So far 2026 has been a year of new discoveries. Last month an introduction to the wines of Victoria, Australia | Home of Diversity. So far this month has been all about French wines, almost all of which were new to me. France: Terroir & Trends seminar that included very good wines that were tasted for the first time. An outstanding Masterclass Beaujolais Dig into Diversity moderated by Educator Iain Philip. Where there was so much to learn while tasting some incredible wines.
Each of these seminars and Masterclasses provided an opportunity to learn something new about a wine region and also to taste the wines produced there. Knowledge was shared about climate and the effects on the region, geography, soil composition and elevation. So many different things that are vital components in wine making.
This brings me to another interesting topic, the wines of Austria. It is quite possible that you haven’t tasted wines from Austria. The reason? As was pointed out to us at the Masterclass conducted by Marilena’s Wine Director Shrawan Khanna, of the 19 wines we tasted only two are available in Canada, both of those only in Quebec.
The Austrian Wine Marketing Board (Österreich Wein Marketing GmbH) is based in Vienna, and is a national service body for the Austrian wine industry. The organisation was founded in 1986 with the aim to strategically support, coordinate and maintain quality and sales.
The long-term objective is to position Austria as a high-quality, environmentally conscious wine-producing country that unites tradition and modernity, while also reinforcing collaboration between winemakers, wine-growing regions, decision makers within the wine industry and Austrian Wine. Further goals include stabilising the high shares on the domestic market and continuing to grow exports.
The annual earnings of Austrian Wine are approximately €10 million. This can be broken down into marketing fees paid by wine producers (1.1 cent per litre of wine harvested based on officially declared harvest volumes and 1.1 cent per litre of wine brought onto the market according to officially declared inventory) and fees from different federal states Niederösterreich (Lower Austria), Burgenland, Steiermark (Styria) and Wien (Vienna). Austrian Wine also receives subsidies from the European Union.
If you are interested in a deep dive into Austrian Wine here is an online guide that you might want to take a look at.
So by now I am hoping that you are ready to learn a little bit more about the wines that we tasted.
Ein wildes Gläschen Riesling Demeter 2024
WHITE WINE
This Riesling from our “Ein wildes Gläschen” series highlights natural wines with minimal intervention from our favourite vineyards.
The character of the wine
This wine comes from old vines in the very chalky Ried Obere Schoß vineyard.
STYLISTICS
hazy with a a golden yellow colour; intense stone fruit aromas; complex acidity with a lively, complex finish
ALCOHOL
12,5 % vol.
On the nose opening with a toast of yeastiness, dust, white peaches and citrus. The colour is pale and cloudy. On the palate the wine is fresh with excellent acidity. Citrus notes follow the nose. A nuttiness and some honey notes although no sweetness shows on the palate. Lightly effervescent.
krispel
Exceptional Terroir-Driven Wines in Styria’s Volcanic Heart
Krispel Winery is celebrated for its high-quality single-vineyard wines that showcase the distinct characteristics of their land.
Prime Vineyard Locations
The vineyards at Weingut Krispel benefit from an ideal combination of soil, climate, and rainfall, making it a prime location for grape cultivation. The estate primarily grows Sauvignon Blanc, Gelber Muskateller, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay. These carefully selected grapes are used to produce a range of outstanding red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines, all crafted in their state-of-the-art wine cellar.
Scents of horse hair, wet dog and strong diesel. Much less refined. Strong scents of leather. A slightly golden colour, almost like a pale rosé. On the palate unpleasantly diesel and leather with cork, smoky.
Tinhof Leithaberg Weissburgunder
Grown on meagre Leitha shell limestone, this typical Pinot Blanc is a perfect accompaniment to food.
Available vintages: 2024, 2023, 2019, 2016
Incredibly deep scents on the nose. Including pear, peach and limestone scents. Very impressive. On the palate the wine is light with citrus notes, light fruits and lemon. Rather complex but also refreshing with some tannins. Medium body and quite fruity, some grapefruit, chalky and rich with deep flavour. Quite spicey with a lingering finish.
WEINGUT TEMENT ZIEREGG
XT – “Extra Time – Extra Terroir – Extra Tement”. A part of the 2018 harvest from the historical part of single vineyard Zieregg remained in the barrel and has now been bottled after more than 78 months sur lie in big casks with the addition of ‘XT’. In short: a wine that has matured to perfection for us.
Pleasant floral notes with stonefruits and gardenia, slight mile essence of oak, chalk and light rose, fresh Meyer lemon, citrus and hard candy. Fresh with pleasant acidity, fruity, light but very pleasant. A little light with a finishing touch of spice. Lingering finish and very nice.
