The indigenous Roter Veltliner plays a vital role within the Veltliner Family, and is the parent variety of Neuburger, Zierfandler and Rotgipfler. The Roter Veltliner is predominantly in Wagram

probably brought from the Valtellina to Austria

Unknown

197.67 ha; 0.4%

White wine grape variety


Parentage

Roter Veltliner is actually the parent variety of the Veltliner family and can be found in numerous forms (Weißroter Veltliner, Brauner Veltliner, Silberweißer Veltliner and Gelbling). As an autochthonous variety, it holds a special position within the Veltliner family as a natural crossing partner for Neuburger, Zierfandler and Rotgipfler.

Vineyard area

This variety is only grown in a few regions of Niederösterreich, mainly in Wagram, the Kamptal and the Kremstal, although it can also be found occasionally in the Weinviertel and Wien. Between 1999 and 2020, the area under this variety decreased noticeably in size.

A picture shows grapes of the grape variety Roter Veltliner.

Important ampelographic features

© Austrian Wine / Oberleithner

Important ampelographic features

Leaf

large, five lobes, deeply sinuated

Grape cluster

medium to large, very densely berried, cone-shaped; berries are greenish-yellow to flesh-red in colour, thick-skinned and exhibit uneven ripening.

Ripening

Ripening

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

Significance & conditions

The area under this variety used to be on the decline, due to the vineyards where it was grown providing excellent conditions for Grüner Veltliner. However, the situation has since become more settled. These vines need sites that warm up early and loess soils that allow deep rooting. It is extremely sensitive during flowering and susceptible to damage from late frosts. It is also very prone to botrytis and Peronospora. Overall, the characteristics of this variety are not particularly favourable, which limits its appeal.

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

Roter Veltliner is a high-yielding variety, which is why yield management is necessary to achieve high quality. Restricting the yield enables the production of very original, elegant, extract-rich wines with fine, spicy aromas and great ageing potential. Without yield management, the wines are somewhat thin and lacking in complexity.

Link

Autochthonous Varieties

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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