News

Regionally typical wines from the Thermenregion are now protected with a DAC, making this the final wine-growing region to join the system. The native white wine varieties Rotgipfler and Zierfandler take centre stage here, alongside the Burgundian grapes (Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, St. Laurent and Pinot Noir). The DAC wines will be classified into three different tiers – Gebietswein (regional wine),…

Austrian wines are enjoying continued success in international markets. In 2022, exports reached a new record level of 231 million euros. White wines and Sekt saw the greatest growth in value. Austrian wine was in particularly high demand in Canada, the USA and Northern Europe.

From 19 to 21 March, 229 Austrian winemakers will be presenting more than 3,000 wines at ProWein in Düsseldorf. The most extensive exhibition of Austrian wines in 2023 will also be presenting the first wines of 2022, as well as the outstanding 2021 vintage. Fourteen masterclasses and 6 themed tastings hosted by the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (Austrian Wine) will give enthusiasts an even more…

After two years marked by the huge impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, 2022 could almost be considered a normal year again. One particularly pleasing aspect was the return of the major wine fairs, which also became the key focus of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board’s annual programme of events. However, the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (Austrian Wine) also put a host of other initiatives into…

How should we rate the red wine variety Blaufränkisch that grows in Central Europe? Is it a great grape variety on the same level as Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo, for example? “Yes!” confirmed an international summit held in mid-December 2022 in Lech am Arlberg, Austria.

The Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI) was founded over 50 years ago as the international umbrella organisation for all national sommelier associations. It currently has members from 61 different countries and promotes dialogue within the industry at an international, national and local level. For Austrian Wine, the ASI is a strong partner for further expanding our collaboration…

High expectations of this year’s vintage – a slightly lower must yield anticipated due to the dry summer – current level of ripening very satisfying

Over recent months, Austrian wines have continued to outshine competition from around the world. In international trade magazines and at renowned wine competitions, they have been picking up enthusiastic votes, top ratings, gold medals and coveted trophies.

It wouldn’t be summer without a barbecue! Having friends and family around for a barbecue is as much a part of the summer months as a refreshing spritzer. Experts agree that the diverse wines from Austria pair excellently with sausages, steaks and pulled pork, as confirmed by barbecue world champion Adi Matzek. However, barbecues aren’t just perfect occasions for white wines and rosés – red wines…

The supporting actors are becoming the stars of the show: vegetables, herbs and pulses are taking the kitchen and our plates by storm. And when it comes to the right accompaniment, fruity white wines, Sekt and dry rosé wines from Austria are impressive all-rounders. Classic-style red wines are also a good fit, especially for braised vegetables and stews.

A fabulous comeback after a break of four years: between 21 and 23 May, 480 Austrian wineries showcased themselves to a high-calibre audience of industry experts. Austrian Wine (Austrian Wine Marketing Board) had invited more than 1,000 wine experts from over 50 different countries to come to Vienna for the event, and the initial feedback from our guests is brimming with enthusiasm for Austrian…

Around 280 Austrian winegrowers will present their top wines at the ProWein trade fair in Düsseldorf between 15 and 17 May. For the first time ever, Austria will be showcased in the well situated Hall 5, where twelve masterclasses organised by Austrian Wine will also bring in a high number of visitors.

The dream 2021 vintage is drawing wine lovers from all four corners of the world to the VieVinum in Vienna at the end of May. Invited by Austrian Wine (Austrian Wine Marketing Board), 900 international wine experts from over 50 different countries will be able to verify the outstanding quality of this wine for themselves at probably the most elegant wine fair in the world. Numerous supporting…

A major success for Austrian wine exports: in 2021, revenue rose by €29.5 million to €216.8 million (+15.7%), recording the greatest growth in value of all time. The quantity exported increased by 3.8% to 70.2 million litres. Exports were mainly driven by Austria’s white Qualitätswein (quality wine). While growth was recorded in EU countries, it was particularly strong in countries outside the EU,…

Austria’s wine industry suffered from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic again in 2021. Austrian Wine reacted by introducing new targeted measures, including support for the domestic on-trade. On an international level, it ramped up demand for Austrian wine with events tailored to specific markets – 2021 could even report a new export record.

Once again, the international press is full of praise for Austria’s outstanding wines. James Suckling recently gave the highest score to date for an Austrian red wine. Also attracting praise around the globe are the 2020 vintage white wines, Grüner Veltliner and Rieslings from 2019, Sauvignon Blancs from Steiermark (Styria) and the native red wine champions Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch.

