AUSTRIA WINE TOURING
Vineyard Travels at Harvest Time
Autumn is wine harvest season in Austria, when you can find colorful symbol of ribbons intertwined with vine branches on display outside wine taverns, designating they are ready to serve the freshly pressed wine products. You’ve maybe never thought of Austria as a particular wine appellation. Wine has been produced for centuries in the less mountainous eastern section of the country from Vienna to Graz, but over the past two decades, the wines of Austria have drawn attention to their world class quality, with ideal geological and climatic elements, enjoying ideal conditions for producing authentic and distinctive wines of personality and character
When taken with an international perspective, small is beautiful describes the Austrian wine industry. Nearly all the wines are specialty vintages of small producers. The wines of Austria can be found on many good wine lists, and have been highly acclaimed by wine experts. The wine culture of the region creates diversity, from charming white wines, fruity and full-bodied reds and that particular expression of the local flavor of some of the world’s best sweet wines.
In Austria, there are 35 grape varieties - 22 white and 13 red with prime terroirs for internationally known varietals like Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Muskateller, Traminer, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah. But unique to the region are the local grape varieties, with Grüner Veltliner at the top of the list. This special white wine alone accounts for almost a third of Austria's vineyards. In addition other local specialties - Neuburger, Rotgipfler, Zierfandler and Roter Veltliner for whites - as well as the red varieties Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, St. Laurent and Blauer Wildbacher are being rediscovered.
The land once planted by the ancient Magyars is perhaps best known for what has been termed “Austria’s Liquid Gold”, the noble sweet wine specialties of rich and fruity Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Ausbruch, and seasonal Eiswein (ice wine), which capture the cultural heritage and the imagination of wine lovers. The first Trockenbeerenauslese was produced in 1526 when a harvest of shriveled raisin-like grapes on the Von Leisser baronial estate in Donnerskirchen were pressed into a wine which delighted the court. A century later, Prince Esterhazy joined with Baron von Leisser to recreate the vintage for serving at noble festivities. Generations have cherished the pleasures of this legendary Prädikatswein for over 300 years.
For planning your own tour it through the wine region, the Austrian Wine Marketing agency has created an online app to show the locations of the various wineries, vintners and restaurants, including descriptions and distances to create an itinerary. Now, all you need is a plane ticket to Vienna and a rental car. © Bargain Travel Europe
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See Also:
AUSTRIA’S TOP TEN CHRISTMAS MARKETS
SACHER TORTE AND THE HOTEL SACHER CAFE LIFE
