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Weinviertel is the largest wine region in Austria and is situated between the Danube River and the Czech border in the extreme northeast of the country. The region is part of the state of Niederösterreich (Lower Austria), extending in a crescent shape around the south of Vienna, from the north bank of the Danube to the border with the Czech Republic to the north and Slovakia to the east.

More information about Wienviertel

Weinviertel was the first Austrian wine region to establish a DAC (Districtus Austriae Controllatus) for Riesling and Grüner Veltliner wines. DAC is a system that ensures the origin and quality of wines from specific regions. Since 2009, Weinviertel also has a Weinviertel DAC Reserve designation, indicating wines of even higher quality and specific regional characteristics.

Niederösterreich, encompassing Weinviertel, is the largest wine region in Austria. It extends from the Danube to the northern border with the Czech Republic and eastward to Slovakia. Despite its size, Niederösterreich has sometimes been overshadowed by more famous regions like Wachau and Kamptal.

The terrain in Weinviertel is distinct from regions like Wachau, with less steep hills. The soil is characterized by loess, a fertile, wind-blown sediment that is rich and clay-like. The loess layer in Weinviertel, formed during the Ice Ages, is the largest in central Europe. Its high lime content contributes to wines with strong aromatic power and distinctive character.

The combination of the unique loess soil and climate in Weinviertel results in wines with a strong aromatic profile. The wines are known for their characterful and expressive qualities. The Weinviertel region's commitment to Grüner Veltliner, the establishment of DACs, and the influence of its distinct terroir contribute to the region's prominence in Austria's winemaking landscape. Exploring the wines from Weinviertel provides enthusiasts with an opportunity to experience the diversity and quality of Austrian wines.

What grapes are used in Wienviertel?

In Weinviertel, Grüner Veltliner is the predominant and most widely planted grape variety. Grüner Veltliner is a versatile white grape that thrives in the region's unique terroir, characterized by loess-rich soils and a favorable climate. The grape is known for producing wines with a range of styles, from crisp and refreshing to fuller-bodied and complex.

While Grüner Veltliner takes the spotlight in Weinviertel, there is also cultivation of other grape varieties to a lesser extent. These may include white varieties such as Welschriesling, which is known for its fresh and fruity character, and occasionally, varieties like Muskateller (Muscat) for aromatic wines.

However, it's important to note that Grüner Veltliner truly defines the identity of Weinviertel wines. The grape's adaptability to the local conditions and the winemakers' expertise in working with it contribute to the region's reputation for producing high-quality, distinctive white wines. Grüner Veltliner from Weinviertel is often recognized by its characteristic white pepper notes and a vibrant expression of the region's terroir.

Wines from Austria are characterized by excellent quality, purity & character and have their own taste. This is due to the grape varieties, the climate, the soil and the great diversity of wine landscapes and locations. Austria is considered one of the best wine countries in the world, so the wines regularly win prizes at international competitions. Most of the Austrian vineyards are intended for the production of white wine. The most famous is surely the Grüner Veltliner with its always fruity & fresh taste, of which we have selected a number of very beautiful specimens in our range for you. The Riesling wines from Austria are also very famous, with the Rieslings from the Wachau and Kamptal (known for late harvests) being of particularly good quality. The advice for these - somewhat better - rieslings is to leave them for a few more years. The quality is guaranteed to get even better!

Wine regions

There are 3 Austrian federal states that have been defined as a separate regional wine region: Lower Austria, Burgenland and Styria. On the west side of Niederösterreich we find the wine regions of Wachau, Kremstal and Kamptal. These are very important areas for white wines, which have a beautiful depth and tension due to their special terroir and cool climate. The south also has its own designations of origin: Thermenregion and Leithaberg. Beautiful red wines are made there on the doorstep of the Burgenland. The federal state of Niederösterreich is located on the north bank of the Danube, to the north, but also to the east and northwest of Vienna, so as a kind of large crescent around the capital, to the south of the city.
This special region, from the Danube to the border with the Czech Republic in the north and that with Slovakia in the east, is the largest wine region in Austria. Because of its size and location, it has always been a bit shaded by the big names, famous regions such as Wachau and Kamptal.

Label designations

The taste indication on the bottle indicates how sweet the wine is. The corresponding residual sugar contents are as follows:
Extra Trocken: up to 4 g
Trocking: up to 9 g
Half rock: up to 12 g
Lieblich: up to 45 g
Süβ: more than 45 g of residual sugar

The name Bergwein may only be used if the vineyard has a slope of at least 25%.
With the name Reserve, the aging must be at least 12 months for red wine and 4 months for white wine.

Grape varieties

Grape varieties used for white wine: Grüner Veltliner , Riesling , Welschriesling, Weissburgunder, Chardonnay , Müller-Thurgau . Grape varieties for red wine: Blauer Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, Blauer Burgunder, Blauer Wildbacher, Carbernet Sauvignon and Franc, St. Laurent , Blauer Portugieser.

Red wine is made from blue grapes. The wines get their dark colour from the skin of the grape, which ferments with the grape juice. The intensity of the colour is determined by how long the juice has matured; a young red wine will have a somewhat purple colour, while older wines tend to be more orange or brown-red.

With around 10,000 varieties of grapes worldwide, you can go in all directions.

The most well-known blue grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Syrah / Shiraz.

Types of red wine

There are many different types of grapes with different characteristics and aromas. The differences within grape varieties are due to the difference in climate, the soil where the vines are planted, and the amount of sun.

The end result is in the hands of the winemaker. During the process from juice to wine, the winemaker still has a lot of options to change the final product into what he wants to put on the market.

The upbringing of the wine plays a major role in this. After fermentation, the process of raising and maturing the wine begins. There are many options for influencing the wine, but the most well-known concerns the ageing in wood.

If the winemaker chooses to raise the wine on wood, many things come into play. The first choice is whether new or older barrels will be used. Older, used barrels release less or no more aromas and tannins, but they still have an oxidative function. New wood barrels let in dosed oxygen and ensure that the wine has aromas and tannins. This is more intense with smaller barrels than with large wooden barrels.

Dry red wine

The most famous red wine is a dry red wine. The number of grape varieties and different taste profiles are enormous. There is a nice glass of red for every moment.

Sweet red wine

Just like sweet white wine, there is sweet red wine too! They are a lot rarer than dry red wines. If you want to try something different, it's definitely worth a try.

Alcohol-free red wine

Non-alcoholic wine is becoming more and more popular. Whether it is red non-alcoholic wine, white non-alcoholic wine, or sparkling non-alcoholic wine, more and more attention is being paid to it. Perfect for a cosy drink during pregnancy, or during a non-alcoholic month!

Red wine Gift

Red wine is fun to give, and even more fun to receive! Grandcruwijnen has ready-made wine gifts to make your gift recipient happy ;)

If you have your eye on a bottle of wine, at Grandcruwijnen we also have gift packaging to complete your gift! If you've found something you like, you can easily add a gift card during checkout.

Buy red wine online

At Grandcruwijnen you can easily buy red wine online. In our range, you will find products from the well-known grape varieties. If you want to buy a nice red wine, you have come to the right place at Grandcruwijnen. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us!