To the south-east of the Austrian capital, the character of the wines is shaped by the almost relentless influences of the warm Pannonian climate. In contrast to other regions, wines from Carnuntum, the Thermenregion and Burgenland are usually characterised by a fuller body. The Pannonian region is where Austria shows off its prowess at red wine production, with full-bodied Zweigelt wines being the dominant variety between Carnuntum and the Seewinkel area.

With a typical nose of sour cherries, the velvety Sankt Laurent grape thrives in the Thermenregion. Mittelburgenland was established as a DAC region with Blaufränkisch wines as its variety of excellence. The partially loamy soils here contribute to this variety’s unique wild berry bouquet. Wines from around the Eisenberg in the south also start to show a touch of typically Styrian freshness. In the Rosalia wine-growing region, the combination of the warm Pannonian climate and the geologically recent soils yields a powerful and spicy style of Blaufränkisch wine. A completely different style of Blaufränkisch, which is richer in mineral notes and tannins thrives from the hilly landscape on the western shore of Lake Neusiedl up to the Spitzerberg in the wine-growing region of Carnuntum.

Cooler vineyards around the lime-rich Leithaberg yield particularly expressive Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay wines with sophisticated, multi-layered bouquets. On the slopes of the Wienerwald (Vienna Woods) around Gumpoldskirchen, traditional white wine production is flourishing again with two indigenous varieties: Zierfandler and Rotgipfler. The high humidity around the Seewinkel area, with its countless small lakes, is conducive to the development of noble rot (Botrytis cinerea), which helps the production of some world-class Prädikatswein and more highly concentrated Trockenbeerenauslese. Premium sweet wines can also be found on the other side of Lake Neusiedl though – the renowned Ruster Ausbruch DAC being their flagship.

A picture shows a glass of wine and seagulls
© Austrian Wine / Stöcher

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