Many consumers around the globe have been seeking out newer food friendly wines and finding the answer in the dry whites, reds and noble sweet wines of Austria.
Four components are decisive for a high quality wine: climate, soil, vines and the winemakers.
The wine growing areas of Austria are situated in a temperate climate zone. The vegetation period reaches up to 200 days. Warm, sunny summers and long, mild autumn days with cool nights are typical. 18 wine growing areas are currently defined in the Austrian wine law, the most famous are Wachau and Neusiedlersee. There are many different soil types in Austria´s vineyards.
Unique varietals such as Gruener Veltliner, Zweigelt and Blaufraenkisch offer the consumers something new and exciting. Gruener Veltliner makes up around one third of the vineyards in Austria. At its best it approaches the elegance and finesse of Riesling, while offering aromas and flavors of white pepper and tobacco with a dose of balancing acidity. Austrian Riesling resembles its neighbours from Germany, but its taste is dry, minerally and full-bodied like the dry Rieslings of Alsace. Generally in style Austrian white wines have elements in common with the wines of Germany, Alsace and the Loire. Indeed, the best examples seem to marry together the positive features of wines from these regions. In Austrian wines the body and richness of Alsace is wedded to the fresh fruit typical of Germany and to the dry crispness of the Loire. The red wines with indigenous varieties such as Blaufraenkisch, St. Laurent and their cross, Zweigelt, tend to be light, with the best examples well balanced and food-friendly. Austria is also justifiably well known for its sweet dessert-style wines from the area surrounding the shallow lake of Neusiedlersee.
The most important factor is the winemaker by finding the ideal balance between the characteristics of the soil, the micro-climate and the grape varietals. With most Austrian wines being produced by small, dynamic and original family wineries focusing on quality rather than quantity in making terroir driven wines in a broad range of styles, Austria is an exciting place to make new discoveries. But of great importance to achieve high quality is also the limitation of the yields. According to Austrian wine law for Landwein (Vin du Pays), Qualitaetswein (Quality Wine) and Praedikatswein (Certified Wine) a maximum yield of only 9.000 kilograms of grapes is permitted.
It is now a recognized fact that Austria produces world-class wines, and specialized publications across the world lavish praise upon them. Austria is a wine country of great individuality. With its unique grape varietals, its long history and national traditions it has evolved a wine culture unlike anywhere else in the world.
Taste these wines and judge for yourself !
Austrian Wine Marketing Board
Four components are decisive for a high quality wine: climate, soil, vines and the winemakers.
The wine growing areas of Austria are situated in a temperate climate zone. The vegetation period reaches up to 200 days. Warm, sunny summers and long, mild autumn days with cool nights are typical. 18 wine growing areas are currently defined in the Austrian wine law, the most famous are Wachau and Neusiedlersee. There are many different soil types in Austria´s vineyards.
Unique varietals such as Gruener Veltliner, Zweigelt and Blaufraenkisch offer the consumers something new and exciting. Gruener Veltliner makes up around one third of the vineyards in Austria. At its best it approaches the elegance and finesse of Riesling, while offering aromas and flavors of white pepper and tobacco with a dose of balancing acidity. Austrian Riesling resembles its neighbours from Germany, but its taste is dry, minerally and full-bodied like the dry Rieslings of Alsace. Generally in style Austrian white wines have elements in common with the wines of Germany, Alsace and the Loire. Indeed, the best examples seem to marry together the positive features of wines from these regions. In Austrian wines the body and richness of Alsace is wedded to the fresh fruit typical of Germany and to the dry crispness of the Loire. The red wines with indigenous varieties such as Blaufraenkisch, St. Laurent and their cross, Zweigelt, tend to be light, with the best examples well balanced and food-friendly. Austria is also justifiably well known for its sweet dessert-style wines from the area surrounding the shallow lake of Neusiedlersee.
The most important factor is the winemaker by finding the ideal balance between the characteristics of the soil, the micro-climate and the grape varietals. With most Austrian wines being produced by small, dynamic and original family wineries focusing on quality rather than quantity in making terroir driven wines in a broad range of styles, Austria is an exciting place to make new discoveries. But of great importance to achieve high quality is also the limitation of the yields. According to Austrian wine law for Landwein (Vin du Pays), Qualitaetswein (Quality Wine) and Praedikatswein (Certified Wine) a maximum yield of only 9.000 kilograms of grapes is permitted.
It is now a recognized fact that Austria produces world-class wines, and specialized publications across the world lavish praise upon them. Austria is a wine country of great individuality. With its unique grape varietals, its long history and national traditions it has evolved a wine culture unlike anywhere else in the world.
Taste these wines and judge for yourself !
Austrian Wine Marketing Board