Burgenland

The wine-growing region has a total vineyard area of 3.912 hectares, with 3.652 grape growers, it is one of four regions in the federal state of Burgenland in Austria. It stretches along the border with Hungary, along the shores of the Neusiedlersee lake. The countryside is therefore characterised by vineyards, reeds and water. Celtic mound graves dating back to the 7th century BC were discovered close to Zagersdorf towards the end of the Second World War, these were found to contain traces of grape seeds. For this reason, the town is considered to be the oldest wine-growing commune in Austria, together with Stillfried in the Weinviertel region in Lower Austria. Several centuries later, Roman settlers planted vines, and established viticulture in the region. The Burgenland was severely affected by the Turkish invasion in the 16th and 17th centuries. The well-known legend of the “Turk of Purbach” dates back to the first Turkish siege of Vienna in 1529, who is said to have slept through the departure of his troops as a result of enjoying too large quantities of the wine. When he woke up, he climbed up a chimney to get away, and got stuck. The locals freed him and allowed him to live, he later married a local girl and died peacefully as a wine farmer. This was thus one of the first assimilated immigrants in the region.

The free town of Rust has become world-famous for its sweet botrytis speciality Ruster Ausbruch, the Cercle Ruster Ausbruch association ensures this tradition is upheld. A document from 1526 from the commune of Donnerskirchen mentions a Trockenbeerenauslese wine, the so.called Lutherwein. The “Opernballwein”, opera ball wine, was created in Mörbisch, specifically fort he famous ball at the State Opera House in Vienna. Well-known wine-producing communes are: Breitenbrunn, Donnerskirchen, Eisenstadt (Hauptstadt vom Burgenland), Großhöflein, Mörbisch, Oggau, Oslip, Purbach, Rust, Schützen am Gebirge, Siegendorf, St. Georgen, St. Margarethen and Zagersdorf. Well-known single vineyard sites (Rieden) are: Altenberg, Gmärk, Goldberg, Greiner, Mariental, Pandkräftn, Steinmühle and Tatschler. The Pannonian climate is characterised by a mild spring, a dry summer and mostly good weather in autumn. The Neusiedlersee lake stores heat, and regulates the climate. The Leithagebirge hills in the north provide protection from cold winds. Soils are mostly limestone rich, with sand, clay and black earth. Well-known wine producers include Bayer Josef, Bichler, Braunstein, Domaine Pöttelsdorf, Elfenhof, Esterházy, Feiler-Artinger, Giefing, Gmeiner, Grenzhof-Fiedler, Hammer, Hartl Toni, Haus Marienberg, Höpler, Humer Gert, Kaiser Rudolf, Kloster am Spitz, Klosterkeller Siegendorf, Kollwentz, Kugler Josef, Leberl, Liegenfeld, Mariell, Nehrer, Pretterebner, Prieler, Rainprecht Christian, Rebhof Sommer, Schandl Peter, Schindler Franz, Schindler Harald, Schönberger, Schröck, Schuster Rosi, Seiler Georg, Sommer Franz, Sommer Leopold, Tinhof, Triebaumer Ernst, Triebaumer Günter and Wenzel. Grape varieties planted as per 2000:
Variety Synonyms, variants colour Hectares % share
Veltliner Grüner Veltliner, Weißgipfler White 959 24,5
Blaufränkisch Blauer Limberger, Limberger Red 887 22,7
Welschriesling - Weiß 409 10,5
Zweigelt Blauer Zweigelt, Rotburger Red 293 7,5
Müller-Thurgau Rivaner, Riesling x Sylvaner White 241 6,2
Chardonnay
Pinot Blanc Feinburgunder
Weißburgunder, Klevner White 234 6,0
Gemischter Satz Vineyard blend White 209 5,3
Neuburger - White 101 2,6
Muskat-Ottonel Feinschmeckerter White 72 1,8
Pinot Noir Blauburgunder, Blauer Spätburgunder Red 64 1,6
Goldburger - White 56 1,4
Cabernet Sauvignon - Red 53 1,4
Blauburger - Red 45 1,2
Traminer Roter Traminer, Gewürztraminer White 43 1,1
Gemischter Satz Vineyard blend Red 38 1,0
Blauer Portugieser Portugieser Red 33 0,8
Bouvier - White 28 0,7
St. Laurent - Red 22 0,6
Scheurebe Sämling 88 White 20 0,5
Sauvignon Blanc Muskat-Sylvaner White 16,5 0,4
Frühroter Veltliner Frühroter, Malvasier White 14,5 0,4
Cabernet Franc - Red 12 0,3
Merlot - Red 10 0,3
Pinot Gris Grauburgunder, Ruländer White 10 0,3
Muskateller Gelber Muskateller, Roter Muskateller White 3,5 0,1
Jubiläumsrebe - White 2,5 0,1
Silvaner Sylvaner, Grüner Sylvaner White 1,6 0,1
Roter Veltliner - White 0,8 -
Furmint Gelber Furmint White 0,3 -
Rotgipfler Rotreifler White 0,1 -
White varieties 2.455 62,8
Red varieties 1.457 37,2
TOTAL 3.912 100