Enjoying its status as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Wachau is Austria most important wine-growing region with its production of famous dry white wines.
At an hour's drive west from Vienna, the wine region of Wachau lies on the banks of the Danube River, inside the state of Niederösterreich (Low Austria). The vineyards are installed on steep, often terraced, hillsides above the river. The proximity of the Danube tempers the summer heat of the continental climate. The sun drenched facing south vineyards give rich strong wines. The soils are composed of sediments -loess, sand and gravel- deposited by the Danube over many millennia. A type of gneiss could give a certain minerality to the wines of Wachau.
Wachau has its own appellation system with specific labels commonly found on bottles:
- Steinfeder refers to the lightest, fresh and acid wines;
- Federspiel is for middleweight semi-dry wines;
- Smaragd refers to the richest and full-bodiest white wines.
Wine grape varieties in Wachau
Inside the wine region, Riesling is not the most common variety but takes the best sites because the grape produces the best and highly acclaimed wines of Wachau. The wines have a specific mineral character and a firm palate. Their alcohol level is usually higher than 13°.
The Austrian variety Grüner Veltliner is the leading grape of Wachau's production. It produces ripe and full-bodied wines, with vegetal aromas and a zing of white pepper. Some develop complex citrus fruit notes and a touch of honey. They can age well in the bottle to keep their peppery flavors and to expand their honey notes.
Best producers in Wachau
The great wine producers of Wachau are Emmerich Knoll, F.X. Pichler and Franz Hirtzberger.
