Winemaking in Austria is a tradition which dates back nearly four millennia, but it is the Romans of around two-thousand years ago who are credited with introducing large scale viticulture to the nation. Ever since then, terraced vines have lined the steep sided banks of the Danube and its tributaries, producing wines for (initially) the monks and (subsequently) the masses. However, the country’s reputation for delivering quality wine has been somewhat less consistent. Known in the second half of the twentieth century for its mass-produced cheap blends, and blighted by the anti-freeze scandal of 1985, it is only in very recent years that Austria has begun to re-establish itself as a serious wine nation and started to garner a reputation as such on the world stage.
Today, the country boasts a little over 45,000 hectares of vineyard, making wine from more than thirty different grape varieties. White wines account for around two thirds of all produce and Grüner Veltliner is both the dominant variety and the grape for which the country is best known. Whilst previously, it was used as a constituent in the afore mentioned (and much maligned) sweet blends, it is now vinified in a crisp, dry style to deliver delightfully aromatic, exotic tasting wines with a wide ranging flavour profile. Other white grapes such as Riesling, Pinot Blanc (Weißburgunder) and Chardonnay are also prevalent in Austrian vineyards, whilst red wines are mostly made from Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch and Pinot Noir (Blauburgunder).
For a country synonymous with winter sports, it comes as no surprise to learn that the climate here is continental, with little if any influence from the Mediterranean on the other side of the Alps. A fraction warmer than its northerly neighbour, Germany, Austria’s climate is characterised by warm daytime temperatures in the growing season contrasting with much cooler conditions at night, a distinction which enables the grapes to ripen slowly whilst preserving their natural acidity. Large bodies of water - most obviously, the Danube river - also take the edge off the temperatures in colder months, thus reducing the risk of frost damage.
Burgenland is one of Austria’s most important wine regions. Situated in the far east of the country, about an hour’s drive from the capital Vienna, it is best known for its red wines from varieties such as Blaufrankisch and Zweigelt. A continental climate, similar to that seen across the plains of neighbouring Hungary, dominates the region and enables the creation of full-bodied, spicy reds, particularly in the sub region of Mittelburgenland. World famous sweet wines are also made in Neusiedlersee.
Steiermark, also known as Styria in English, is known for its fresh and fragrant white wines, often among Austria’s most elegant.
Austria’s capital city Vienna boasts over six hundred hectares of vineyard in commercial use. Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC, the traditional Vienna field blend has subsequently become a recognised appellation.