Zahel Gemischter Satz Demeter 2024
Fresh aromas of apple, pear and citrus fruit, a harmoniously integrated acidity and a lot of drinking pleasure – our “Gemischter Satz” is one of our most important wines. Perfect as an aperitif or, as we Viennese say, best enjoyed with a whole bottle of Wiener Schnitzel.
STYLISTICS
Light yellow, fresh fruit of apple, pear and citrus fruit, harmonious acidity with lots of drinking pleasure.
ALCOHOL
12,00 % vol.
VARIETY
Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner, Riesling
Serving temperature
8–10 °C
Aging potential
5-10 years
The Gemischter Satz…
…is a very special white wine. It contains at least three different grape varieties that all come from the same vineyard. These are not only planted next to each other, but are also harvested and fermented together. The result is a wine that combines the advantages of different varieties.
The tradition of the Gemischter Satz goes back a long way – and not just in Vienna. In the past, a winegrower often only had a single vineyard. Planting different grape varieties had many advantages, then as now: The different characteristics of the varieties ensure stable yields and make the vineyard more resistant to weather extremes, diseases and pests. As a result, a wide variety of grapes flow into the wine and increase its flavor complexity. This composition also gives the wine an invigorating acidity and a special freshness.
Scents of fresh citrus and stonefruits lingering slightly under tones of diesel, herbaceous. A very pleasant freshness to the wine. Fruity with limestone and stonefruit on the palate with a spicey finish. Good depth and delicious. This was my favourite so far.
CHARDONNAY EX QUI SIT
Chardonnay EX·QUI·SIT is the most charming of the EX·QUI·SIT wines. A vineyard in Neusiedl provides the foundation for this exceptional Chardonnay EX·QUI·SIT. Old vines from Burgenland, a six-month fermentation in second-fill barriques, and the application of the elaborate bâtonnage technique are responsible for the quality of Chardonnay EX·QUI·SIT.
A rich straw yellow color and a delicate aroma of lychee characterize Chardonnay EX·QUI·SIT. It is subtly oaked, revealing charming brioche notes and presenting itself as very harmonious and creamy. Radiant fruit and restrained oak influence make it a white wine of international caliber. It is also a beautiful and, above all, complex food pairing.
Suggested dishes: Grilled salmon with saffron rice | Grilled scallops on lemon risotto | Grilled Halloumi and Watermelon Skewers | Avocado Tartare with Tempura Shrimp and Mango-Chili Salsa | Caesar Salad | Salmon with Summer Vegetables and Herbs, Oven-Baked or Grilled | Beef Carpaccio
12-13 °C
2 hours
Alcohol: 14%
A rich golden colour. Scents of brown sugar, dust and caramel. Herbaceous with dusty rose and floral. Scents of diesel with hints of leather. The wine opens with oak but pleasantly. Flavours of fruit including dates. The wine is rich with some spice, very nice. The lingering finish has definite spicey notes.
HANDWERK
RIESLING
Pure individuality. Pannonian influence. Riesling in a truly rare form. Here, traditional skills are refined and boundaries are explored anew, without suppressing the stylistic history of the wine.
Alcohol
13.0 % Vol.
A very dark golden colour with some different scents, egg yolk, vegetables, pumpkin and squash. As it sits the scents of stonefruit begins to develop. The wine is full bodied with delicious flavours of fruit and a touch of spice. Good acidity with a finish of herbeaceousness and limestone. This wine tied for the #1 spot.
PRIMARY ROCKS
Grüner Veltliner
Vineyarddesignation: Reipersberg, Primary Rocks
Vintage: 2023
Color: Medium golden yellow, silver reflections
Nose: Delicate exotic notes, fiery minerality
Palate: Very complex, with a powerful minerality on the finish
Soil: Vines over 90 years old on barren primary rock
Climate: Hot summer days, cool nights
Vintage: Whole cluster pressing, no addition of cultured yeasts, natural fermentation in stainless steel or large wooden barrels. Aging on the lees until May. Refined in large wooden barrels.
Alcohol content: 13.5% vol.
Description: Invigorating aroma, subtly smoky fruit, tropical fruit, fine herbs, blossom honey. Acidity embedded in extract, compact and firm, rounded off with a smooth texture, long finish, good pull through to the end.
Weixelbaum KAMPTAL
A lively dialogue with nature, holistic and personal – that is how we live and love our wine, and that is how we have run our family winery in Strass for three generations. The past gifts us strength, grounding and valuable treasures for the wine shop. We plan the future together with our children Theresa and Pauli, who are already actively involved in the “family council” when it comes to which varieties to plant in the vineyard.
Golden yellow, very concentrated on the palate, full-bodied, wonderful balance.An elegant and finely spiced Veltliner with particular charm and refinement.
