Lower Austria/Niederösterreich

The federal state of Lower Austria with its capital St. Pölten (until then Vienna), elected by popular vote since 1986, is located in the east of Austria. With an area of around 19,200 km², it is the largest federal state. It surrounds the Austrian capital Vienna, borders the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the north-east, Burgenland to the south-east, Styria to the south and Upper Austria to the west.

History

Even before the soldiers of Emperor Marcus Aurelius Probus (232-282) brought wine presses to the Danube, the indigenous people pressed the so-called Marcomanni wine. The municipality of Stillfried an der March in the Weinviertel is one of the most important archaeological sites in Austria and, along with Zagersdorf in Burgenland, is considered the oldest wine-growing village in Central Europe. Some of the most important finds are on display in the Stillfried Museum. These include "Stillfried Cup", a bronze drinking vessel and grape seeds of a Vitis vinifera from around 900 B.C. At this time the Celts settled in this area, who already practised viticulture and used wooden barrels to transport wine.

Viticulture was strongly influenced by Vienna, the monastery Klosterneuburg, and the monasteries of Göttweig in the Kremstal and Melk in the Wachau, founded by the Roman Catholic order of Benedictines. These were centres of spiritual and cultural life and also strongholds of exemplary wine culture. The former Dinstlgut in Loiben (Wachau), which has been abandoned in the meantime and whose origins date back to the 9th century, also had a great influence. The noble Liechtenstein family was founded in the 13th century. Large areas of vineyards were acquired and progressive viticultural methods were introduced. In 1636, a cellar regulation was issued, in which, among other things, the "Zuberaithung von Schwebl"(sul phur) was precisely regulated. The winery Hofkellerei Stiftung Fürst Liechtenstein still exists today.

Climate & Soils

The wine-growing regions can be divided into three different climates with Atlantic and continental influences. These are the Weinviertel in the north and the Danube region west of Vienna with the wine-growing areas of Wachau and Wagram, as well as three tributary valleys that gave the wine-growing areas of Kamptal, Kremstal and Traisental their names. Here, predominantly white wines are produced, for which the conditions are predestined. The third climatic region is the Pannonian Lower Austria in the southeast with the two wine-growing regions Carnuntum and Thermenregion on the border to Burgenland with excellent conditions for red wines. The predominant soil types are gravel, sand, loess, loam and primary rock. The different conditions also result in a great variety of wines.

Wine-growing regions

By far the largest winegrowing area, the Weinviertel covers more than half of the vineyards and is therefore divided into three large areas: Falkenstein, Mailberg and Retz. Together with the two generic wine-growing areas of Burgenland and Vienna, Lower Austria forms the wine-growing region Weinland, which serves as an indication of origin for country wines. The generic wine-growing region of Lower Austria is divided into eight specific wine-growing regions. For all quality wines, the generic wine-growing region of Lower Austria must appear on the label; for DAC wines, the DAC designation must also appear. The eight specific wine-growing areas with the development of the vineyards from 1999 to 2022:

Grape Variety Index

Lower Austria is a classic white wine region, accounting for about three quarters of the wine produced. The province supplies over 60% of Austria's wine production. In 2022, the vineyards covered a total of 27,075 hectares of vines. Compared to 2016 with 28,146 hectares, this was a reduction of 1,071 hectares (almost 4%). The share of white wine varieties is 78%, the share of red wine varieties 22%. The trend towards more red wine varieties is stagnating or declining. The clearly dominant grape variety is Grüner Veltliner with almost half of the stock, followed by Riesling, Welschriesling and Müller-Thurgau. Among the red wine varieties, Zweigelt dominates, followed by Blauer Portugieser, Blauburger and Blauburgunder. The biggest climbers were the varieties Blossom Muscat, Chardonnay, Muscaris, Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc and Souvignier Gris, the biggest decliners Blauer Portugieser, Blauburger, Müller-Thurgau and Neuburger.

Producers

Well-known winegrowers' associations or cooperatives are Falkensteiner Berggericht, Kamptal Klassik, Mailberg Valley, Premium Wine Estates Weinviertel, Traditional Wine Estates Austria, Vinea Wachau Nobilis Districtus, Wagramer Selektion, Wine Estates Retzer Land and Wine Estates Wagram. The wineries are listed in each case under the wine-growing regions.

Map: © ÖWM
Gumpoldskirchen: © Armin Faber - ÖWM
Stillfried: © ÖWM/WSNA
Dürnstein: © Armin-Faber - ÖWM
Table Vine Variety Development: Norbert F. J. Tischelmayer