Furmint – the main variety used in the Tokaji wine-growing region – has been approved as a Qualitätswein grape in Austria since 1987, but it only occupies a very small area under vine. In Rust, a few winegrowers still traditionally use Furmint for Ausbruch wines.

probably Hungary

A Heunisch variety crossing

31.02 ha; 0.1%

White wine grape variety


A picture shows grapes of the grape variety Furmint

Important ampelographic features

© Austrian Wine / Oberleithner

Important ampelographic features

Leaf

circular to pentagonal, five lobes

Grape cluster

very large, densely berried, cylindrical, shouldered, often with secondary clusters; berries are oval, greenish-yellow in colour and have a neutral flavour

Ripening

Ripening

very early
early
early to middle
middle
middle to late
late
very late

Significance & conditions

The variety is highly susceptible to botrytis, making it a preferred choice for the production of nobly sweet wines. It needs a high-quality vineyard that is warm and dry, with lime-rich soil. Cultivation can be difficult because it is sensitive to winter frosts and late frosts and highly prone to Peronospora and oidium.

Area under vine in Austria
(as a proportion of the variety’s total area)

Click on the wine origin in the list for a breakdown into more specific regions of origin.

Total area in Austria:

The Leithaberg and Neusiedlersee wine-growing regions overlap by almost 160 ha (Rieds Hausberg and Neuberg), according to the Austrian Wine Law. This means that the listed area under vine in Burgenland is 160 ha less than the actual total area across all wine-growing regions in Burgenland.

A picture shows a hand holding a glass of white wine.

Characteristics of the wine

© Austrian Wine / Blickwerk Fotografie

Characteristics of the wine

The wines are rich in extract and full-bodied. The relatively high acidity and alcohol content results in good longevity. A honey-like aroma is characteristic of this variety. Furmint delivers good quality wines, especially in the top Prädikatswein category.

Source varietal specifications: Höhere Bundeslehranstalt und Bundesamt für Wein- und Obstbau (Federal College and Federal Office for Viticulture, Oenology and Fruit Growing) in Klosterneuburg, “Austria’s Qualitätswein grape varieties and their clones“ („Österreichische Qualitätsweinrebsorten und deren Klone“), 2nd, reviewed edition, September 2015

Source area under vine: Calculation by Austrian Wine based on data from BML/IACS (as at 28 June 2023). Moving annual total (MAT) from June 2022 to June 2023.

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