Are you a wine lover and enjoy life to the full? It's not far away, and since wine has been part of Austrian culture for more than two millennia, a great experience is guaranteed.

The history of Austrian winemaking probably dates back to 700 BC to the ancient Celts. However, the real foundation of the wine culture in Austria was laid by the Romans under Emperor Probus (276-282), who allowed the Gauls, Spaniards and English to own vineyards and make wine. After the fall of the Roman Empire, there was a migration of peoples into Austria, resulting in the decline of viticulture and the devastation of vineyards.
During the reign of Charlemagne (742-814 AD), viticulture began to develop again. This period brought not only progress in the cultivation of vines and the establishment of new vineyards, but also in the production of wine using new technologies. Vineyard grading, storage of wine in barrels and the careful selection of cultivated varieties began.
After 955, the Church began to take over the production and cultivation of wine. Monasteries became the main wine producers and the nobility also owned vineyards. In the 13th century, Austrian vineyards spread westwards and in the 16th century they also crossed the borders of Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia and Prussia.
Due to high taxes and competition - the great popularity of beer - the Austrian wine industry declined in the 17th century. In the 18th century, there was again a significant revival of viticulture and wine trade. The catastrophe came in the 19th century. Due to the cold weather, Austrian vineyards were attacked by fungal diseases and in 1872 the grapevine blight destroyed most of them in Europe. During this period, the first wine cooperatives were founded and resistant grape varieties were sought.
The first planting of a grape variety, Veltliner Green, dates from this time.

Today's Austrian wines are a hit with experts and wine lovers around the world. This success is built on a very long family tradition of Austrian winemaking, supported by the use of modern technology.

Austrian wines owe their uniqueness to the following factors:

Varieties - Austria produces mainly dry white and dessert wines. Red wines are not as widespread here, but have recently gained a very good reputation.
The most popular white varieties are Grüner Veltliner (wines from this variety are highly regarded around the world, and influential critics consider it one of the most important varieties for white wines in the world today), Riesling and Müller-Thurgau. The red varieties are Zweigelt, Blue Portugal and Blaufrankisch.

Climate - hot summer days and cool nights give rise to fresh, aromatic wines full of flavour and refined character. Nowhere else are great wines fresher and fresher wines more delicious.

Soil - Austria's vineyards cover 50 000 hectares and total wine production is 3 million hectolitres. The different soil types make Austrian wines so diverse. From the stony terraced slopes of the banks of the Danube, to the thick layers of loess in Lower Austria, the calcareous soils of Burgenland and southern Styria, to the volcanic basalt soils of Kamptal and south-eastern Styria.
The finest wines in Austria come from the Wachau and Kamptal wine regions of the Danube Valley. The main wine centres of Austria are Spitz, Arnsdorf, Wösendorf, Joching, Weißenkirchen, Dürnstein, Loiben, Rossatz, Mautern.

Wine regions - Austria has four main wine regions: Niederosterreich (Lower Austria), Burgenland, Steierland (Styria) and Wien

Culture - In Austria's wine regions, you can find cellars dating back to Roman settlement, medieval villages and Baroque monasteries and farmhouses.

People - the wine-loving Austrians are fun to be with. They like good food, good wine - they like to have fun. When it comes to quality, they are demanding. Austria is a country of small family wineries, of which there are more than 9,000. Whole families work in them and, as a result, the art of winemaking and the passion for wine is passed on from generation to generation.

Respect for nature - Austrians are true nature lovers and treat nature with the utmost respect. It is no surprise that they hold the world record for organic farming - 16% of all agricultural land and 10% of vineyards are managed organically. In addition, the use of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) is completely banned in Austrian agriculture, and most grapes are still harvested by hand.

Pairing with food - Austrian wines are among the most suitable for pairing with food. Grüner Veltliner and many other grape varieties are a perfect match for the rich Viennese cuisine as well as for traditional Austrian regional dishes. In addition, they complement a wide range of cuisines around the world.

Head to Austria, because wine cellars, regional delicacies and delicious grape juice are not just the preserve of South Moravia. Cheers!