Austrian Wine
Austrian wine has a rich history dating back thousands of years.
There are evidence of viticulture in Austria since the time of the Celts (1200 BCE).
Austria produces a wide range of wines, but is best known for its white wines.
Climate and Terroir
Austria has a continental climate with warm summers and cold winters.
The weather can be quite variable, which can pose challenges for grape growers, but also allows for the production of wines with a wide range of styles and flavors.
The diverse terroir of Austria plays a significant role in shaping the character of its wines.
The country's wine regions are mostly situated in the eastern part of the country, with vineyards planted along the Danube River and its tributaries.
The soils vary widely, ranging from limestone and loess to gravel and schist, contributing to the complexity of Austrian wines.
Austrian Wine Regions
Austria is home to several distinct wine regions, each with its own unique terroir, unique grapes, and unique winemaking traditions.
The most prestigious wine regions are situated in the eastern part of the country, with vineyards planted along the Danube River.
Austrian wine regions © Austrian Wine
Three federal states are defined as distinct Austrian wine regions:
- Niederösterreich (8 DAC appelations)
- Burgenland (5 DAC appellations
- Steiermark (3 DAC Appellations)
The other wine regions are Wien (1 DAC appellation) and Bergland (0 DAC appellations).
Niederösterreich (27 000 ha)
Niederösterreich, surrounding Wien (Vienna), is Austria's largest wine region.
It encompasses several famous subregions:
- Kamptal - Bold and spicy Gruner-Veltliner
- Kremstal - Expressive Riesling and Grüner Veltliner
- Traisental - Mineral driven Riesling
- Weinviertel - Peppery Grüner Veltliner
- Wachau - Steep vineyards and powerful white wines
Each subregion has its own unique terroir and grapes, but Grüner Veltliner is most widely planted. Riesling, Chardonnay, and Zweigelt are also significant.
The region's diverse soils, which range from loess and gravel to limestone and granite, contribute to the complexity and character of the wines.
Soil: Varied. Loess. Loam. Primary Rock.
Climate: Continental. Cold winters. Hot summers, moderated by the Danube River.
Key Grapes: Grüner Veltliner, Riesling.
Ried Heiligenstein, Kamptal, Niederösterreich
© Austrian Wine / Robert Herbst
| Year | 8 DACs | Ha | Primary Grapes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Weinviertel | 13.500 | Grüner Veltliner |
| 2006 | Traisental | 800 | Grüner Veltliner, Riesling |
| 2007 | Kremstal | 2.200 | Grüner Veltliner, Riesling |
| 2007 | Kremstal | 2.200 | Grüner Veltliner, Riesling |
| 2008 | Kamptal | 3.800 | Grüner Veltliner, Riesling |
| 2019 | Carnuntum | 900 | Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, Chardonnay, Weissburgunder, Grüner Veltliner |
| 2020 | Wachau | 1.400 | Grüner Veltliner, Riesling |
| 2022 | Wagram | 2.500 | Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Roter Veltliner |
| 2023 | Thermenregion | 2.200 | Zierfandler, Rotgipfler, Pinot Blac, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Sankt Laurent, Pinot Noir |
Listed Wines:
Burgenland (11 600 ha))
Burgenland, bordering Hungary in the eastern part of Austria, is known for its diverse range of terroirs, including the flat plains around Lake Neusiedl and the hilly slopes of the Leithaberg mountains.
The region produces a wide variety of both white and red grape varieties, including Welschriesling, Blaufränkisch, and Zweigelt.
Burgenland is particularly renowned for its sweet wines made from botrytized grapes, known as Trockenbeerenauslese and Beerenauslese.
Soil: Varied. Sandy soil. Clay. Limestone.
Climate: Pannonian, with hot summers and cold winters, benefiting from Lake Neusiedl.
