Austria is small, with barely 0.5% of its land covered in grapevines, but the country has contributed significant innovation and creativity to the wine world, from viticulture to stemware. In its more recent history, Austria’s industry was marked by the 1985 “antifreeze” scandal. Though the practice of sweetening wines with diethylene glycol, or DEG, hardly represented the majority of Austrian winemakers, all were implicated. Impressively, the industry banded together over the following years and developed stricter regulations and practices. Today, Austria has not only redeemed its reputation, but its wine industry is recognized for a proportionately high level of quality and rigorous standards. Pioneers from the last century have paved the way for today’s set of bright winemakers, many of whom are bringing excitement and originality to lesser-touted pockets throughout the country.
Geographically central, Austria has been a thoroughfare for many civilizations throughout history. The Hallstatt culture of the Late Bronze Age through the early Iron Age (1200–500 BCE), among the earliest of Celtic peoples, was first to significantly settle this area, landing just southeast of what is today Salzburg. Salt mines in the region allowed this group to prosper, producing over a ton of salt per day and supplying over half of Europe. Artifacts discovered here, such as bronze ornaments and sword handles made of African ivory, suggest significant wealth. As the tribe grew and became more sophisticated, a wine culture developed. Art and other remnants dated between 600 and 400 BCE signal more frequent wine consumption and a stratification of society, as the Hallstatt tribes were dominated by the fiercer La Tène Celts.
The first record
I believe it was formally approved in 2003 but was effective retroactively to the releases of the 2002 vintage. There is some more info here and here.
Timeline for Austria's history indicates Weinviertel DAC established 2003, but the regular study guide lists it as 2002. Is this a discrepancy, or is this due to the perspective of when the first vintage was labeled from the DAC?
Hey, Jienna and Alex! Confirming that 75 hl/ha is the requirement and national standard and the guide is updated to reflect that.
There are some stipulations in both directions that are worth noting, which renders this number "interesting."
First and foremost, the government retains the right to shift the 75 hl/ha by 20% in either direction based on vintage variation and the economic status of the wine world. Second, an estate must earn the right to get 75 hl/ha; this is via full registration and compliance of your vineyard with the government. If you do not register fully to comply with the standards, then your yield for Qualitätswein is 67.5 hl/ha.
Per AWBM, national max yield is 75 hl/ha for all quality categories.
Did Austrian Qualitätswein max yields really change from 67.5 hl/ha to 65.7 hl/ha or is that a typo? Inquiring minds want to know......
Thanks, Robert! This is confirmed and updated!
This could use an update I believe? According to the OTW website there are 120 classified sites, but the guide says 109 as of 2024.
Thanks, Rebecca! The guide is updated.
Hiya, tiny thing. But Stillfried (NE of Vienna) appears to be near the border of modern-day Slovakia...
"Two small grapevine seeds were discovered in a storage pit covered with cereal grain in Stillfried, northeast of Vienna on the border of modern-day Hungary"
Hey Mirco! It is Fritz Weininger. The guide is updated.