Press Releases 2010

2010-12-29  –  The Austrian Wine sector enjoyed a positive year in 2010 despite the difficult market conditions. The low harvest volume in 2009 resulted in a sharp drop in Austrian barrel wine exports in 2010. However, exports of bottled wine continued on a successful course and reached the highest ever price average of more than € 2 per liter. And this trend is expected to continue because of the small harvest again last year – probably the smallest since the frost vintage of 1985. Because of the quantity shortage, a fall in export revenues is expected for this year. Read more

2010-12-07  –  Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? Or maybe you're not so thrilled with the same old ideas à la ties, perfumes & Co. Have you perhaps thought about giving something different – truly different - something that's clever, special and tasteful, and fits every occasion? Something with style and spirit, and can describe the one who receives it? There is nothing better than giving a fine bottle of wine from a special country – a country where original, handcrafted wines of the highest quality are made with innovation. Give wine from Austria. Taste culture! Read more

2010-11-19  –  With more than five million visitors per year, the website of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB) is one of the most visited wine websites in the world. And now, the site – also the world's most comprehensive website on Austrian wine – has been relaunched. On November 18th, the new www.austrianwine.com went online. Work on the relaunch had been underway for more than two years with a fresh new conceptualization, newly built-in features, and new and exciting contents. Read more

2010-11-10  –  The Austrian 2010 harvest is expected to deliver one of the lowest yields in nearly 20 years. According to Statistik Austria, figures as of the end of October are pointing to a total volume of 1.76 million hectoliters, which is approximately 30% lower than the average annual yield of 2.5 million hl. The Austrian Viticulture Association - Österreichischer Weinbauverband – has confirmed this report. “This year's quantity is lower than the total normal wine consumption in Austria, which is an average of 2.4 million hl per year,” says Josef Pleil, president of the association. “It is especially dramatic for white wine, because there is none in stock at present due to the low harvest also in 2009.” Read more

2010-11-05  –  The weather conditions throughout 2010 demanded the utmost in know-how and skill from Austrian winemakers. After a Winter that swung between cold and practically Spring-like temperatures in February, the month of March began with icy temperatures and ended with pleasant Spring weather. April was dry in western and southern Austria, but the wine-growing areas experienced heavy rains, hailstorms and floods. There was much rain at times in May, so sunshine was rare indeed. And June provided a bumpy start to Summer, with rain and cold during the flowering period causing problems with pollination and fruit set. Read more

2010-10-29  –  Between October 22nd and October 26th, Austria as a wine country was the focus of the international wine blogger scene. Vienna's Schönbrunn palace served as the stylish venue for the annual European Wine Bloggers Conference (EWBC), which was enticed to the Austrian capital through the initiative of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB). The event was organised by Gabriella and Ryan Opaz of Catavino Marketing and Robert McIntosh from The Wine Conversation. Read more

2010-09-13  –  Austrian wine exports developed significantly during the first half of this year despite the difficult global economic climate. Figures for this period, released recently by Statistik Austria, show a remarkable export value increase of 10% even though there was a 3.3% decrease in volume - reflecting that more high-quality wine had been sent abroad in this period compared to the same period in 2009. Read more

2010-09-10  –  The Danish restaurant, Noma, celebrates its prestigious position as the best restaurant in the world – with an Austrian Wine Menu! Last April, the Danish restaurant, Noma, was named by Britain’s Restaurant Magazine as the world’s best restaurant. And since the beginning of September, Noma has been offering an exclusive Austrian Wine Menu, created by the head sommelier Pontus Elofsson. Read more

2010-08-16  –  Austrian Pinot Noirs showed their impressive top class status at an international blind tasting held in Singapore on August 4th. The tasting, which was organised by Michael Thurner, the former general manager of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board, comprised a total of 34 international wines from the vintages 2001-2008. Of these wines, 12 Austrian Pinot Noirs placed amongst the top 20 ! And the competition was tough: the Austrians successfully triumphed not only over many familiar names from Burgundy, but also over wines from the New World (overseas). Read more

2010-07-26  –  Crème de la Crème of International Wine Bloggers to Gather in the Austrian Capital 22 - 24 October 2010. The 3rd European Wine Bloggers Conference (EWBC) will be held between October 22nd and 24th in Vienna, Austria – marking the first time that the event will take place outside of the Iberian Peninsula. Read more