Austria's vineyards are situated to the east of the country, north and south of Vienna and Graz well away from the alpine slopes and ski resorts. As a land locked country in central Europe, the climate is continental with warm, dry summers and freezing cold winters. The aspects of the vineyards vary from the plains surrounding the Danube to the very steep slopes of Styria.The wine regime is extremely strict and controls exacting. It is comparable to the German system in that quality levels are graded on the sugar content of the grapes. However, yields are much lower and unlike Germany most Austrian still wine is fermented dry. It is predominantly a white wine producer (80%) cultivating the indigenous Grüner Veltliner followed by Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Blanc and Welschriesling, the latter being responsible for the great sweet wines for which Austria is justifiably famous. Vineyard holdings are by tradition small, in many cases as little as 1 hectare and, as with Germany, much vine cultivation is operated on a part-time basis.
Austria pioneered the vine training system known as 'Lenz Moser', named after its inventor and very much in use today. It involves training the vines in a canopy system, high off the ground, increasing the density of the leaf surface and reducing the cost of production. It also allows for mechanical harvesting.
Austria is also home to 'Heurige' wine, which is the most recent vintage normally offered for consumption by the grower in his/her wine bar and very much a tourist attraction in and around Vienna. It is officially released on St.Martin's Day, 11th November. 'Ausbruch' is a speciality and luscious sweet wine midway between the 'Beerenauslese' and 'Trockenbeerenauslese' categories. It is made from very rich, shrivelled grapes infected by 'botrytis*' with some lighter juice added to start the fermentation. A small amount of 'Strohwein' (Straw wine) is made where grapes are laid out on straw mats over the winter to dry in aerated lofts thus concentrating the sugars and creating that raisiny sweetness.
