Mittelburgenland DAC

One of the five specific wine growing areas in the Austrian province or generic wine growing area Burgenland. In 2016 a restructuring took place with partial changes in the designations and area boundaries. Central Burgenland was not affected by this, however; name and boundaries remained the same.

The Celts and Romans already practiced viticulture here. According to legend, the Franconian emperor Charlemagne (742-814) also visited this area. Cistercian monks from Burgundy brought the grape varieties Blaufränkisch and Pinot Gris (Pinot Gris) with them in the Middle Ages and cultivated viticulture. The hilly, forested area covers the entire central part of the province between Lower Austria in the west and Hungary in the east. Well-known winegrowing communities are Deutschkreutz, Frankenau, Croatian Geresdorf, Kleinwarasdorf, Horitschon, Lackenbach, Lutzmannsburg, Neckenmarkt, Nikitsch, Ritzing, Unterfrauenhaid and Unterpetersdorf. Well-known vineyards (sites) are Dürrau, Gfanger, Hochäcker, Hochberg, Kart and Kirchholz.

The three chains of hills Ödenburger Gebirge in the north, Bucklige Welt in the west and Günser Bergland in the south protect from cold winds. Warm, Pannonian climatic influences flow in from the east and the nearby Neusiedlersee has a climate-regulating effect. The predominant soil types are sand, clay and partly also gravel formations with good water storage. It is worth mentioning that in the course of a variety study at the Federal Office for Viticulture in Eisenstadt it was found that the origin Mittelburgenland can be determined analytically. This is clearly possible due to wine ingredients, especially mineral and aromatic substances. The very high content of the health-promoting phenolic compound resveratrol was striking.

List of vine varieties

Central Burgenland is the Austrian red wine growing region. It dominates with more than half of the Blaufränkischthat is why it is also called "Blaufränkischland". In 2017 the vineyards covered 2,104 hectares of vines. Compared to 2009 with 2,118 hectares, this was almost identical. The share of red wine varieties is 92.4% and the share of white wine varieties 7.6%.

DAC system

From the 2007 vintage onwards, the origin-controlled quality grade Mittelburgenland DAC was introduced. All other quality wines must be marketed with the origin Burgenland, the regional wines under the Weinland wine-growing region designation. In addition to the generally valid DAC conditions, the following rules apply in particular: The wines must be made from the quality wine grape variety Blaufränkisch have been prepared. The indication of a large vineyard plot is not permitted; only a municipality may be indicated as the smaller geographical unit and a plot is compulsory for the second category. The malic acid content may not exceed 0,5 g/l and the residual sugar content may not exceed 2,5 g/l. The red wine is available in three different categories:

Classic: The taste must be typical of the variety, fruity and spicy; the smell must be a typical bouquet of the variety; the colour must correspond to a muted strong red. The ageing must take place in traditional large oak barrels (no or barely noticeable wood tone) or steel tanks. The alcohol content must be 12.5 or 13% vol. It must not be marketed before 1 March of the year following the harvest.

Variety (location): The taste must be typical of the variety, fruity, spicy and strong. Aging must take place in traditional large oak barrels or used barrique barrels (no to light wood tone). The alcohol content must be 13 or 13.5% vol. Marketing not before 1st September of the year following the harvest.

Reserve: The taste must be typical of the variety, fruity, spicy and strong. The ageing must be carried out in traditional large oak barrels or barriques (noticeable to dominant wood tone). The alcohol content must be at least 13% vol. Marketing not before 1 January of the year following the second year of harvest.

Producers

Well-known producers are Arachon T.FX.T, Bauer-Pöltl, Bayer Heribert, Draxler Andreas, Fuchs Christian, Gager Josef, Gesellmann Albert, Grenzlandhof Reumann, Heinrich Johann, Hofstädter Johann, Hundsdorfer Anton, Iby Anton, Iby-Lehrner, Igler Hans, Igler Josef, Kerschbaum Maria, Kerschbaum Paul, Kirnbauer Walter, Kovacs Matthias, Lang Stefan, teacher Paul, Moritz Alfred, Pfneisl, Prickler Herbert, Reumann Josef, Strehn Monika, Szemes, Tesch Josef, Vereinte Winzer Blaufränkischland, weaver Rudolf, weaver Thomas, Wellanschitz, Weninger Franz, Wieder Juliana, Winzerkeller Neckenmarkt and Wohlmuth Gerhard.

Pictures: © ÖWM - Marcus Wiesner