Austrian Wine is Not What You Expect
Austria’s proximity to Germany means that many people assume the wines are similar, but they’re not. Austria is home to a thoroughly unique wine industry that, even once you get beyond the country’s most famous wine, Grüner Veltliner, is among the most delicious in all of Europe. And with more and more wine from Austria being imported to the United States, now is the perfect time to explore all that it has to offer.
Is Austria known for wine?
Very much so! Austrian wine is some of the most exciting in all of Europe, not least because of the range of styles and grape varieties that the country excels with. Austrian white wine, Austrian red wine, and even Austrian sparkling wine are all worth delving into.
What are the wine-growing regions of Austria?
Most of the wine-growing regions of Austria are in the eastern part of the country. The most important ones include Burgenland, Niederösterreich, Steiermark, Bergland, and Wien, which, interestingly, includes a seriously accomplished wine-growing region within the city limits of the capital, Vienna. In fact, Vienna wine is some of the most exciting in all of Austria!
What kind of wine is Grüner Veltliner?
Grüner Veltliner is the most famous Austrian white wine and is produced from the grape variety of the same name. It tends to be crisp and refreshing, with flavors that professional tasters often compare to lime, lentils, spices, and a stony minerality that makes it pair perfectly with a wide range of foods.
Is Grüner Veltliner oaked?
In general, Grüner Veltliner is not oaked. Producers typically want to allow its natural citrus fruit and acidity to shine through.
How do you serve Grüner Veltliner?
Grüner Veltliner is best served well-chilled, in a classic white wine or universal wine glass. It’s fantastic when accompanied by fresh fish and seafood, fried dishes, and the sort of vegetable-based items that are often so difficult to pair wine with. Grüner Veltliner can handle them with ease.
What is the leading grape variety of Austria?
Grüner Veltliner is the most important white grape variety of Austria, and Zweigelt is the most important red grape variety. Riesling also does brilliantly in Austria, though unlike so many of its German counterparts, like the famously sweet trockenbeerenauslese dessert wines of that country, Austrian Riesling is a generally dry expression of the grape.
What is Zweigelt wine?
Zweigelt is a red wine produced from the grape variety of the same name. Zweigelt tends to exhibit flavors of pleasantly mouthwatering cherries, spice, and a hint of dried scrubby herbs. Served with a very slight chill, it’s delicious!
What is a noble grape?
In general, a “noble grape” is any grape variety that is capable of producing delicious, balanced, and occasionally age-worthy wines. In that regard, the grapes that are classified as vitis vinifera are generally considered to be the noble ones: Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay, Riesling, and, yes, Grüner Veltliner, Zweigelt, and more.
Browse our full selection of Austrian wine online or check out our selection of highly-rated Austrian wine for a great new Austrian wine to try this week!
Want to learn more about Austrian wine?
Visit our Guide to Austrian wine to learn more about Austrian wine.