Austrian wine is produced in Austria, with a focus on dry white wines, particularly from Grüner Veltliner grapes. About 30% of Austrian wines are red table and quality wines, mainly from the Zweigelt grape.
History
Winemaking in Austria dates back to the 7th century BC, with the Celts as early practitioners. The Romans expanded vine cultivation, and Charlemagne later organized vineyard cadastres and wine varieties. During the Middle Ages, monasteries played a significant role in spreading viticulture and forming winemaking traditions. Wars and high taxes led to a decline in Austrian winemaking, but it revived in the 18th century with new laws and the emergence of Heuriger establishments. After World War II, technical advancements propelled Austrian winemaking to industrial levels.
Climate and Soils
Austrian wine regions are located in a moderate continental climate, similar to France's Burgundy. They feature warm summers and mild autumns with significant terrain variations from lowlands to snowy mountains. The climate becomes more humid moving up the Danube valley, with increasing precipitation in mountainous areas. Austrian vineyards grow on various soils, including slate, gravel, loess, and limestone.
Grape Varieties
White grape varieties occupy two-thirds of Austrian vineyards, with Grüner Veltliner being the most popular at 31%. Other significant white varieties include Welschriesling (7.2%), Riesling (4.3%), and Pinot Blanc (4.2%). Red varieties account for one-third of vineyards, with Zweigelt leading at 13.8%, followed by Blaufränkisch (6.5%) and Blauer Portugieser (2.7%).
Wine Regions
Nearly all Austrian vineyards are in the eastern part of the country, primarily in Lower Austria and Burgenland, with smaller areas in Styria and Vienna. These four main wine regions are divided into 17 districts, including Wachau (a UNESCO World Heritage site), Kremstal, Kamptal, and others.
Classification
Since 1973, Austrian wines have been classified using a system similar to Germany's, based on sugar content in the must. The categories include Tafelwein (table wine), Landwein (local wine), Qualitätswein (quality wine), and Prädikatswein (premium wine). Premium wines are divided into subcategories like Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Eiswein, and Strohwein, each with specific production requirements.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Виноделие в Австрии, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.