Austrian wines: the best wines from Austria

Best of Wines: Specialist in exclusive Austrian wines

At Best of Wines, you have come to the right place if you are looking for exclusive Austrian wines. Best of Wines has a very large stock of these wines from Austria, especially wines from Wachau and wines from Burgenland. These are without a doubt some of the most renowned wine regions in the country. But other areas like, amongst others, Kamptal, Steiermark and Thermen also produce magnificent wines.

Wineries such as Pichler, Prager, Hirtzberger, Gobelsberg and Knoll are among the absolute best wines in Austria and their wines are much loved worldwide.

The terroir of Austrian wines

There are striking climatic differences between the northeast and southeast of Austria. The climate in the northeast can be described as is dry or hot to dry with some moisture, while the southeast is warmer with slightly more moisture. Both regions have large temperature variations between day and night, which contributes to grape aromas. A sunny, warm autumn extends the growing season, allowing grapes to reach optimal ripeness.

In Austria, soils vary widely, affecting the quality and variety of wines. In Wachau, steep slopes with stone terraces are a unique environment for plants and animals. Kamptal has vineyards on rocky soil with mix of Bohemian massif, sandstone, slate and limestone. Kremstal has deep loess soils, while Wagram and Weinviertel have sloping terrain. Burgenland shows contrast between chalk hillsides in Leithaberg and salt lakes and sandy soils in Seewinkel. Eisenberg in the south also has diverse soils.

Wachau wine producers

Wines from Wachau made from the Riesling and Gruner Veltliner grape have a worldwide reputation. Some producers have a worldwide reputation:

• Franz Hirtzberger. From the very first activities in the vineyard, expression of terroir plays an important role in the process of winemaking. Everything is aimed at expressing the pure aromas of the grape itself. This is done by combining the old traditions with modern techniques of our time.
• F.X. Pichler. Founder Franz Xaver Pichler runs this family owned winery which consists of 16ha of vines, mainly Riesling and Grüner Veltliner. Their Grüne Veltliner M(onumental) and the Kellerberg Smaragd are world famous famous.
• Emmerich Knoll: Easily recognized by its very traditional labels. But the content of these bottles reveals the best Riesling and Gruner Veltliner, Austra can offer.
• Weingut Prager: The Prager family has owned vineyards since 1715. The area is divided into 13 different plots with 9 typical terroirs. The best known are: Achleiten, Kaiserberg, Zwerithaler, Klaus and Hollerin which the highest scoring wines are produced.

Wachau excels in producing white wines. But the quality of red wines are increasing rapidly.

Check all Wachau wines on the Wachau wines page.

Grapes of wines from Austria

Austria is known for its wide range of unique indigenous grapes, which are proudly fed, without a strong inclination toward more internationally known varieties such as Chardonnay or Merlot.

Grüner Veltliner is the most common grape for dry white wine in Austria. This variety produces a variety of wines depending on the region and maturity at harvest. Early harvest produces dry, spicy wines with peppery notes, minerality and fruitiness. Riper grapes result in fuller, sweeter wines with exotic fruit and smoky notes. Grüner Veltliner may pride itself as Austria's premier white grape, but Blauer Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch also certainly deserves attention as the country's leading grape for red wine production. Young Zweigelt wines exhibit aromas of red fruit and offer a supple flavour. Older Zweigelts reveal notes of dried plums and spice, often with a more complex and robust flavour due to wood aging. Riesling represents only below 5% of the vineyards (as of 2023), but is known for some of Austria's best wines, ranging from dry to sweet as a dessert wine. Eiswein (or ‘’icewine) has a rare production requirement. The grapes must ripen to at least -7°C before pressing, which requires specific summer and cold weather conditions.

Wine regions of wines from Austria

Austria's wine production is divided into three main wine-producing regions: Niederösterreich, Burgenland, and Styria (or Steiermark). These primary regions are further subdivided into smaller wine regions. The regions have specific terroir, grape varieties, and winemaking traditions.

Niederösterreich (or Lower Austria) is the largest wine and main production region of northeastern Austria and is situated in northeastern Austria, sharing its borders with Czechia to the north and Slovakia to the east. The expansive wine region is segmented into eight subregions. To the south and east of Vienna lie Carnuntum and Thermenregion, while the vast Weinviertel extends north and east of Vienna toward the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Towards the west of Vienna, one finds Wachau, Kremstal, Kamptal, Traisental, and Wagram.

