Sustainability in Austrian Vineyards

Organic products are currently trendy, and this is also being reflected in wine production. Several producers are learning about the various methods of organic viticulture and an increasing number are switching. Yet, how does this compare with Integrated Production (IP), which is already widespread in Austria?

The popularity of certified organic wines is partially due to the fact that an ever increasing number of consumers are opting for food products, that have been produced with little or no chemical use (pesticides or chemical fertilizers).

The total number of certified organic agricultural producers in Austria has grown by 31 percent since 1995. Therefore, Austria is the leading country for organic agriculture in the European Union, in first place with a 20 percent proportion of the total cultivated land.

In 2008, there were a total registered number of 547 certified organic wine producers in Austria, with an average vineyard area of 5.1 hectares. During the time span from 2005 to 2009, organic wine cultivation virtually doubled from 1,791 to 3,218 hectares, with notable increases in the federal states of Burgenland and Vienna. In 2009, organic viticulture accounted for 7.8 percent of the total cultivated vineyard surface area in Austria.