Bad Request

The Winkler-Hermaden Winery and Kapfenstein Castle are already being run as a family business in the fourth generation. Even if it is not always easy, the ten family members are committed to the cooperation of the two companies. And even though they are two companies, we work very closely together.

After a varied youth (ski instructor in winter and art restorer in summer), Georg Winkler-Hermaden took over the agriculture and winery of Kapfenstein Castle from his father Burkhardt in 1977. As time went by, it became more and more apparent that the best use of the agricultural land was with viticulture. Thus, the initial 4 hectares grew to 37 hectares.

Margot Winkler-Hermaden grew up in Bavaria and has always been interested in agriculture. After her agricultural studies at the FH Weihenstephan, she went on an agricultural internship in Kloster Reichenbach and to an internship at the Wies Experimental Station in western Styria.

Through friends and relatives, Georg and Margot met and began to shape the Winkler-Hermaden winery together in 1986.

Christof and Kathi (II.) Winkler-Hermaden can be found in the winery mainly in the office and in sales. They have been supported in this by their young daughter Beatrice Winkler-Hermaden since 2020.

After Christof graduated from the Höhere Bundeslehranstalt für Wein- und Obstbau in Klosterneuburg in 2007, he started his bachelor studies in molecular biology in 2008, followed by two master studies in molecular microbiology and in plant sciences.

His wife Kathi (II.) has completed her school education in 2009 in the Higher Institute for Tourism in Bad Gleichenberg and has subsequently gained a lot of experience in houses such as the Brunnenhof in Lech, the Novapark Hotel & the Augartenhotel in Graz, as well as the Sazianistubn

Since 2015, they have been active in the Winkler-Hermaden winery, but also in their joint company Saphium Biotechnology GmbH. There they work on the biotechnological production of compostable plastics from hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Since 2017, they have been producing microbiological preparations for agriculture.

After graduating from the technical school for viticulture in Silberberg in 2008, Thomas Winkler-Hermaden began working in the winery. He interrupted this work in 2010 to complete six months of internship at the Umathum winery in Burgenland. In 2013 he started the master course for viticulture and cellar management and graduated in 2016 as master winemaker. Today he is the main person responsible for the cellar and, when work permits, helps out in other areas such as driving the tractor.

Daneben widmet er sich einem ungewöhnlichen Sport. Seit 2008 spielt Thomas Paintball und das auf professionellem Level. Im Jahr 2015 belegte er mit dem österreichischen Nationalteam den 5. Platz bei der Weltmeisterschaft in Malaysien!

Wolfgang, the youngest of the siblings, first came to wine in a roundabout way. After finishing secondary school, he attended the technical college for mechanical engineering in Weiz, from which he graduated in 2013. Then he found his way back to wine and went to college at the Silberberg School of Viticulture from 2014-2015.

To round off his experience, he then went on a three-month practical tour: once to the Tement winery in Berghausen in southern Styria and once to the Künstler winery in Hochheim am Rhein in Germany.

While at the winery he is mainly involved in outside farming and agriculture, he forges the finest knives from home-made Damascus steel in his Winkler-Hermaden knife smithy as a sideline. Hunting with his dog Balda takes up a lot of time, especially after the grape harvest.

Katharina (I.) and Johannes Winkler-Hermaden run the Hotel & Restaurant Schloss Kapfenstein together.

Katharina (I.) completed her school education in 2009 at the Höhere Lehranstalt für Tourismus in Bad Gleichenberg and then gained experience with her future husband Johannes Wurth in establishments such as the Kranzbach in Germany, the Genusshotel Riegersburg and the Brunnenhof in Lech before joining the Hotel & Restaurant in 2012. In 2013, she took over the management of the Hotel & Restaurant in Schloss Kapfenstein.

Johannes (born Wurth) (Wurth Winery) graduated from the Höhere Bundeslehranstalt für Wein- und Obstbau in Klosterneuburg in 2007 and soon after met his future wife Katharina (I.) Winkler-Hermaden, with whom he gained joint experience in catering businesses. Since 2012, the two have been working together at Kapfenstein Castle. Since 2014 you can meet their son Georg and since 2016 their daughter Andrea at the castle.

Martin and Elisabeth (Liesi) Winkler-Hermaden have embodied the hospitality and love of regional food at Schloss Kapfenstein since 1990. Already in the first years Martin cooks his "first" toque and makes Schloss Kapfenstein known throughout the region. Under the motto "fine regional cuisine" they conceptualize many events such as the jazz brunch, the hunting buffet, the Advent menus, the goose dinner and much more.

While Martin sets the direction in the kitchen as head chef, Liesi Winkler-Hermaden welcomes the guests with heart and soul.

Eva Winkler-Hermaden still lovingly designs the castle gardens and in the fall of 2015 recorded some of her recipes and cooking thoughts in the book "Kochen mit Oma" (Kochen mit Oma).

Together with her husband Burkhardt Winkler-Hermaden, who has already passed away, she rebuilt the farm and the Buschenschank business after the Second World War. Eva Winkler-Hermaden is considered the inventor of the Brettljause and has always taken care of guests and the economy with dedication.