Burgenland, south of Vienna, is one of the warmest regions in Austria, perfect for red wine because of its climate and soil. Different grape varieties flourish depending on the specific soil. At Neusiedlersee, they are known for wonderful, sweet dessert wines. There are four main regions in Burgenland that acquired a classification, which are: Leithaberg DAC, Mittelburgenland DAC and Eisenberg DAC, and Neusiedlersee DAC.

Styria, with 3,500 hectares and a high altitude, is ideal for white wine production. The DAC accreditation was granted to three wine-growing regions in Styria: Südsteiermark, Süd-Oststeiermark, and Weststeiermark. This region can be characterized as a unique wine growing region in Austria due to its Mediterranean climate. The soils are sparse, rocky, and sometimes volcanic. White grapes excel here, such as Sauvignon Blanc, Traminer, Morillon (aka Chardonnay), Weissburgunder, Grauer Burgunder and Welschriesling.

Prädikatswein

Prädikatswein are quality wines that have undergone special harvesting and vinification processes. The Predicate levels are:

• Spätlese: Made from fully ripe grapes with at least 19 degrees KMW.
• Auslese: Made from carefully selected ripe bunches with at least 21 degrees KMW.
• Beerenauslese (BA): Made from over-ripe grapes, sometimes affected by noble rot, with at least 25 degrees KMW.
• Ausbruch: Made exclusively from grapes affected by noble rot or dried grapes, with at least 27 degrees KMW.
• Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA): Made from carefully selected grapes affected by noble rot, with at least 30 degrees KMW.
• Eiswein: Made from grapes naturally frozen during harvest and pressing, with at least 25 degrees KMW.
• Strohwein/Schilfwein: Made from grapes that have been dried for at least three months before pressing - on straw mats or otherwise.

Classifications of Austrian wines

The framework of quality classifications and the control on the assessment of quality plays a pivotal role in wine legislation. Producers are obliged to specify the wine's quality on the label, and each category ensures specific minimum quality criteria. This quality can be seen by reading the label and looking for certain classifications:

Wine with a Protected Designation of Origin:

1. Riedenwein or a Lagenwein: This wine is at the top of the pyramid. This classification is for wines produced from a specific single vineyard or Ried. It's a further refinement that emphasizes the distinct qualities of that vineyard. For each specific "Ried" (vineyard) manual harvest and established yield limits are essential. Extensive documentation is required, including historical data, soil characteristics, geological features, climatic information, production volumes and market value of the wines. In addition, concrete evidence of elements that contribute to achieving wines of exceptional quality, including ratings at the national and international level, must be provided.
2. Ortswein (or village wines): This pertains to wines originating from a specific municipality or town within a DAC region. These wines reflect the local characteristics of that area.
3. Gebietswein (or regional wine): Gebietswein can carry the label Qualitatswein ''DAC'' or Predikatswein. Qualitätswein is made from grapes harvested at a certain maturity level. Enrichment of these wines by the addition of sugar or concentrate is not permitted. Enrichment of these wines by adding sugar or concentrates is not permitted. Prädikatswein includes specific wine-growing regions and special wine styles without DAC status. To further complicate matters, Austria also has a Prädikatswein system to characterize quality levels. However, when a region has a DAC title, the regulations related to the DAC apply. Some wines categorized as Gebietswein do have achieved a higher level of refinement, as in the case of Mittelburgenland DAC.
4. Austrian Sekt: The designation "Sekt Austria," "Sekt Austria Reserve," and "Sekt Austria Große Reserve" is exclusively dispensed from glass bottles with the "Protected designation of origin’’ and has certified quality symbol. If a wine has the addition "Reserve," it means it has a more powerful style.
5. Wine With a Protected Geograpical Indication. 'Landwein': It stands for wines with a protected geographical indication typical of a particular region or area in Germany.

Wine Classifications with no geographical origin:

1. Österreichischer Sekt (“Österreichischer Qualitätsschaumwein”): This certification is only used when the wine is made entirely from grape varietals permitted for the manufacture of Qualitätswein.
2. 'Wein': It replaced the formally referred term ‘’Tafelwein’’. This label only applies if certain standards are met such as a minimal alcohol level.