Eisenberg was the name given to what is now Südburgenland or Southern Burgenland until 1986. It has few vineyards and the meso-climate is not influenced by Lake Neusiedlersee. It is probably the most unspoilt wine landscape of Burgenland.

Main townsEisenberg. | Deutsch Schützen. | Rechnitz.

Terroir: The production area stretches from the town of Rechnitz in the north, to Güssing in the south.

Wine production: The majority of winemakers do so as a hobby, or supplement their income with another job or profession, and only a small number of the larger producers cultivate the small vineyard area. Much of the wine produced will be sold through the local wine taverns, and it cannot be disputed that the region regards itself as being a ‘Weinidylle’, just plain idyllic for wine. The effects of the Pannonian climate are felt here, along with the climatic influences from the neighbouring Steiermark or Styria.

Vineyards:  515 hectares of vineyards stretching from the town of Rechnitz in the north to Güssing in the south. Its authentic red wines, predominantly produced from Blaufränkisch, display subtle mineralic spicy notes, but there are also vibrant and elegant white wines, along with the unique and quirky local speciality, the Uhudle

Red Wines: Red wines are produced here, predominantly from BlaufränkischEspecially the hill known as Eisenberg itself is historically significant and, together with the vineyards of Deutsch Schützen has become the central point of the region. Crystalline rocks occur on the slopes while in the lowlands silty clays form the basis of the varied loam soils that give the Blaufränkisch wines an elegant note. The result is a unique, individual and truly unconventional wine that perfectly reflects vineyard site, soils and climate. The top producers of these wines can be found around the village of Deutsch Schützen. The regionally typical Blaufränkisch has been authorised to carry the Eisenberg DAC designation as of the 2009 vintage ( Eisenberg DAC Reserve efective with the 2008 vintage).

White winesCrisp, fruity white wines from the varieties Welschriesling and Weissburgunder are produced around the towns of Rechnitz in the north and Moschendorf in the south. A wide variety of interesting wines are furthermore vinified from the idyllic surroundings of the Csaterberg vineyards near the town of Kohfidisch, as well as along the Pinkatal wine trail from the Winten vineyards to sites in Kulm and Gaas. In the most southerly point, around the villages of Heiligenbrunn and Moschendorf, Uhudler is produced, a particular speciality made from hybrid vines. Its pungent aroma of wild strawberries has resulted in the wine becoming surprisingly popular.

Eisenberg remains an insider’s tip, far from the overcrowded traditional winegrowing towns. However, the thermal health spa resorts, along with the festivals held at Güssing Castle and the quaint landscape bring tourists to the region, without jeopardising the peaceful, idyllic landscape of the vineyards.

Bibliography

Hugh Johnson, Hugh Johnson’s Wine Companion (1991, 3rd edition, Mitchell Beazley), p.418.

Austrian wine, Eisenberg.

Bibliography

Austrian Wine Marketing GmbH