Relaxations in COVID-19 restrictions internationally led to a sharp rise in Austrian wine exports. From January to June, the total value of exports climbed to over €111 million – up by more than a quarter compared to the same period in the previous year. The reopening of the on-trade and substantial growth in all key export markets were the leading factors in this.

Average wine volume of 2.4 million hectolitres expected – “After the economically turbulent years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Austria’s winemakers are looking forward to this year’s vintage. In terms of volume, an average harvest of around 2.4 million hectolitres is expected, similar to last year. Because of weather conditions, the harvest will take place slightly later than in recent years,”…

Austria’s winegrowers produce wines of the highest quality. This has been demonstrated in recent months by their success in major international competitions and tastings with leading wine critics. The results: gold medals, trophy wins and even 100 Parker points.

The origins of Austrian wine, including single vineyards (Rieden), can now be seen at a glance. Following three years of groundwork, the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (Austrian Wine) launched a digital atlas of wine origins at austrianvineyards.com on 17 June. This is also the world’s first digital wine atlas covering an entire wine-producing country.

Traditionally, wine holds a position of high importance in the Austrian hospitality industry. In 2019, more than half of all wine bought in the domestic market was sold through restaurants, bars, inns, wine taverns (Heurigen and Buschenschanken) and at wine festivals. Due to the tough measures implemented to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, this sales channel has almost completely collapsed. As the…

Over the past few weeks, the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (Austrian Wine) has increased the sales of Austrian wine in the USA and UK thanks to its biggest retail campaign there in years. More than 150 wine retailers advertised their wares with the slogan “It‘s Austrian Wine Time” and enjoyed a significant boost in sales. The best advertising concepts were awarded by Austrian Wine.

On 12 April, despite the lockdown, the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (Austrian Wine) brought 170 wine experts in the United Kingdom together with 50 Austrian winemakers. The “Austrian Tasting – The Stay-at-home Edition” gave experts the chance to taste dozens of wines in the comfort of their own home, while also talking to the winemakers online. The event marked the première of the 2020 vintage in…

The new year seems to be following in the same tracks as 2020, which is, at least, positive news for Austria’s excellent wines. Again this year, they are reaping one success after another around the world.

Against all expectations, Austria’s wine exports increased again in 2020: volume rose to 67.4 million litres (+6.3%) while revenue reached a new high of 187.3 million euros (+2.4%). Alongside the main export market of Germany, the other key markets of Switzerland and the Netherlands also showed upward trends. While the USA and Asia declined, the monopoly markets of Scandinavia and Canada showed…

Nearly a year after the first coronavirus lockdown, the 2020 wine sales figures for Austria’s domestic market are now available. The on-trade was particularly hard hit, as was to be expected. The hospitality industry’s purchases of Austrian wine through wholesalers dropped by a third. Austrian wine did see increases in consumption at home (+17% in volume, +18% in value) and purchases from multiple…

Austria’s wine industry faced unprecedented challenges in 2020. In its just released annual report, the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB) gives an insight into how it tackled the challenges of the pandemic. To support winemakers as much as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, the AWMB made changes to its entire 2020 plan at short notice: domestic and international sales channels were heavily…

On 23 November, the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB) organised the world’s first “hybrid” wine tasting in Russia’s capital city of Moscow. As participants were tasting almost 200 Austrian wines at the Four Seasons Hotel, they connected live with the winegrowers in Austria via an online app. The enthusiastic feedback from this event serves to confirm and reinforce Austria’s image as a pioneer…

The Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB) is promoting a vinophile finish to the year under this holiday heading, with top-drawer wines from Austria. All lovers of the finer things in life can find inspiring tips for splendid celebrations at weinezumfest.at.

This year’s wine tourism promotion is on the home stretch! And at this point, the AWMB’s campaign “Auf zum Wein” (All Aboard for Wine) has already racked up 75 million visual contacts.

After hymns of praise were sung worldwide for the 2019 Austrian vintage and its white wines, another chorus of enthusiastic voices chimed in: this time shining the spotlight on Austria’s remarkable reds.

Austria’s likely best-known sweet wine now enjoys legal protection as Ruster Ausbruch DAC. And over on the east side of Lake Neusiedl, the designation of origin Neusiedlersee DAC has been expanded, and now includes also fruity-sweet and nobly sweet wines.

The latest figures from Statistik Austria paint a remarkable picture: from January through June 2020, the export value of Austrian wines fell by only 1% compared to the same period in the previous year – substantially less than had been feared. Export volume was even able to grow by 7.4%. And within the nation’s borders it is becoming steadily more clear, who has fared better and who worse during…

The 2019 vintage in Austria aroused great expectations right from the start. Now, reviews from experts throughout the world have confirmed it: the wines of this vintage are truly among the best that Austria’s winegrowers have been able to produce in recent decades.

