Traisental DAC

One of the eight specific wine growing areas in the Austrian province or generic wine growing area of Lower Austria. It is, by the way, the only wine-growing area in the Mostviertel. It lies to the west of ViennaIt borders the Danube in the north and the capital of Lower Austria, St. Pölten, in the south. The current extent was created in 1995 by separating it from the Donauland wine-growing region (today Wagram). The name was given by the river Traisen, which flows through it from Herzogenburg in the south to Traismauer in the north and then flows into the Danube near Krems. The Traisen valley is an ancient wine-growing region. A grape seed find from the Bronze Age 2,000 BC and a Celtic bronze bucket from 450 BC with drinking scenes at a festival prove it to be one of the oldest wine-growing regions in Austria. The town of Traismauer was an old Roman town, this is where the Limes, the rampart against the Germanic tribes pressing in from the north, ran. According to a legend, the Nibelungs were served wine in Traismauer on their way to King Etzel. In 1673, at a wine tasting, Inzersdorf wines were rated higher than those from the Wachau.

The predominant soil type consists of dry, sandy and gravely-loamy layers. The climate or weather is subject to Pannonian and continental influence, the Danube has a heat-regulating effect. The largest wine-growing community is Traismauer with about 200 hectares of vineyards. In Inzersdorf some monasteries like Passau and Salzburg already owned vineyards around the year 1000. Other communities are Ambach, Angern, Atzenbrugg, Getzersdorf, Herzogenburg, Inzersdorf, Nasenberg, Nussdorf, Oberndorf, Oberwölbling, Reichersdorf, Sitzenberg-Reidling, Statzendorf, Waldlesberg and Würmla. The most famous vineyards are Engelreich, Gießgraben, Grillenbühel, Hausberg (first mentioned in 950), Händlgraben, Pletzengraben, Rafasetzen, Wöbling and Zwirch.

List of vine varieties

In 2015 the vineyards covered a total of 815 hectares of vines. Compared to 2009 with 789 hectares, this was an increase of 3%. The share of red wine varieties is 17.6% and the share of white wine varieties 82.4%. Grüner Veltliner dominates with well over half of the stock, followed by Zweigelt and Riesling.

DAC system

From the 2007 vintage onwards, the origin-controlled quality grade Traisental DAC was introduced. All other quality wines must be marketed with the origin Lower Austria, the regional wines under the Weinland wine growing region designation. Special rules apply in addition to the generally applicable DAC conditions.

The quality wine grape varieties Grüner Veltliner and Riesling are permitted. The wines must be dry. From the 2016 vintage onwards, a three-stage system was introduced to emphasise the origin more strongly. There are lower limits for the alcohol content, but compared to before, there are no longer upper limits. The date for the application to obtain the state examination number is staggered. If the decision is positive (usually within a week), marketing may take place:

• Traisental DAC, as of 11.5% vol; 1 January
• Traisenstal DAC with indication of place; zum. 12% vol; 1 January
• Traisental DAC with indication of place and vineyard (indication "Ried" and name of vineyard); zum. 12,5% vol; 1 January
• Traisental DAC Reserve; as of 13% vol; 1 July

The wines must have a characteristic taste. For Grüner Veltliner the following applies: fruity, fine spiciness, no botrytis note, no noticeable wood tone(toast aroma), balanced, not alcohol-heavy. For Riesling: fragrant, aromatic, elegant, mineral, no botrytis dominance, no woody note, balanced, not heavy on alcohol. The following applies to Reserve: strong style, pronounced regional and varietal aromas, dense and long finish, a delicate botrytis and wood tone is permissible.

Producers

Well known wineries are Brindlmayer Karl, Dockner Thomas, Hauleitner Herwald, Herzinger Reinhard, Hofmann Rudolf, Holzer Andreas, Huber Markus, Kreimel Herbert, Neumayer Ludwig, Nolz Josef, Ott Thomas, Pernikl Walter, Preiß Friedrich, Schöller Hans and Steyrer Bernhard. Many companies are members of the Traisentaler Weingärtner Association. Another large WV is Traditionsweingüter Österreich. A selection of the best wines are available for commented tasting and sale in the Schlossvinothek Traismauer.

Pictures: © ÖWM - Marcus Wiesner