Austrian Wine Sector

Question 1

Which is the rapidly increasing trend-inversion since 2009 to nowadays in terms of structural change within the Austrian wine industry?

Answer 1

There is a noticeable shift towards a larger business structure and a decrease in the number of smaller producers, and respectively, an increasing in terms of annual volume production per producers (exceeding 30.000 L of wine) together with a reduction of the total sum of Austrian wineries.

Question 2

How big is Austria’s total vineyard area?
How many individual wine producers are present?
Within this number, how many bottle their wine?

Answer 2

Austria has a total vineyard area of 46.500 hectares. This vineyard area is cultivated by around 14.100 individual wine producers, of whip an only about 4.000 are counted as being bottlers.

Question 3

More or less, which is the total number of “Qualitätswein” bottlers in Austria?

Answer 3

4.200.

Question 4

White wines cover:

Answer 4

2/3 of the national production.

Question 5

Which are the most representative grape varieties and their associate profile?

Answer 5

Regarding whites, the signature Grüner Veltliner (thirst-quenchingly, fresh and fruity, with plenty of acidity and a flavour that reverberates on a wavelength somewhere between grapefruit and dill -typically in the vast Weinviertel DAC, in the upper Niederösterreich-, whereas it become full-bodied, intriguingly spicy, perhaps peppery white well worth ageing upriver of Wien), which covers more than 30% of the country’s total 46.500 ha of vineyards, but both Welschriesling and Riesling are also important; all, a combination of refreshing powerful, finesse and richness.
Of red wine varieties, the most locally significant are the juicing intense Zweigelt, expressive and refreshing Blaufränkish, and velvety Sankt Laurent (even if they are not gaining ground).

Question 6

How some producers can resolve with frosts problem?

Answer 6

Many vines in Austria (although not those dedicated to the finest wines) are trained high on the Lenz Moser system, which offers some frost protection and reduces labour costs.

Question 7

In valleys such as Kremstal and Kamptal, in which sites is planted Grüner Veltliner, and in which one Riesling?

Answer 7

Grüner Veltliner tends to be planted on moisture-retaining loamy soils, and Riesling on higher, drier stone terraces.

Question 8

Which are the average yields for Austria? And production?

Answer 8

50 hL/ha; 2,5 million hL wine per year, by focusing on quality (rather than quantity).

Question 9

Which is, more or less, the vineyard percentage occupies by the most representative Austrian grape varieties? (Note: data come from 2013)

Answer 9

W: Grüner Veltliner: the white flag of Austria, 30% (even if concentrated almost only in Niederösterreich)
Welschriesling (not related to Riesling): 10%
Riesling: 5%
Müller Thurgau: Riesling x Sylvaner, 4% (Niederösterreich)
Weißburgunder and Chardonnay (Morillon): 7%
R: Zweigelt: the red Austria’s dominator (Sankt Laurent x Blaufränkish), 14% (and -unlike Grüner Veltliner- has a significant presence in every wine region)
Blaufränkish: 12% (Mittelburgenland is called “Blaufränkishland”, but also widely present in Eisenberg)
Blauburger: 3%
Blauer Portugieser: 2%
Sankt Laurent: 2%
Blauburgunder: 1,3%

Question 10

Which are the best sites in Wachau DAC?

Answer 10

Vineyards on the steeply stony terraces that face south, to maximise sun interception.