(As of 04.09. according to the press conference of the Viticultural Association, updated on 30.09.2020) “Austria’s winegrowers are already extremely busy with this year’s harvest. After an economically challenging year in 2020, they are looking forward to a good vintage”, stated president Johannes Schmuckenschlager of the Austrian Winegrowers’ Association, with regard to 2020.

The Austrian Wine Marketing Board’s biggest wine tourism campaign yet got underway at the beginning of August, christened “Auf zum Wein!” (All Aboard for Wine). The website aufzumwein.at features the most comprehensive listing of wine tourism possibilities in the country, attracting domestic vacationers to Austria’s winegrowing regions.

E-commerce is not a new invention, and this distribution channel is also securely established in the wine industry. For many years, a great number of wine producers and wine merchants have been actively pursuing sales via the Internet. The current situation – from lockdown to gradual reopening – has accelerated the development of online wine sales to a tremendous degree, and the demand for wine…

The Covid-19 pandemic has been causing serious losses for Austrian winegrowers since the middle of March. In this, the individual sales channels at home and abroad have been affected in substantially different ways. The Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB) can now present the first data, reporting on developments in Austrian trade during the lockdown, with some surprising results.

Over the past few weeks, most bottles of wine have been consumed in relative solitude. Toasting, tasting and enjoying wines with others was mostly just virtual. But then, there was more time to shop comfortably online, and to fill up the wine racks and cellars with bottles from our Austrian winegrowers. Now that the restrictions are slowly being loosened and gatherings at home in smaller groups…

A change long in development has now become official: the Wachau is Austria’s newest (and fifteenth) DAC winegrowing region. On the three levels Gebietswein (regional wine), Ortswein (“villages” wine) and Riedenwein (single-vineyard wine), regionally typical wines will now bear the protected designation of origin “Wachau DAC”. The Vinea Wachau’s categories Steinfeder, Federspiel and Smaragd will…

On a national as well as international level, the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB) is working intensively on suitable activities and measures that can be implemented during and after the COVID-19 restrictions. The strategy here is clearly defined: during the corona crisis, the areas that are still functioning despite the restrictions should be promoted and supported. Then the focus will shift…

The COVID-19 pandemic is also having a serious impact on Austria’s wine industry. Winegrowers and retailers as well are developing a variety of strategies to cope with the situation. The Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB) is supporting them both domestically and internationally.

Austria’s wine exports moved into previously uncharted territory in 2019: for the first time they surpassed the 180 million mark, at 185.4 million Euros (+9%), while volume rose by 20.5% to 63.6 million litres. The number of countries in Austria’s export programme increased to 102 – ten years ago in 2009 it was 64.

With almost 50% of sales, Germany remains Austria’s most important country for wine exports. But what makes the German wine market tick? What opportunities and what potential does the German market offer for Austrian wine? And the important question: is there actually such a single entity as ‘the German wine market’?

The lucky number for the world of Austrian wine seems to be the 9, since when the year ends with this numeral – like 1999 and 2009 (‘the Niners’) – the vintage often turns out to be particularly fine. This legendary series continues in 2019: despite heat and drought, the white wines are vivaciously fresh and the reds show excellent depth. And at 2.3 million hectolitres production, 2019 is in line…

In order to protect the health of exhibitors and attendees both, as well as hindering the spread of the coronavirus Sars-Cov-2, ProWein in Düsseldorf, VieVinum in Vienna and other national and international events have been postponed.

From 15–17 March 2020, the international world of fine wine will gather at Europe’s leading wine trade fair, ProWein in Düsseldorf. With a contingent of 330 exhibiting growers, sixteen instructive and inviting master classes, plus the outstanding 2019 vintage, Austria is bringing its best game to the table.

The Austrian Wine Academy has been offering successfully the WSET Level 4 Diploma in cooperation with the British Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) for more than 25 years. In 2020/2021, three different formats of the Diploma course are available.

Environmentally friendly produced and marketed Austrian wines are highly sought after in Scandinavian markets. Norway’s state monopoly has even created a separate import quota for Austrian wines with ‘Sustainable Austria’ certification.

As of the first of January, British native Chris Yorke has taken the helm of the Austrian wine industry’s service organisation, the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB). With his substantial international expertise, a clear strategic orientation and the concentrated capabilities of the team, the Austrian Wine Marketing Board finds itself ideally positioned for a bright and successful future.