Fruity-fresh white wines, rich reds and distinct sparkling wine: Austria’s vibrant wine scene has earned worldwide recognition - find out what to sample and where to go.
Austria’s vibrant wine scene has earned a worldwide reputation for quality and innovation, and is paired wonderfully with Austrian cuisine. All of its wine regions are incredibly easy to visit, and it boasts extensive wine-growing terrain.
Austria looks back on a long wine-growing tradition, and for over 2,000 years wine has formed an integral part of Austrian culture. Traces of viticulture can still be found today amidst the nation’s medieval villages, baroque monasteries, Roman cellars, and stately castles. To this day, Austria’s wines enjoy great international acclaim, both amongst wine experts and wine lovers. And whilst the wine producers very much look back on the nation's heritage to shape their brew, they also embrace the most modern practices, which mean that the outstanding wines have gained great international acclaim on the world stage.
The country’s cool climate lends itself to ideal grape-growing conditions, with all number of international successful varieties such as Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Gelber Muskateller (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains), Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc), Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet flourishing in regional vineyards throughout the land.
Old Austrian varieties are grown with abandon and gaining worldwide popularity. The Grüner Veltliner in particular is one of these, as well as more rare varieties such as the Zierfandler, Rotgipfler, Roter Veltliner, Neuburger, and Wiener Gemischter Satz, and Austria's typical red wines such as Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, and Sankt Laurent.
It’s not only the different grapes and soil that shape the character of the wines, but also the character of the regions they hail from. There is a great deal of variety in the soil types between regions, from dense loam soils in central Burgenland to the calcareous soils around southern Vienna.
Austria’s picturesque wine-growing regions are extensive and cover over 46,515 hectares (114,941 ac). Vienna boasts over 700 hectares (1,730 ac) of vineyards alone, making it the world’s only major wine-growing capital.