With a family name that translates to “wine garden,” it seemed inevitable that Olivér Weingartner would end up working in the wine business, but as a child, he wanted nothing to do with his family vineyard located on the north side of Lake Balaton in Hungary. In fact, his first agricultural job was picking corn in Austria during his summer breaks between semesters studying computer science in Budapest. It wasn’t until one of those summers he went to work in a vineyard in Switzerland that he decided perhaps the viticulture life was for him.  Olivér’s first wine industry job was at the Bründlmayer Estate in Austria where he learned techniques in the vineyards such as cutting larger grape clusters after flowering that he continues to incorporate in the vineyards on Somló. It was during his years in Austria that Olivér developed his deep understanding of and experience with organic and biodynamic viticulture. 

In 2019, Olivér returned to the Lake Balaton region to be closer to his growing family and started working as the winemaker at 5 Ház Borbirtok on Somlo’s north side below the ruins of the 13th century Somló castle. There, on the small, 4 hectare estate, Olivér had the opportunity to build something from the ground up and to learn from the existing wine making community on the hill. Today, he is not merely tending vines but shaping the future of Somló’s winemaking, balancing tradition with a modern, organic ethos.

In 2020, Olivér started his private label making wines in the natural category. His deep knowledge of organic viticulture lends to growing healthy grapes which need little to no intervention in the cellar. His wines are produced with wild yeasts, additive free, unfined and unfiltered. His grapes are from the north side of Somló hill, where the soil has the typical Somló basalt foundation, as well as sand, loess, and clay. Olivér also makes a field blend rosé from grapes from his family’s old vineyards on the north side of Lake Balaton, as well as their neighbor’s old diverse vineyard that use to be a vine nursery. In 2024, his private natural wine label was merged with 5 Ház Borbirtok’s. 

Oliver’s reputation as a talented natural winemaker is quickly growing throughout Europe and his labels are gaining recognition among wine enthusiasts for there purity, terroir-driven character, and expressive flavors. His commitment to minimal intervention winemaking and dedication to showcasing the unique qualities of Somló terroir have earned him a loyal following, with his wines being sought after in natural wine bars and specialty shops across the globe.