Burgenland

Neusiedlersee-Hügelland: At the foot of the Leithagebirge, west of the Neusiedlersee (Lake Neusiedl), is the Neusielersee-Hügelland, home to the talented all-rounders of Austria´s wine growers. With 4,150 hectares of vineyards, no other wine-growing area features such a variety of wines. And one of them - the renowned Ruster Ausbruch -- is a sweet wine that not only reflects strong regional identity, but also is heralded all around the world. In the Neusiedlersee-Hügelland, young wine-growers -- both men and women -- combine innovative thinking with respect for long-held traditions. Neusiedlersee: Everything is possible in the Seewinkel, another name for the wine area of Neusiedlersee, or Lake Neusiedl. In fact, Seewinkel means, literally, "corner of the lake". There, at the edges of this vast, shallow lake, a variety of white, red and sweet wine grapes ripen on 9,100 hectares of vineyards. The range comprises dry, fresh wines as well as full-bodied and aromatic wines - and of course, the area's world-famous sweet wines. Also noteworthy is that over the past few years, the diversity of Zweigelt has come into full bloom. Mittelburgenland: On 2,100 hectares of vineyards in the Mittelburgenland area, one red grape variety plays the leading role: Blaufränkisch. The DAC wines here reflect origin through the most typical expressions of area and varietal. Four towns act as the wine-growing area´s main producers: Deutschkreutz, Horitschon, Lutzmannsburg and Neckenmarkt; these, as well as two modern cooperatives, prove that size and high quality can indeed go hand in hand. Südburgenland: One of Austria´s smallest wine-growing areas has plenty to offer. Indeed, excellent terroir wines are produced from only 500 hectares of vineyards, which are situated mainly on the Eisenberg. The typical red wines of the area, particularly Blaufränkisch, exude a mineral-based spicy flavour. Elegant and savoury whites make their mark as well, as does the quaint and unusual Uhudler wine.