Grunderitsch, Mittelburgenland, Burgenland
© Austrian Wine / WSNA
| Year | 6 DACs | Ha | Primary Grapes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Mittelburgenland | 2.050 | Blaufränkisch | |
| 2009 | Leithaberg | 2.850 | Blaufränkisch, Weissburgunder, Chardonnay, Neuburger, Grüner Veltliner | |
| 2010 | Eisenberg | 500 | Blaufränkisch, Welschriesling | |
| 2012 | Neusiedlersee | 6.250 | Zweigelt | |
| 2018 | Rosalia | 250 | Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt | |
| 2020 | Ruster Ausbruch | 250 | Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt |
Listed Wines:
Steiermark / Styria (5 100 ha)
Steiermark, in southeastern Austria, is known for cooler climate and its focus on aromatic white grapes.
The region is best known for its Sauvignon Blanc wines, which are characterized by their intense aromas of green herbs, citrus fruits, and minerality. Wine experts consider Steiermark as one of the world's top terroirs for producing world-class Sauvignon Blanc.
Styria also produces excellent wines from the indigenous grape variety, Welschriesling, as well as Morillon (Chardonnay), Weissburgunder and Muscat.
Soil: Volcanic and sedimentary.
Climate: Cooler. Mix of Mediterranean and continental influences.
Subregions:
Südsteiermark. Known for aromatic white wines, especially Sauvignon Blanc.
Südoststeiermark. Offers a variety of white wines with volcanic minerality.
Weststeiermark. Most famous for Schilcher, a rosé wine from the Blauer Wildbacher grape.
Ried Aunberg, Tieschen, Vulkanland Steiermark
© Austrian Wine / WSNA
| Year | 3 DACs | Ha | Primary Grapes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Südsteiermark | 2.750 | Sauvignon Blanc |
| 2018 | Vulkanland Steiermark | 1.650 | Sauvignon Blanc, Welschriesling, Weissburgunder, Traminer |
| 2018 | Weststeiermark | 650 | Schilcher, Sauvignon Blanc, Weissurgunder |
Listed Wines:
Wien / Vienna (600 Hectares)
Despite being a capital city, Wien is also a wine region, with vineyards located within the city limits.
The vineyards are primarily situated in the hilly suburbs surrounding Vienna, particularly in the districts of Grinzing, Nussdorf, and Sievering.
The region is known for its Gemischter Satz wines, which are blends of multiple grape varieties grown together in the same vineyard.
Grüner Veltliner, Weissburgunder, Chardonnay and Riesling are among the grapes cultivated in Wien.
Soil: Limestone. Loess. Sandy soil.
To preserve the vineyards and Viennas cultural landscapes, a state law stipulates that existing vineyards must continue to be cultivated, protecting valuable viticultural land from real estate speculations.
Foto: Austrianwine.com
| Year | 1 DAC | Grapes |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Wiener Gemischter Satz (2013) | Multi-grape blends from the same vineyard |
Listed Wines:
Bergland (230 ha)
Bergland is not a well known Austrian wine region.
It is a big region covering Oberösterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Kärnten, Tyrol, and Vorarlberg.
Bergland is not one of Austria's 16 DAC regions. Because of this, wines from Bergland must be labeled "Wine From Austria" (where the origin is not specified), or "Landwein" with origin Bergland.
Tarrenz, Tirol, Bergland © Austrian Wine / WSNA
Quality
Austrian wine is renowned for its quality and is subject to strict wine laws and regulations.
The country has implemented a quality classification system similar to Germany's Prädikat system, which categorizes wines based on ripeness levels at harvest.
The sugar content (trocken, halb-trocken) must be stated on Australian wine labels.
The Austrian wine seal is used on all wines at Qualitätswein level
Stylistic Range
Austrian wines come in a variety of styles, from light and crisp to rich and full-bodied.
Grüner Veltliner can range from zesty and refreshing to more full-bodied and textured, depending on factors like vineyard location and winemaking techniques.
Sweet Wines
Austria is also known for its production of sweet wines, particularly those made from botrytized grapes.
These wines, such as Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) and Beerenauslese (BA), are crafted from grapes affected by noble rot, resulting in intensely sweet and concentrated wines with complex flavors.