Facebook pixel
Select Page

Austrian Red Wine

One of the more difficult wines to source and not widely exported, Austrian reds could be considered one of European viticulture’s hidden gems.

Grown throughout its eastern border, Austrian red wine vineyard regions are segregated from other growing sites, so looking for what you need out of a bottle is incredibly easy, even for a beginner.

The main growing regions consist of (from top to bottom) Burgenland, Carnuntum, Neusiedlersee, Mittleburgenland and Eisenberg for a cool climate red (similar to fans of the French Burgundy).

Weststeiermark is the only region where lighter red grapes are grown indigenously.

Read more about Austrian Red Wine

Vineyards
Breweries
Alcohol and Distilleries

Wines by grape and occasion

Zwiegelt!

By far the most popular and widely produced grape in Austria, the wine Zwiegelt produces has an almost sticky, plummy taste.

Due to cooler growing regions and higher winds, Zwiegelt also bears a higher level of acidity, cutting through the palette and making it a versatile accompaniment to pastas, schnitzel or simple red meat dishes.

Blaufränkisch and Blauer Portugieser

Blaufränkisch and Blauer Portugieser are slightly harder to source outside Austria and Germany, and are medium bodied and zesty.

As the names vaguely suggest (depending on your grasp of German), they are both heavily fruit-based but richer and sweeter than the Zwiegelt grape, with an added note of citrus which stops it feeling sickly.

These two are a fantastic choice to serve with richer pork and red meat dishes, but the higher tannins can stop you from overindulging after the first glass.

St Laurent

St Laurent originates in the region of Niederösterreich and is perfect for people who enjoy a denser red.
As a truly Austrian export, when served the colour is a dark, almost blood red and medium to full bodied (depending on the year of bottling).

Notable exports include the St Laurent from Schloss Gobelsburg, available widely from largest supermarkets. With a similar taste to pinot noir, but as it’s far lesser known, it’s an interesting alternative when choosing what to serve with dinner.

The 2008 Graf Hardegg Pinot Noir vom Schloss, Weinviertel is also similar to a Pinot, however at a modest price might be more tempting if you want to try experimenting with something different.

Other notables include the 2007 Prieler Schutzner Stein, Burgenland for a fruity and drinkable Austrian wine to start with (see if you notice the iodine and iron undertones caused by the barrelling process).

A note on blending

Just like most red wines worldwide, sticking to your native grape doesn’t necessarily lead to the very best wine.

Austrian blending uses Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to lift the denser reds, and whilst Austrian wineries have to maintain over 85% of a grape to label it so, this doesn’t stop fantastic blending creating some unusual and delicious red wines.

Try Anton Bauer “Wagram Cuvée 13” 2007 as a stand out blend of choice.

Author

Michael Bredahl

Michael Bredahl

Wine Writer

Michael is an online enthusiast, with a lot of knowledge about online marketing. Traveling around the world to hunt for the perfect wine. Latest on Sicily, where Etna has a huge impact on the taste, which is strong with a bitter aftertaste for the youngest wines, but older wines are fantastic. Drinking wine, and writing about them, are one the passions. Remember to drink responsibly 🙂

Are you a Copywriter?

We have a lot of articles without much content, if you can do it better, you are welcome to write a nice article, and get the proper credit for that. Read more information about beeing an author, and Contact us for more information.

Red Wine Informations

How to remove the stain from Red Wine

How to remove the stain from Red Wine

Red Wine does tend to stain a lot. Hence it is important to know how to remove the stain, if in case the wine spills. In order to remove Wine stains, one needs to follow the following procedure

The Best Wines for a Great New Year’s Celebration

The Best Wines for a Great New Year’s Celebration

New Year’s Eve is possibly the biggest party date on the yearly calendar for many people. That time of year, when we kick the old year out, and look forward to starting afresh the next year.

The Perfect Wines for Christmas Day

The Perfect Wines for Christmas Day

For many families, Christmas is the only time of year they spend together. This of all reasons, is why Christmas is still the major event on the calendar.

5 Wines Which Act As Perfect Corporate Gifts

5 Wines Which Act As Perfect Corporate Gifts

As the winter season arrives, you are bound to fetch some creative gifts for your loved ones. Gifting appears to be an easy and effective way to show your gratitude towards others. When it comes to choosing the right gift, you can consider the innumerable options...

Which Types of Wines Are Good for the Skin?

Which Types of Wines Are Good for the Skin?

People drink wine and other alcoholic products to de-stress, to get relief from emotional pain, to experiment, and to party. But having anything in excess quantity could be injurious. Drinking has always been a part of social and religious customs. People celebrate...

Live a healthy life: 7 Health benefits of Red wine and Chocolate

Live a healthy life: 7 Health benefits of Red wine and Chocolate

Chocolate and red wine, are both popular for their health benefits. Red wine is made from grapes. The skin of grapes contains a polyphenol named resveratrol. Chocolate, on the other hand, is made from the cacao bean, that contains a polyphenol called flavonoids.

Wine Grape Varieties
Wine Informations
Wine Merchants