09.04.2025 Celebrating 11 Years of “Markus Saletz Lieblingsweine”
Raise Your Glasses!
I’m delighted to introduce the wine shop “Markus Saletz Lieblingsweine” and share its success story with you today.
A brief look back – how it all began:
In 2014, Markus and Nina started selling wine alongside their regular jobs, using their private garage as storage. The severe lack of space and their desire to become fully self-employed led to the opening of their small shop, “Markus Saletz Lieblingsweine,” in the "Grabherrhaus" in December 2016.
Their customer base grew steadily, and space soon became limited as their selection continued to expand. Storage capacity also became increasingly tight. When the opportunity arose to rent larger premises in the magnificent "Tauscherhaus", an 18th-century building located just across the street, Markus seized the chance and reopened the wine shop there in December 2021. The following year, he was able to expand once again, allowing him to make use of the entire ground floor of the beautiful building.
The Lieblingsweine team is already there in full when I enter the bright and welcoming wine shop. We walk through the lovingly designed premises to the back area and take a seat at the large wooden table for a chat.
Congratulations on 11 years of “Markus Saletz Lieblingsweine”!
"Thank you! We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all our loyal regular customers and partners, without whom the success of our wine shop would not have been possible. We are truly delighted that our passion for wine is shared by so many wonderful people."
How and where will the 11th anniversary celebration take place?
Markus and Nina’s excitement is clearly visible as they talk about the planned festivities:
"The big day will be Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Guests are invited from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm to the Audi showroom at Autohaus Schweiger in Reutte. More than 25 winemakers from Austria, Germany, and Italy will be present. Numerous regional businesses will also be involved, providing culinary delights for the event. The celebration will be accompanied by live music from their long-time friend Andy Veit and his band. Reservations are essential to ensure proper planning. Advance tickets are available for €49 per person. Those who decide to attend spontaneously can purchase tickets at the door on the day of the event for €60. The price difference of €11 is a special reference to the anniversary. All important information about the event and the option to purchase tickets can be found HERE and on social media. The event is, of course, being widely promoted—and plenty of creative ideas have gone into it. Take a look and see for yourself!"
Since its founding, the wine shop has not only grown in terms of space but also expanded its team. Established by Markus and Nina, the small business has been joined by Julian for five years now and, for almost a year, by Elina as well. So who is responsible for what?
Everyone smiles, and Nina explains: "In principle, each of us is able to handle almost everything – something that is very important in a small business. In our daily work, we all advise customers together in the wine shop. In addition, each of us has our own areas of responsibility and key focus."
Markus is in charge of purchasing and plans and organizes events throughout the year. These include, among others, the White Night and the wine events at the Tirolerhaus on the Ehrwald Alm, and many more. With extensive professional experience – including his time as director of a renowned hotel – he also looks after clients in the hospitality and hotel industry.
Nina takes care of the shop’s decoration and the wide range of gift items, which are very popular and provide a wonderful complement to the wines. She is also responsible for accounting and handles the more “unpleasant” administrative correspondence.
Julian manages deliveries to restaurants and hotels. He distributes products throughout the district and even delivers as far as Kempten in the Allgäu. This not only ensures smooth operations but also gives customers the opportunity to ask questions about the assortment and the wines directly, as Julian is a trained sommelier. In addition, he is responsible for social media.
Elina manages the online shop, continuously adding new products and keeping it up to date. She is also primarily responsible for shipping online orders.
"We deliver products not only within Austria but also ship them across Europe (with the exception of Switzerland)."
How do you find your favorite wines, and how do they ultimately become part of your selection?
“We regularly attend trade fairs and wine tastings and stay in close contact with our partners in the industry. This allows us to continuously discover new wines and get to know the producers behind them. Alongside the quality of the wines, a relationship based on trust and mutual appreciation is especially important to us. Our range includes only products that offer a certain level of exclusivity and truly deserve a place among our favorite wines. We know all our winemakers and suppliers personally, and many of them have become some of our favorite people. We either taste the wines on site, or the winemakers visit us and present their products here. We also stay in regular contact, exchange ideas, and support one another.”
Which wine-growing regions do your favorite wines come from?
“We source wines from Austria – including several wine-growing regions in Tyrol – as well as from Germany, Italy, Spain, and France.”
Who are your customers?
“Our customers include restaurants and hospitality businesses in the Außerfern region and surrounding areas, as well as in the Allgäu, which make up about 70% of our client base. Locals and visitors who come to our wine shop often buy for their own enjoyment or are looking for something special for a loved one. Personal advice is especially important to us, so that everyone can find the perfect wine – tastings are gladly included. We package the bottles either in elegant gift boxes or in our special Lieblingsweine wooden crates. What makes us particularly happy is that many of our customers come to us through word of mouth, which is a wonderful confirmation of our work.”
What special offers do you provide?
“We offer special wine packages with six bottles at an attractive price. For those who enjoy discovering new products, our wine subscription is the perfect choice. Four times a year, subscribers receive a six-bottle selection of our national and international favorite wines. These are delivered in January, April, July, and October and are tailored to the respective season.
You can also treat your loved ones with a gift voucher for a purchase at our shop.”
What other products, besides fine wines, are part of your range?
“In addition to sparkling and sweet wines, we also offer spirits, as well as a variety of fruit juices and non-alcoholic alternatives. Premium vinegars, olive oils, and delicatessen products are also part of our assortment. A particularly nice gift idea is our personalized wine labels. Customers can choose from a wide selection of designs and select the text that best suits the recipient. This makes the gift even more personal.”
By now it’s 10:00, and the first customers are entering the wine shop. While Markus and Nina greet them warmly, I ask Julian and Elina what makes their work at the wine shop special to them. Julian answers immediately that it’s the family-like atmosphere, the sense of humor, and the respectful appreciation that shape both the team and their relationships with customers and suppliers - along with the opportunity to learn a great deal about wine. Elina fully agrees, adding that new ideas are always welcome and that the team spirit and enjoyment at work are never lacking.
I thank Nina, Markus, Elina, and Julian for the pleasant and engaging conversation!
Opening hours and contact details for “Markus Saletz Lieblingsweine”:
Vinothek Markus Saletz Lieblingsweine
Untermarkt 24
6600 Reutte
Phone: +43 660 54 88 377
E-Mail: welcome@markus-saletz.at
Opening hours:
Monday – Friday 10:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 18:00
Saturday 10:00 – 12:00
Closed on Sundays and public holidays
Social Media:
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Photos:
Written by:
Alexandra