HOUDINI
ZWEIGELT. UNCHAINED.
Some wines follow tradition. Others break free from it.
HOUDINI – Zweigelt. Unchained. belongs to the latter.
A Brand with Attitude
The former name Girmer Reserve told a story of origin. HOUDINI – Zweigelt. Unchained. tells a story of attitude. Inspired by the legendary escape artist, HOUDINI stands for courage, risk and the freedom to leave conventions behind. This wine wears a mask – elegant, seductive, almost playful – revealing beneath it depth, a strong sense of home and power.
A wine like an illusion: you think you know it, only to discover that there is far more to it than meets the eye.
HOUDINI is no loud powerhouse, but a dramatic performance built on balance and tension. Mechanics and magic, structure and emotion, barrique and velvet. It embraces the palate, loves good conversation, intense evenings and hearty cuisine – while always remaining a faithful companion.
Why HOUDINI?
The development of the HOUDINI – Zweigelt. Unchained. brand was the result of a conscious decision. As part of the new vineyard definitions and the introduction of larger vineyard areas in Austria, Ried Girm was clearly defined as an individual vineyard site for the first time. This meant that the previous designation Zweigelt Girmer Reserve could no longer be used, as the name was no longer clearly compatible with the origin of the grapes.
But this change did not simply mark the end of a name. It also created the opportunity to take a new direction. Rather than becoming interchangeable through vineyard designations, K+K Kirnbauer decided to create a distinctive brand identity of its own. Since then, HOUDINI has stood for consciously breaking free from convention, for the courage to follow an independent path and for a philosophy that does not simply explain origin, but makes it something you can experience. A Zweigelt that breaks free – from expectations, restrictions and names – and reveals its full potential along the way.
HOUDINI – Zweigelt. Unchained.
A wine that refuses to be chained.
“The chains don’t fall away on their own.”
A conversation with Markus about freedom, Zweigelt and HOUDINI.
HOUDINI is not a new wine. But it is a new decision.
We asked Markus why the time had come to break the chains.
Markus, the stage is set for HOUDINI – what is behind this new wine?
“The stage is set” is actually quite fitting. With HOUDINI, we are presenting a new wine at K+K Kirnbauer that marks an important step for us. HOUDINI is our Zweigelt Reserve – or rather: Zweigelt. Unchained. A wine that breaks free from every restraint.
Why was it necessary to develop a new name and a new brand?
The catalyst was a structural change in Austrian viticulture. In recent years, vineyard definitions have been revised and new larger vineyard areas have been introduced. As part of this process, Ried Girm was clearly defined as an individual vineyard site for the first time.
For us, this had a very practical consequence: the name Zweigelt Girmer Reserve could no longer be continued in this form, as the designation “Girmer” was no longer permitted – also because grapes from Deutschkreutz form part of the wine. That brought the Girmer Reserve chapter to a close.
A challenge – or an opportunity as well?
Definitely both. Of course, it presents you with the challenge of finding a new name. But it quickly became clear to us that if we were going to take this step, we would do it properly. We wanted to use the opportunity to further strengthen our philosophy of branded wines and consciously avoid becoming interchangeable through vineyard designations alone.
And that is how HOUDINI came about?
Exactly. The name HOUDINI came to us quickly because it expresses precisely what this wine does. It breaks with convention, frees itself from expectations and refuses to be held back.
At the same time, HOUDINI stands for courage, risk, tension and illusion – qualities that we also find in this wine. It is no loud powerhouse, but a dramatic performance built on balance and inner tension.
How is that reflected in the wine itself?
HOUDINI – Zweigelt. Unchained. comes from our oldest Zweigelt vines and matures for 24 months in Pannonian barriques made from Austrian oak, more precisely oak from Girm. This local oak brings delicate spice, structure and depth without dominating the wine.
The result is a Zweigelt with enormous potential: powerful yet elegant, structured yet free. Tannins and acidity provide support without restraint.
What would you like wine lovers to take away from HOUDINI – Zweigelt. Unchained.?
HOUDINI – Zweigelt. Unchained. is an invitation to embrace something different. A wine with a clear sense of origin that refuses to stand still. A wine that shows that structure and freedom are not opposites.
Or, to put it another way: A Zweigelt that refuses to be chained.
Maturation & Origin
Made from some of K+K Kirnbauer’s oldest Zweigelt vines, this wine carries a deep sense of origin within it – yet refuses to be typical. It matures gently for 24 months in Pannonian barriques made from Austrian oak sourced from our own forests in Girm, part of Deutschkreutz. This is where part of its strength comes from: the fine, spicy notes of the local oak come together with the Zweigelt to create a structure that surprises, fascinates and refuses to be held back.
Tasting Note
In the glass, HOUDINI reveals a deep garnet colour with a narrow, precise rim. Its inviting viscosity already suggests that concentration and elegance do not restrain one another here, but instead set each other free.
The nose is complex and profound: ripe Amarena cherry and dense cherry compote form the core, finely interwoven with warm spice. Beneath it lies a subtle cedar note from the Pannonian oak. Black Assam tea adds seriousness and depth, while a delicate hint of jasmine blossom gives the aromatic profile an almost weightless finish.
On the palate, HOUDINI is full-bodied and generous, yet remains lively and precise. The fruit is concentrated, but never heavy. Tannins and fresh acidity are beautifully integrated – present and supportive, yet never restrictive. Rather than holding the wine back, they provide structure while leaving it space to unfold freely. HOUDINI – Zweigelt. Unchained. breaks free from its tannin chains, showing power without hardness and structure without restriction. The finish is long, revealing depth and an elegant inner tension.
Following the Trail of Girm Oak
Follow Markus Kirnbauer on the trail of the oak from Girm.
Together, we take a trip into the forests of Girm and see the current forestry work first-hand. Here, 80- to 120-year-old oak trees are felled and will be made into barrique barrels over the coming years. These are the very barrels in which our HOUDINI will later mature – from forest to glass.
