About Matthias Hager

The Hager family estate sits in Mollands, a small village in the northern Kamptal, where Matthias took over the family business at a young age. Today he farms 13 hectares of vineyards across remarkably varied soils — loess, loam, and several different primary rocks — and he uses that diversity deliberately. Rather than the standard white/red split, his range is organised as a "Brown Line" and "Blue Line," reflecting his philosophy that the soil and method matter more than the grape colour. Deep, characterful, distinctive: it's a fair description of both the wines and the winemaker.

Matthias has farmed biodynamically since 2006, certified by Demeter. For him, biodynamic winemaking is much more than a method — it's a way of understanding the life of the vineyard as a whole system, working with nature's own forces of self-regulation rather than against them. The preparations matter: horn manure to enliven the soil, horn silica to support the plant's structure, and herbal preparations made from nettle, valerian, yarrow and chamomile to strengthen or calm the vines depending on the season. Timing is guided by the moon and planet calendars of Maria Thun, whose lifetime of research into lunar rhythms shapes when each task is performed. The result, in the glass, is wines that speak honestly of their place — and of the patience it takes to make them.

Kamptal, Austria · Mollands · 13 Hectares · Biodynamic (Demeter) Since 2006