Austria has taken another decisive step toward sustainability in viticulture. According to the latest figures, 10,524 hectares of Austrian vineyards are now certified organic, representing exactly 25% of the country’s total vineyard area.
This milestone confirms Austria’s position as a global leader in organic winegrowing and underscores the strong commitment of its producers to environmentally conscious practices.
Austria’s Leadership in Organic Viticulture
The new data reinforces Austria’s top international ranking in organic viticulture. As highlighted in the report The World of Organic Agriculture 2025 by FiBL and IFOAM, Austria already led all major wine-producing nations in 2023, with an organic share of 22.6%. By comparison, Spain registered 17.8%, France 17.4%, and Italy 14.6%.
“A quarter of our wine production is organic is an incredible achievement!” remarks Chris Yorke, Managing Director of Austria Wine Marketing GmbH (ÖWM). He stresses that Austria’s climate presents greater challenges for organic viticulture than in many other major wine countries, making this accomplishment even more remarkable.
The Challenges of Organic Viticulture
Organic winegrowing prohibits the use of readily soluble mineral fertilizers and synthetic pesticides. Instead, growers focus on strengthening vineyard ecosystems by promoting soil health, fertility, and biodiversity. This often requires significantly more manual labor and greater vigilance in the vineyard.
Adverse climatic conditions add another layer of risk, making crop failure more likely than in conventional viticulture. Despite these challenges, Austrian winemakers continue to expand organic practices. The progress has been striking: in 2000, just 1.7% of Austria’s vineyard area was farmed organically. In 25 years, that figure has soared to 25%.
Beyond Organic: Biodynamic and Sustainable Practices
Austria’s environmental commitment extends beyond organic certification:
- Biodynamics: Around 14% of Austria’s organic vineyards are also certified biodynamic, a holistic farming approach that follows ecological and lunar principles.
- Sustainable Austria: 27% of the nation’s vineyard area is certified under the “Sustainable Austria” seal. This program evaluates more than 380 measures across vineyard management, cellar practices, and even packaging, such as bottle weight.
Yorke explains: “Environmentally conscious viticulture—whether organic, biodynamic, or sustainable—not only protects nature but also creates new business opportunities. Wines produced in this way are in high demand in export markets such as Scandinavia and Canada. Our reputation for environmentally responsible production has been growing internationally for years, and we still see considerable potential for expansion.”
The Future of Austrian Wine
Austria’s steady rise in organic vineyard share is part of a broader movement within the global wine industry, where sustainability and authenticity are increasingly valued by consumers. For Austrian winemakers, this achievement strengthens both their environmental credentials and their market position, ensuring that the country remains a benchmark for quality and responsibility in wine production.
Source: Austrian Wine Marketing Board