Spotlight on Austria: Vienna (Wien)
We continue the Wines of the World Series with a spotlight on Austria. In June, we’ll explore key regions and wine styles with resources from Austrian Wine, who have generously agreed to share their content with the Berlin Wine School Community. 📖Vienna key facts:
Vienna has 588 ha under vine.*
It is considered the world's only capital with commercially significant vineyards within the city limits.
Vineyards are situated on the hill slopes surrounding the city.
Climate influence and soils vary by location, providing diversity for winegrowing and winemaking.
84% of wine produced is white, 16% is red.
Wiener Gemischter Satz is a unique local field blend of white grape varieties, awarded DAC status in 2013 (specific conditions must be met).
The most planted varieties are: Wiener Gemischter Satz (not a variety, but a field blend), Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Zweigelt, and Weissburgunder.*
There are 134 wineries.*
Vienna is known for its unique wine tavern culture and the Heurige taverns, added to the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list in 2019. *As of 2023/2024 Austria Wine Statistics Report.
🌱Wiener Gemischter Satz:
Produced by nearly all winemakers in Vienna.
Around 240 hectares (out of 588 Vienna’s total) are dedicated to Gemischter Satz.
Different grape varieties are grown together in the same vineyard, are harvested at the same time, and turned into a single wine.
For Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC status, at least 3 white Qualitätswein varieties must be grown together in a single vineyard situated within Vienna. The greatest proportion of any grape variety must not exceed 50%, while the third largest proportion must represent at least 10%.
There are 3 Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC levels: Gebietswein (region), Ortswein (“villages”), and Riedenwein (single-vineyard).
Gebietswein grapes can come from various Viennese vineyards, but each vineyard must meet the strict criteria for Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC. These wines are refreshing and fruity, with a maximum alcohol content of 12.5%.
Ortswein grapes must come from one of seven officially designated municipalities within the Vienna district. Each commune and its wines differ in character due to soil and climate. Wines are fruity yet complex, and have a minimum alcohol content of 12.5%.
Riedenwein grapes must be from one of the 140 designated vineyards in the Vienna district. These wines are complex and ageworthy, with extended aging before bottling. They are characterized by spicy minerality and creaminess. Minimum alcohol level is 12.5%.
🔎Did you know?
Winegrowing in Vienna has a long tradition dating back to the 12th century.
Gemischter Satz emerged as a safeguard to sustain production. Due to the different budding, flowering, and ripening times of each variety, even adverse weather conditions never led to a total crop failure.
As single-varietal wines became popular, Gemischter Satz lost its reputation and was considered a simple table wine. It regained recognition thanks to the “WienWein” group.
To preserve the cultural heritage, the law protects Viennese vineyards and forbids any real estate speculation.
The traditional Heurigen taverns trace back to a 1784 decree by Emperor Joseph II (so-called Heurigen Decree), which allowed farmers to sell their own homegrown wine tax-free.
🎓Learn more!
Read more about Wiener Gemischter Satz and the DAC website.
Learn more about Vienna’s Heurige culture.
Browse the list of Viennese wine producers.
Visit the official website of the Viennese wine association
💭Share your thoughts!
Have you ever tried Gemischter Satz? How would you describe it? Have you ever visited any Viennese Heurige? Share your thoughts and feel free to post your experience with the Berlin Wine School summer contest.
All resources, maps, images, and data courtesy of Austrian Wine. Coming up: The Bergland winegrowing area