Austria is a landlocked Alpine republic in the southern part of Central Europe, between mountain ranges and the Pannonian Plain. It was created in 1919 (see Austria 1919 creation). Most Austrian wine regions are located in the eastern part of the country due to its favourable climatic conditions. Winegrowing is practised to a smaller extent across the rest of Austria as well. The main regions for quality and volume are Burgenland (south-east of Vienna on the border with Hungary) and Niederösterreich (north and south of Vienna).

Due to more favourable climatic conditions most Austrian wine regions are located in the eastern part of the country. Winegrowing to a smaller extent is practised across the rest of Austria as well. Austria’s winegrowing area comprises 44.912 ha. The federal states of Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) (27,160 ha), Burgenland (11,904 ha) and Steiermark (5,054ha) are defined as genericwine regions, there are also 17 specific winegrowing regions, including Wien (580 ha) and the area Berglan with five winegrowing regions (Kärnten, Oberösterreich, Salzburg, Tirol, Vorarlberg).

Population: 9 million.

Political geography: Austria is a Federal republic comprised of nine autonomous regions or federal states (Bundesländer), all of which have governments and parliaments. They are Burgenland, Carinthia (Kärnten), Lower Austria (Niederösterreich), Salzburg, Styria (Steiermark), Tyrol (Tirol), Vorarlberg, Upper Austria (Oberösterreich), and Vienna (Wien).

Austrian Wine Statistics Reports: 2019.

Austria: Organic & Biodynamic wine data: Austria is a global leader with regard both to the quality and extent of its organic and Biodynamic wine-growing. See Austria, organic and Biodynamic wine production data. The first estate to go Biodynamic was Nikolaihof in the Wachau under Christine Saahs and her husband, Nikolaus in 1971.

The USDA in its “Austrian Organic Production and Consumption Continues Upward Trend” report said “Austria has the highest percentage of agricultural land under organic management in Europe (after the small country Liechtenstein) and organic production has been a recognized production method since 1927.In 2019, about 26 percent of the total agricultural area and 22 percent of all farms were under organic management. Austria has one of the highest per capita expenditures on organic products in the European Union and worldwide. Most important organic outlets are conventional supermarket chains”.

Grape varieties: Blauburger (r). | Blauburgunder (r). | Blauer Burgunder (r). | Blauer Portugieser (r). | Blauer Spätburgunder (r). | Blauer Wildbacher (r). | Blauer Zweigelt (r). | Blaufränkisch (r). | Bouvier (w). | Chardonnay or Morillon (w). | Fruhroter Veltliner or Malvasier (w). | Furmint (w). | Gelber Muskateller. | Gewurtztraminer (w). | Goldburger (w). | Grüner Veltliner (w). | Müller-Thurgau (w). | Muskat Ottonel (w). | Muskateller – see Gelber Muskateller, above (w). | Neuburger (w). | Pinot Blanc–see Weissburgunder. | Pinot Gris. | Pinot Noir (r). | Riesling (w). | Riesling-Sylvaner (w). | Rotberger (r). | Roter Veltliner (r). | Rotgipfler (r). | Ruländer (w). Samling 88–see Scheurebe | Sauvignon Blanc (w). | Scheurebe (w). | St Laurent (r). | Sylvaner (w). | Weissburgunder (w). | Welschriesling (w). | Zierfandler (w).

Geology & soil types: Gneiss. | Granite. | Loam. | Loess. | Slate.

Wine style: Compared to Germany, Austria’s warmer climate gives riper, stronger wines, with dry wines the most common. Basic ripeness for Prädikatswein (non-chaptalised wines) must be higher. The use od süssreserve is not allowed.

Wine regions

Burgenland: See Burgenland. Sub-regions Eisenberg. | Leithaberg. | Mittelburgenland (Central Burgenland). | Mittelburgenland DAC Blaufränkisch. | Neusiedlersee. | Neusiedlersee-Hügelland. | Niederösterreich (Lower Austria: Sub-regions Carnuntum. | Donauland–see Wagram. | Kamptal. | Kremstal. | Thermenregion. | Traisental. | Wachau. | Wagram (formerly Donauland). | Weinviertel. 

Steiermark: See Steiermark (Styria). Sub-regions Vulkanland Steiermark (formerly Süd-Ost Steiermark or South-East Styria). | Weststeiermark (West Styria). | Südsteiermark (South Styria). 

Wien (Vienna): See Wien (Vienna). 

Bibliography

Giles MacDonogh, The Wine and Food of Austria (Mitchell Beazley, 1992).