Wine General Discussion

To conclude the spotlight on Austria, let’s have a look at common styles of still wines with the resources from Austrian Wine, who have generously agreed to share their content with the Berlin Wine School Community. This content has been covered in previous posts, but here you can find an overview of what to look for in your exploration of Austrian wines.

🟡White wines - classic and refreshing

Austria’s classic white wines are described as fresh, with fine acidity, elegance, strong character and medium-bodied structure. The following examples fit in this category:

• Wachau's specific regional wine style categories Steinfeder and Federspiel (these terms are only used in Wachau and are often indicated on the label)

• Weinviertel DAC, Traisental DAC, Kremstal DAC, and Kamptal DAC wines, including spicy Welschriesling, fresh Riesling, elegant Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay (called Morillon in Steiermark)

• Junger Österreicher young wines - the first of a year’s new vintage released shortly after the harvest

🟡White wines - powerful and opulent

This category often includes premium white wines coming from an outstanding terroir and specific single vineyard (Ried) and/or made in Reserve style (higher alcohol, extended aging). These wines are dry, medium- to full-bodied, with high concentration and depth. Classic élevage is common; some wines mature in small oak casks. Examples include:

• Premium wines from Grüner Veltliner and Riesling from the regions along the Danube River and Weinviertel

• Wachau's specific wine style category Smaragd (this term is only used in Wachau and is often indicated on the label)

• Zierfandler and Rotgipfler wines from the Thermenregion

• Complex Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay wines from Burgenland and the Leithaberg specific region in particular

• Riedenwein (single-vineyard wines) from Steiermark and Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot varieties

• Neuburger, Roter Veltliner, and Gemischter Satz wines from Vienna

⭕Rosé wines

Austria’s rosé has become increasingly popular locally and internationally. They are characterized as fresh, fragrant, and spicy, and include many versatile styles based on the region and grapes used:

• Delicate wines from Zweigelt and Sankt Laurent from Niederösterreich

• Racy Schilcher from Weststeiermark 

• Powerful styles made from Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt in Burgenland

🔴Classic red wines - delicate and refreshing

• Austria is known for its lighter, fruit-forward red wines, which set its red wines apart internationally. 

• Austrian winemakers focus on wines with harmonious acidity, fresh, fruity aromas, moderate alcohol content, and shorter maceration (lower tannins, paler colour) to express the typicity and authenticity of local grapes and terroir.

• Local grape varieties  Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, St. Laurent, and Blauer Portugieser are well suited for this wine style.

• Zweigelt is grown in all wine regions; Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent mainly in Burgenland and in some areas of Niederösterreich (Lower Austria).

• These wines are often served lightly chilled.

🔴Red wines - opulent and intense

• Although lighter red wines are more common in Austria, previous global trends favoring full-bodied red wines have also influenced the Austrian wine industry.

• Austrian full-bodied wines show a good concentration, complexity, depth, and ageing potential, and are being recognised with both national and international awards.

• Premium wines in this style often come from single vineyards (Ried) and/or are made in the Reserve style (aging in barrels, higher alcohol, and body).

• The usage of oak doesn’t overpower the fruit characteristics of these wines.

• Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, Sankt Laurent, as well as international varieties such as Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon, are used for this style.

• Most typically, these wines are produced in warmer regions, such as Burgenland and Niederösterreich (Carnuntum and Thermenregion subregions).

🔎Did you know?

•  Schmeckerten is a dialect term referring to wines from aromatic varieties such as Muskateller, Muskat-Ottonel, Müller-Thurgau and Traminer.

• The Smaragd premium wine style category from Wachau is named after the Smaragdeidechse, an emerald-green lizard that lives on the stone-terraced vineyards in Wachau.

• Although mainly known for its white Gemischter Satz, Vienna also produces some internationally recognized red wines.

🎓Learn more about:

• Wachau wine style categories

• Food pairings suitable for different categories of Austrian wines

• Leithaberg white wines

• Austrian rosé wines

• Austrian classic red wines and serving suggestions

• Austrian opulent red wines

• Browse the list of Austrian wine producers to find your favourite style.

💭Share your thoughts!

Do you have a favourite Austrian wine style? Have you tried the different Wachau wine style varieties - Steinfeder, Federspiel, and Smaragd? Have you ever visited an Austrian wine region with a specific wine style, such as the Schilcher rosé? Share your thoughts and your travel and tasting experience with the  Berlin Wine School summer contest.

All resources, images, and data courtesy of Austrian Wine.

➡️With this post, we will pause for a summer break and continue the World of the Wine series in the new semester, starting in autumn 2026.