Scents of cut flower stems, very herbaceous and fresh. Stonefruit with a pleasant floral note and a clear colour. Very fresh in the mouth with stonefruit and peach. Pleasant with good acidity. A lingering, spicey finish with a touch of limestone. I liked this one.
WALD SCHÜTZ
12,0%
8°C
Food pairing: Appetizer accompaniment, patio wine
Floral with hard candy scents, limestone, very pleasant. Dense acidity, super fresh and very flavourful with some spice notes. Very drinkable with a nice finish. This was my #2 or #3
HANDWERK
LITTLE SISTER GRÜNER VELTLINER
Alcohol
13.5 % Vol.
Grape Variety
Grüner Veltliner
Description
The little sister of Salt and Smoke. Younger vines and a bolder character. A delightful nose with herbal and spicy aromas, super juicy on the palate. A sophisticated, easy-drinking wine that leaves you wanting more.
Slightly cloudy in the glass. A rich honey scent. Port wine with an underlying aroma of caramel. Less desirable than the scents suggested. Medium acidity with hints of red apple, a slightly sour, bitter lemon pith and sliced apple.
In Signo SAGITTARI
The Blaufränkisch grape variety is the very foundation oF red wine production. This indigenous grape variety has been cultivated for centuries, primarily in the Pannonian Basin. Recognized as Austria’s flagship red wine and now internationally acclaimed, it produces complex, long-lived, and highly distinctive red wines of the absolute highest quality.
Signo Sagittarii, made from grapes grown on vines 70 years old and older, and aged for two years exclusively in new barriques, is the flagship Blaufränkisch from the Heribert Bayer winery. The wine was first produced in 2002 by the son, Patrick Bayer, at the tender age of 18. The wine’s name is a nod to Patrick Bayer’s zodiac sign, Sagittarius. Having received numerous national and international awards, this Blaufränkisch is distinguished above all by the unique character and individuality of each vintage, while never losing its distinctive signature. What makes this wine unique is the depth of vintages available.
In Signo Sagittarii impresses with its intense, brilliant ruby garnet color and a complex aroma of blackberry jam, tobacco, and sandalwood. On the palate, this red wine is immensely powerful without ever becoming heavy. The long finish unfolds with notes of blackberries, ripe plums, and finely interwoven aromas such as mint, smoke, and Morello cherry. A robust tannin structure ensures that In Signo Sagittarii will provide exceptional red wine enjoyment for many, many years to come.
Pairing suggestions: Eggplant lasagna | Rib-eye steak with spicy bean and chimichurri sauce | Cauliflower braised in black garlic | Pastries filled with oxtail, balsamic raisins, toasted pine nuts tossed in butter, and topped with pecorino cheese Braised veal cheeks with dried porcini mushroom/lemongrass polenta
Bordeaux style.
Opening with toasty, stewed fruits and a slight hint of port. Very rich, enticing aromas and a touch of oak. A lovey deep ruby colour with a touch of amber and red candy. Lean and structured with good acidity. Medium to pronounced tannins. Leather, tobacco, Italian plum and new oak on the palate. Spicy with medium body. Mellow, juicy, ripe and rich. Fruit driven and very nice. Lovingly lingering.
ZULL
100 % Zweigelt
Austrian quality wine
dry
Hand-picked early October
Alcohol: 13.0 % vol.
Zweigelt is Austria’s most widely-cultivated red varietal, and is also widespread in the tiny red wine island of Schrattenthal. Propagated from the Blaufraenkisch and St. Laurent types, and like the Gruener Veltliner an Austrian speciality, this classic Wine Quarter red wine is perfectly at home in our sandy loess soil. Our local wine from Zweigelt.
Slightly reductive nose of ripe sour cherries and bitter chocolate, elegant and fruity, fine spice with lots of structure and stimulating acidity, delicate, elegant roasted aromas on the finish.
Can be recommended as the ideal accompaniment for a wide variety of dishes ranging from dry-cured ham and beef tongue to wild duck or veal.
Beaujolais style
Opening with scents of fresh, dark fruit, plum torte and prunes Extremely rich, intense scents. Deliciously rich with very ripe, almost scorched, fruit. Deep and very, very good. Medium body with light tannins, dry. Extremely drinkable. My #1 for the reds.
I’m going to stop right here, even though we tasted another six wines in a vertical. That’s a post for another day.
Wine notes courtesy of the wineries, my notes (in bold italics) with thanks to Austrian Wine for the introduction and link to their Austrian Wine in Depth Training Manual. Images (as except as noted) MyVanCity.
Feature image: Austrian Wine / Robert Herbst / Südsteiermark
