Friedensreich Hundertwasser was an Austrian painter, architect and environmental activist who, from the mid-1960s, attracted attention with his art. Inspired by Antoni Gaudi or Joan Miró he created original building designs and several artists' manifestos, including the 1958 moldy manifesto against rational architecture. Often ridiculed, his art nevertheless remained unique in the late 20th century. Architects regularly had a hard time with Hundertwasser's designs, because they did not work with standard dimensions or industrially prefabricated building modules.
At the end of the 1990s, however, the Hirn winegrowing family in Untereisenheim was so fascinated by Hundertwasser's fantastic realism that they commissioned him to design a winery with guest apartments. After Hundertwasser's death at the age of 72 in February 2000, Heinz M. Springmann, one of several project architects whom Hundertwasser had authorized to build his houses, put Hundertwasser's plans into action. So it happened that at the outskirts of Untereisenheim a building like from 1001 Arabian Nights or from Roussillon came into being. In any case, the basic color of the house is reminiscent of the ochre quarries in this southern French region, from which all the painters obtained their pastels until the middle of the 20th century. The Hirn winery is also so attractive to visitors because winemaker Matthias Hirn sells his brilliant wines in a vinotheque there and wine connoisseurs or travelers can even spend the night at the winery. However, early booking is always recommended. In the vinotheque of the winery or on the large terrace you can always find a place to rest, taste or enjoy with sense and reason. Strong red wines and fine fruity white wines from organic cultivation are the highlights of this winery.
