Wine & Heuriger

Austria is a world-class wine country — a fact long overshadowed by the "wine scandal" of 1985 (when some winemakers added diethylene glycol). Paradoxically, the scandal led to the strictest wine laws in Europe and a quality revolution, making Austria one of the most exciting wine countries today.

The Most Important Grape Varieties

• Grüner Veltliner — Austria's flagship variety, peppery, mineral, versatile. From light Heurigen wine to complex Smaragd from the Wachau
• Riesling — at world-class level in the Wachau and Kamptal, comparable to the best German and Alsatian Rieslings
• Welschriesling — light, fresh, the classic wine served at the Heurigen
• Blaufränkisch — the most important red wine variety, especially in Burgenland. Dark, spicy, tannin-rich
• Zweigelt — Austria's most cultivated red wine variety, fruity and approachable
• St. Laurent — velvety, Burgundy-like, a hidden gem

Wine Regions

The Wachau (UNESCO World Heritage) along the Danube between Melk and Krems is the flagship: terraced vineyards on steep slopes, top wines in the categories Steinfeder, Federspiel, and Smaragd. The Kamptal and Kremstal follow. In Burgenland around Lake Neusiedl, powerful red wines and the famous Ruster Ausbruch (sweet wine) thrive. The South Styria — the "Styrian Tuscany" — produces excellent Sauvignon Blancs and Weißburgunder.

The Heurige

The Heurige is a uniquely Austrian institution: A winemaker serves his own young wine (the "Heurigen" of the current vintage) directly — recognizable by the Buschen (pine branch) above the door, signaling: "Ausgesteckt" (open). Accompanied by a cold Brettljause: cold cuts, cheese, Liptauer, pork lard, pickles, and fresh bread.

The best Heurigen areas: Grinzing, Neustift, and Nussdorf in Vienna (partly touristy), Perchtoldsdorf and Gumpoldskirchen south of Vienna (more authentic), the Wachau and the South Styria along the wine roads.