequenz!” was published. In this book Hillinger not only tells his story. Rather, he provides insights into his vision, his desire to change the world—into what wears him down and what drives him.

Leo Hillinger – an award-winning entrepreneur

In 2012 the flood of awards for Leo Hillinger began with the title “Entrepreneur of the Year,” as already mentioned above. An award that he received as the first winemaker worldwide. In the very next year, the winery was named “Best Family Business 2013 Burgenland” by WirtschaftsBlatt and its partners Bankhaus Spängler, BDO Austria, and the Chamber of Notaries. This prize is awarded annually to companies that stand out for their regional commitment, that create value and jobs. Many further awards followed. In 2016 he was given the title “Kommerzialrat” by the Republic of Austria—a professional title that stands for successful corporate management and efforts for the common good. Leo Hillinger GmbH was honored with the “Superbrand Austria Award” in 2017. The honorees are selected by consumers and experts.

Of course, his wines are also honored – above all the top cuvées

• HILL 1
• HILL 2
• HILL 3

which are regularly awarded in Austria and abroad (Falstaff, Gault Millau, Parker, Mundus Vini, Wine Spectator, Deutscher Weinpreis, Wine and Spirits, and many more).

Leo Hillinger – the wines

Quality standards

A high demand for quality is the be-all and end-all of Leo Hillinger’s wines. Quality is inseparably linked with the organic cultivation and organic maturation of the wines. 

The grapes are granted the longest possible ripening time and remain on the vine as long as possible. This way they can accumulate and mature their components for as long as possible. When pruning, each vine is treated according to its needs. This of course requires a great deal of knowledge and experience. Vine care is spread throughout the entire year. Each vine and each shoot is individually positioned, aligned, and pinched off, or – if necessary – left in peace. The guiding principle in cultivation is “As little as possible and as much as necessary.” This allows the grapes ultimately to remain on the vine for the maximum amount of time.

The same principle is applied in the cellar at Leo Hillinger. The wine is allowed to develop there. The wines mature in 1,200-liter barriques, in large wooden casks, or in 30,000-liter stainless steel tanks. In this way each wine can develop according to its individual requirements. 

The wine categories

Leo Hillinger wines are produced in five categories:

• Sparkling: Sparkling moments with Secco & Brut
• Fresh and fruity: Drinking pleasure with youthful wines
• Trendy: New paths with seasonal wines
• Down to earth: The power of the soil in single-vineyard wines
• Premium: Premium and noble wines