Austrian Wine
How does it compare?
Austrian wines are mostly dry white wines (often made from the Grüner
Veltliner grape), though some sweeter white wines (such as dessert wines
made around the Neusiedler See) are also produced. About 30% of the
wines are red, made from Blaufränkisch (also known as Lemberger, or as
Kékfrankos in neighbouring Hungary), Pinot noir and locally bred
varieties such as Zweigelt.
Austria is considered by many to be one of the best-kept wine secrets
in Europe and for the last few decades it has been very much in the
shadow of neighbours Germany and Italy when it comes to recognition
for its wines. But Austria has an incredibly long and fruitful history
of winemaking, with evidence suggesting that vines were in existence
in Austria more than 60 million years ago and were also cultivated by
the Celts and the Romans.