Last December, I had the pleasure of tasting the AMAX wines collection high above Vienna at Das Loft, in collaboration with the Sommelier Union Austria. It was an introduction to a project that blends family, passion, and mentorship. The project is led by Advanced Sommelier Maximilian Steiner, who is also the owner of the Gourmet & Wine Hotel Austria in Tirol.
AMAX wines are the result of Maximilian’s lifelong fascination with fine wine. Growing up surrounded by the hotel’s cellar with over 700 labels, he dreamed of creating a house brand that reflects Austria’s terroir, his personal taste, and his commitment to the next generation of sommeliers. The name itself is a tribute to family: Maximilian and his sister Anna, both central to this story.
Crafting AMAX Wines with Austria’s Top Winemakers
The AMAX wines are a collaboration with three of Austria’s most respected wineries. Together, they produce six exceptional wines—three premium and three high-end—covering white, rosé, and red. Each bottle is decorated with hand-painted labels by Alexander Maria Lohmann, making every wine a collectible piece of art.
Grüner Veltliner from Wagram – Anton Bauer
Anton Bauer inherited 3.2 hectares of vineyard in 1992 and has grown it to 40 hectares. His focus on terroir-driven winemaking highlights Wagram’s limestone-rich soils. These Grüner Veltliners are the premium whites in the AMAX portfolio, offering freshness, minerality, and precision.
- AMAX Grüner Veltliner Premium 2022: Stainless steel only. Fresh, lively, and spicy, with creamy yoghurt nuances. The nose reveals subtle white pepper and green apple. On the palate, it has a balanced medium body. The finish is intense, long, and layered, with a spicy minerality that lingers elegantly.
- AMAX Grüner Veltliner Platinum 2022: Oak-aged for more creaminess and richness. Aromas of butter, vanilla, mango, and a touch of honey. The palate is creamy with medium-plus body, offering a long, luxurious finish. A very high-quality wine balancing power and elegance.
Rosé Wines from Central Burgenland – Weingut Strehn
Who else could craft the perfect Austrian rosé than Pia Strehn? Her family winery in Deutschkreutz is known for making some of Austria’s best rosés—elegant, dry, and expressive, always from organically farmed Blaufränkisch.
- AMAX Rosé Premium 2023: 100% Syrah from oak barrels. Complex nose with black pepper, ripe raspberry, blood orange, and bourbon vanilla. The palate is harmonious, balanced, and powerful, finishing with a long, peppery spice.
- AMAX Rosé Platinum 2023: 50% Blaufränkisch, 50% Pinot Noir. Subtle spices and focused red fruit—cherries, plums, strawberries—with vanilla and butter notes. The palate brings grapefruit, blood orange, peaches, and a touch of cinnamon. Long, festive, and structured—a true Christmas rosé.
Red Blends from Central Burgenland – Weingut Gesellmann
The red wines of AMAX are a masterful reflection of Burgenland’s warmth and elegance, crafted by the iconic Weingut Gesellmann. Their vineyards, farmed organically, produce some of Austria’s finest cuvées—structured yet graceful, and always authentic to the land.
- AMAX Red Cuvée Premium 2020: 50% Sankt Laurent, 40% Blaufränkisch, 10% Zweigelt, aged 18 months in barriques. Deep ruby with a hint of purple. The nose shows plums, blackcurrant, black cherries, red blossoms, roses, cinnamon, cloves, smoked coffee, and oak spices. Powerful, full-bodied, with high acidity balanced by alcohol. Finishes juicy, fruity, and long.
- AMAX Red Cuvée Platinum 2019: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, 18 months in oak. Ruby without purple hues. Nose reveals cassis, blackberry, blackcurrant, Mediterranean spices, salami, black pepper, and Christmas spices. Full-bodied with ripe tannins, palate mirrors the nose, finishing juicy, spicy, and balanced.
Conclusion
What makes AMAX wines special is how personal it feels. You can taste the dedication of Maximilian Steiner, the talent of the winemaking families, and the connection to place in every sip. The hand-painted labels by Alexander Maria Lohmann turn each bottle into something you want to hold onto. Drinking these wines, you feel that care, that vision, and that connection between people and place. For me, it was more than tasting wine; it was seeing what happens when experience, creativity, and heart come together.
The Author
Wonderful article.
Thank you! 🙂