Austria

A crisp rise - wine from Austria

Austria's regained pride in the form of viticulture has developed exceedingly splendidly in recent years. For hardly any quality offensive bore fruit to the extent that the wine law did after the glycol wine scandal in Austria. People have turned to old strengths, careful work in the vineyard and cellar, and an awareness of the ideal natural conditions available to Austrian winegrowers for noble grape varieties. Alluvial plains, valleys and hills on limestone, loess and primary rock soils, sheltered from the wind by the majestic Alps that tower above the vineyards. This is how the crisp and velvety grape varieties Grüner Veltliner, Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch and Riesling like it. Come with us on an excursion to the wine regions of Austria and discover the exceptional quality that many wine lovers often unjustifiably put under "far from the top". But only one thing is running here - the wine from Austria.

Noble Jause companion - the taste of Austrian wines

We know and love them and yet Austrians have always been a little different - aromatic and fresh with a crisp body. With beguiling spiciness and compactness, the wines from Austria express themselves light and easy with a full-bodied taste. One may not resent comparisons with France or Italy - winemakers have been on the move seeking new methods and techniques to promote Austrian wine, which has been battered by the glycol scandal - but no bottle can be denied an independent character. But with the latest cellar technology, a lot of love for wine and one of the strictest wine laws in the world, the high-quality result is no wonder. Austria's wine plays in a league with the best.

Without a doubt, the list of permitted grape varieties also plays an important role. 26 white and 14 red varieties line the vineyards from Styria in the south to the Weinviertel in Lower Austria. Among them are autochthonous grape varieties such as Rotgipfler, Blaufränkisch, St. Laurent and the famous Grüner Veltliner, which was responsible for the steep rise of Austrian wine.

The Emperor's fine grapes - Blaufränkisch and Grüner Veltliner

If one searches for synonyms for Austrian wine, one quickly recognizes the significance of the two grape varieties Grüner Veltliner and Blaufränkisch. They turned out to be real draught horses in the attempt to pull the cart (Austrian wine industry) out of the mud (reputation after glycol scandal). The autochthonous and noble grape varieties were up to the task and revealed previously unimagined potential. Once vinified into mass-produced wines, Grüner Veltliner whites are now internationally acclaimed quality wines of the highest order, proudly flying the Austrian flag alongside Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon blanc. The spicy and fresh aromas of the national variety Grüner Veltliner from Austria, complemented with a fine white pepper note, attract attention worldwide today. It is hardly surprising that Grüner Veltliner can be found on about one third of Austria's vineyards.

Red wines made from Blaufränkisch also receive much reverence. As the leading variety in southern Burgenland and central Burgenland, also known as Blaufränkischland in specialist circles, the grape variety produces extremely powerful and fruity red wines with high storage potential. Blaufränkisch was the first red wine variety to achieve DAC status and today enjoys a lush life on some 2,800 hectares, primarily in Burgenland.

The Austrian wine quality system

The quality system for Austrian wine is considered to be one of the strictest of all, thus guaranteeing the highest quality for wines from Weinland, Steirerland and Bergland. Basically, a distinction is made between wine with origin, including Landwein, quality wine and DAC wine, and wine without origin. The latter are labelled as wine from Austria. Decisive for the classification of wines is on the one hand the origin of the grapes and on the other hand the sugar content, measured by the unit Klosterneuburger Mostwaage (KMW).

• Wine without indication of origin, formerly listed as table wine, is not subject to any regulations regarding origin, alcohol content or must weight.
• Landwein is the designation for wines with a protected geographical indication. For Landwein, the three large wine-growing regions Bergland, Steirerland and Weinland are considered geographical indications. Smaller wine regions are not allowed for wines of at least 14° KMW and at least 8.5% vol. The acidity amounts to at least 4 g/l for Landwein.
• Quality wine serves the Austrian wine industry as the highest category and designates wines with a designation of origin. For this, the wine must originate from a single wine-growing region and have a minimum KMW of 15°. In addition, a minimum alcohol value of 9.0% vol. and a total acidity of at least 4 g/l are required. Further requirements relate to the maximum yield and that the wine must pass a sensory test. Each quality wine is marked with a state examination number and a red and white striped banderole. Quality wine from Austria is also divided into Prädikatswein, Kabinettwein and, above that, specialities such as Beerenauslese and Eiswein.
• DAC wines, short for Districtus Austriae Controllatus, fulfils for the wine-growing area by regulation fixed conditions for regionally typical quality wines with origin profile.

Austrian wines buy cheap online

Order Austrian wine, cheap and tasty, at VINELLO. We deliver fine wines from Austria and make sure that your treasures arrive safely, climate neutral and well packed. Because wine from the Wine Republic of Austria should give you the same pleasure as our neighbours and inspire your enjoyment with crisp freshness and intense aromas. Browse through our selection of quality wines from Styria, Lower Austria, Burgenland and Vienna. Buy wine from Austria at a reasonable price and toast enthusiastically - drink now, later there'll be dumplings.