ÖTW Grafenegg6

Discovering Austria’s Best: A Two-Day Tasting at ÖTW Erste Lage

Last week, the ÖTW Erste Lage Single-Vineyard Wine Event at Grafenegg Castle became the ultimate destination for international wine experts, buyers and enthusiasts, tasting more than 600 wines from Austria’s most celebrated vineyards.

 

The ÖTW Erste Lage event it’s a celebration of Austria’s viticultural heritage, an opportunity for wine enthusiasts and professionals to dive deep into the country's top vineyards. This year, I had the privilege of attending and experiencing firsthand the excellence of Austrian winemaking.Over two intense and rewarding days, I tasted nearly 260 wines across multiple regions, offering a wide range of grape varieties, vintages, and terroir-driven profiles. Here’s a breakdown of my tasting journey, featuring key highlights from each day and the standout wines that left a lasting impression.

Day 1: Delving into Kremstal, Kamptal, Wagram, and Traisental

On my first day at the ÖTW event, the focus was on four iconic wine regions:  KremstalKamptalWagram, and Traisental, sampled an impressive 140 wines, with a primary focus on Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, and the rarer Roter Veltliner.

  • Kremstal: I started with 46 wines from Kremstal, an area celebrated for its Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. The wines showed great structure and minerality, with a balance of ripe fruit and vibrant acidity. The region’s distinct terroir, shaped by the Danube River and loess soils, was evident in the wines’ complexity.
    Weingut Geyerhof, Riesling Ried Goldberg 2022
    Weingut Mantlerhof, Grüner Veltliner Ried Moosburgerin 2022
    Weingut Nigl, Grüner Veltliner Ried Pellingen 2023
    Weingut Proidl, Riesling Ried Ehrenfels 2023
    Weingut Stadt Krems, Riesling Ried Grillenparz 2023
    Weingut Stift Göttweig, Grüner Veltliner Ried Gottschelle 2023
    Weingut Petra Unger, Riesling Ried Gaisberg 2023
    Weingut Petra Unger, Riesling Hinters Kirchl 2022
    • KamptalNext, I moved to Kamptal, where I sampled 70 wines. Kamptal's wines, particularly its Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, often reflect a combination of power and finesse, with many of the wines showcasing expressive aromatics and a lively, refreshing finish. The cooler microclimates in this region play a significant role in creating wines with bright acidity and pronounced minerality.
      Weingut Allram, Grüner Veltliner Ried Renner 2023
      Weingut Brandl, Riesling Ried Heiligenstein 2023
      Weingut Bründlmayer, Riesling Ried Heiligenstein 2022
      Weingut Hirsch, Grüner Veltliner Ried Grub
      Schloss Gobelsburg Winery, Riesling Ried Gaisberg 2022
      Weingut Steininger, Grüner Veltliner Ried Kittmannsberg 2023
      Weingut Steininger, Riesling Ried Seeberg 2023
      Weszeli Winery, Grüner Veltliner Ried Käferberg
      • Wagram: I then shifted to Wagram, tasting 18 wines. Known for its unique loess soils, Wagram produces Grüner Veltliner with a creamy texture and depth. The Roter Veltliner, a rarity in this region, was a pleasant surprise—its lush fruit character and bright acidity were standout features.
        Weingut Leth, Roter Veltliner Ried Scheiben 2023
        Weingut Leth, Grüner Veltliner Ried Brunnthal 2023
        Wein Berghof Fritsch, Riesling Ried Mordthal 2022
        Weingut Familie Schuster, Roter Veltliner Ried Berg Eisenhut 2023
        • TraisentalFinally, I tasted 6 wines from Traisental, a smaller but increasingly significant wine region. Traisental’s wines offered impressive depth despite their youth, with zesty acidity and pronounced minerality reflecting the rocky soils of the region.
          Weingut Dockner Tom, Grüner Veltliner Ried HochScopf 2023
          Weingut Dockner Tom, Riesling Ried Pletzengraben 2023
          Weingut Huber, Riesling Ried Berg 2023


          Day 2: A Deep Dive into Wachau

          Day 2 of the event was all about Wachau, one of Austria’s most prestigious wine regions. The expert had the unique opportunity to taste 120 wines from Wachau, known for producing some of the finest expressions of Grüner Veltliner and Riesling.

          120 Wachau Wines: This tasting marathon showcased the diversity of Wachau’s wines. Grüner Veltliner ranged from light, crisp styles to more powerful and full-bodied versions, while the Rieslings shone with their purity of fruit, razor-sharp acidity, and mineral-driven profiles. The standout wines from Wachau offered exceptional balance, depth, and age-worthy potential. Best-in-class in my opinion:


          Weingut Andreas Gattinger, Riesling Ried Steinriegl 2023
          Weingut Atzberg, Grüner Veltliner Ried Atzberg 2023
          Domäne Wachau, Riesling Ried Achleiten 2023
          Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Riesling Ried Singerriedel 2023
          Weingut Lagler, Riesling Ried 1000-Eimerberg 2023
          Weingut Nikolaihof, Grüner Veltliner Ried IM Weingebirge 2019
          Weingut Prager, Grüner Veltliner Ried Achleiten 2023
          Weingut Rudi Pichler, Grüner Veltliner Ried Kollmütz 2023
          Weingut Simon Gattinger, Riesling Ried Loibenberg 2023

          Standout Wines and Key Takeaways

          After tasting nearly 260 wines, a few key takeaways stood out:

          • Grüner Veltliner and Riesling focus: Both varieties clearly dominate the Austrian white wine landscape, and for good reason. Grüner Veltliner’s versatility and ability to express terroir through minerality and spice, coupled with Riesling’s capacity for depth and age-worthiness, make them the stars of Austria’s single-vineyard landscape. 
          • Regional expression matters: Each region showcased its unique terroir, from the loess-rich soils of Wagram to the stony terraces of Wachau. The wines reflected not just the grape variety but also the distinct environmental conditions in which they were grown. 

          Looking Ahead

          The ÖTW Erste Lage event at Grafenegg Castle was more than just a showcase of Austria's finest single-vineyard wines—it was a deep dive into the country’s rich viticultural heritage. Over the course of two days, I explored the incredible diversity and complexity of Austrian winemaking through nearly 260 wines, each representing a distinct terroir and winemaking philosophy.

          The dominance of Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, coupled with the regional expressions from Kremstal, Kamptal, Wagram, Traisental, and Wachau, revealed the versatility and depth of these varieties.

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