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Austrian Vintage 2007 - The Winemaker’s Year
Hot Summer, Cool Autumn, Big Challenges
Hot Summer, Cool Autumn, Big Challenges
The unusual weather during 2007 resulted in painstaking efforts being made in Austria’s vineyards. The extremely hot summer required intensive leaf work in order to prevent sun burning of the grapes. Up to the end of August, comparisons with the 2003 vintage harvest could be made, but the rainy period at the beginning of September was yet again a potent reminder that nature holds a strong influence over the wine in Austria. The high volume of rain - around 150 mm in several of the wine-growing areas - meant that appropriate soil cultivation (for better water absorption) and particularly careful grape selection have been necessary. Often, more than one selection process has been required. Because the early September rains were followed by cool and windy conditions, rot in the vineyards has been limited.
Beautiful Ripening Period Promises Aromatic Wines
Determining the exact point of grape selection in terms of sugar ripeness and phenolic development has been even more of a key factor this year - one which has tested the nerves of the winemakers. That extra dash of patience, waiting just a bit more time, has been delivering wonderfully aromatic white wine grapes, as well as red variety grapes - especially those with thick skins, like Blaufränkisch - that promise attractive, piquantwines. A significantly positive effect of the rains has been the development in the lake areas of Burgenland of botrytis, which is necessary for the production of many top-quality sweet-wines à la Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese.
In All of the Wine-growing Areas: Satisfaction Guaranteed
Although the 2007 harvest has been requiring more painstaking efforts than usual, positive feedback has been coming in from all of Austria’s wine regions. In the wine-growing areas along the Danube river, high-quality Grüner Veltliner and Riesling wines are anticipated, and classic Weinviertel DAC wines are expected in the Weinviertel. The Thermenregion, Carnuntum and Burgenland are looking forward to red wines that are highly aromatic, fruity and finely structured; Mittelburgenland DAC wines are particularly promising. Winemakers in Steiermark are reporting crisp, healthy grapes that also are highly aromatic, thanks to cool morning temperatures. And in Austria’s capital, Vienna, winemakers are happy with the return of a solid harvest volume after the two previous vintages, 2005 and 2006, bore low-yield volumes.
The current overall volume estimate provided by Statistik Austria is at around 2.5 million hectoliters, which is in line with the average annual volume reached over the past five years.