The wine producers of the Austrian federal state of Carinthia (Kärnten) are unhappy about the new law regulating wine bars run by wine producers.

The newly promulgated version of the law on wine bars and restaurants run directly on and by wine estates (Buschenschankgesetz) in the federal state gives the few wine producers there the option of running their own wine bar, and even employing part-time employees in training for this. However, in all regions in Austria where wine is produced, the rules on what food may be served in these seasonally operated wine bars is generally formulated as being limited, whereas here it has been particularly strictly interpreted. Thus in Kärnten wine producers would be permitted to sell only bread, butter, cucumbers and eggs in terms of bought-in produce, any other food offered would have to have been produced on the estate.

It is this interpretation, which is designed more to apply to classical farms that have their own animals than to wine estate, that has upset the wine producers. Spreads, salads, ham or cheese, all classics in the wine-estate-based wine bars in Lower Austria, Vienna or Styria, could only be served in Kärnten if they are produced from the farmer's own milk, own meat or own vegetables - which is hardly ever the case on a wine estate.

The wine producer's association in Kärnten has more than 200 members, with increases on the way, working a total vineyard area of 100 hectares. (WF)