Austrian Wine

Austrian Wine Regions

Austrian wines are mostly dry white wines (often made from the Grüner Veltliner grape) with some luscious dessert wines made around the Neusiedler See. About 30% of the wines are red, made from Blaufränkisch (also known as Lemberger, or as Kékfrankos in neighbouring Hungary), Pinot Noir and locally bred varieties such as Zweigelt.[1] 4000 years of winemaking history counted for little after the 'antifreeze scandal' of 1985, when it was revealed that some wine brokers had been adulterating their wines with diethylene glycol. The scandal destroyed the market for Austrian wine, but in the long term has been a force for good, compelling Austria to tackle low standards of bulk wine production, and reposition herself as a producer of quality wines that stand comparison with the best in the world. The country is also home to Riedel, makers of some of the most expensive wine glasses in the world.

Wachau

A world heritage site and a landscape that exudes a sense of well being; the Wachau is a narrow Danube Valley between Melk and Krems. Here the 1400 hectares of vineyards – some of which are on steep terraces – feature mainly Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. The wine categories of Steinfeder, Federspiel and Smaragd are used respectively for light, medium and full bodied wines with natural alcohol. Climatically, two strong, complimentary influences converge here: the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pannonian conditions

Steinfeder – fruity charm and a stipulated maximum alcohol content of 11.5% characterize the lightest style of top Wachau wines. The name itself refers to the typical ‘Steinfedergras’, a grass which grows near the vines in the Wachau’s terraced vineyards; it is light like a feather, and fragrant – just like the wine named after it.

Federspiel - this classic dry wine is distinguished by a strong, nuance-rich character. Federspiel wines feature a must weight of at least 17° KMW and an alcoholic content of between 1.5% and 12.5%. The name Federspiel refers back to the times of falconry, when this favourite form of noble hunting was practised in the Wachau.

Smaragd – Smaragd is the name for the best, most treasured wines of the Wachau. The alcohol content of these wines begins at 12.5%. This, along with the highest grape ripeness and natural concentration are what make this world-class designation possible. Emerald coloured Idex lizards – also known as Smaragd – are at home in the terraced vineyards of the Wachau. On bright, sunny days, their beauty is highlighted dramatically as they bask in the gleaming sun next to the vines – the perfect symbol for the absolute top Wachau wines with full physiological ripeness.

Kremstal

Geologically similar to its neighbour, the Wachau, Kremstal and its surroundings are situated mainly on soils of weathered primary rock – as is the case with well known vineyards such as Pfaffenberg and Steiner Hund, which produce elegant, minerally wines; or similar, Seftenberg and its surrounding wine villages along the river Krems, where truly individualistic wines are created. Completely different, however, are the vineyards to the east, which yield round, full-bodied wines. The massive loess terraces in the wine villages Rohrendorf and Gedersdorf add a very special appeal to the landscape. South of the Danube, there are villages of Furth-Palt, Krustetten, Hollenburg, Oberfucha and Tiefenfucha; all of them dominated by the Benedictine monastery, Stift Göttweig, which was founded in 1083.

Kamptal

Its name refers to the Kamp River. Its centre happens to be Austria’s largest wine town, Langenlois. And with 4000 hectares under vine, the Kamptal is also one of Austria’s larger wine growing areas. Of special significance are culture and tourism, which are enhanced further by the numerous Heurigen wine taverns and vinotheques here. Playing a special role between wine friends and vintners throughout the area are the main grape varieties Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. Terroir, the oft-quoted and much discussed magic word in today’s wine world, plays a highly important role in Kamptal – especially because it is home of the Heilegenstein, one of the most prominent vineyard sites for wines that are individualistic  and full of character. The name refers to the ‘hell-like’ isolation that utilises the hot, dry microclimate. Geologically, the soil dates back 270 million years to the Permian age, and is composed of desert sandstone with volcanic particles.

Mittelburgenland

Blaufränkisch is the leading grape in the 2150 hectares of vineyards comprising the Mittelburgenland wine growing area. And the typicity of the Mittelburgenland DAC wines – made from Blaufränkisch, or course – reflects the distinctive aroma of wild berries, which is accentuated via the clay soils of the vineyards. The four main villages are Deutschkreutz, Horitschon, Lutzmannsburg and Neckenmarkt. Also, there are two modern co-operatives providing that size and high quality certainly can go hand in hand.

Neusiedlersee (Burgenland)

The Seewinkel area is on the eastern shore of the vast, shallow Neusiedlersee (Lake Neusied) and, with its hundreds of tiny slat lakes, is home to one of the world’s unique terroirs for incomparable Prädikatswein production. These wines range from the sweet and fruit Spätlesen and Auslesen to the noble Beerenauslesen (BA) and the monumental Trockenbeerenauslesen (TBA). Moreover, this region, with 7850 hectares of vineyards, includes in its dazzling variety of wines some of the greatest red wines in Austria – with a spotlight on Zweigelt. The highly diverse soil structure - from loess and black earth to sediment and sand – allows for a wide range of vines to thrive. Apart from the leading white Welschriesling, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay, as well as aromatic varieties mark the area. The red varietals planted are Blauer Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, St. Laurent and Blauburgunder (Pinot Noir) as well as newly added international varieties.