Weinviertel DAC – whose name translates as "wine quarter" – is an appellation in Niederösterreich (Lower Austria). It is by far the largest Districtus Austriae Controllatus wine region in Austria. It was also the first Austrian wine region to be given that title, in 2002, with a DAC Reserve designation added in 2009.
The designation applies only to white wines from the Grüner Veltliner Grape variety.
There are around 6700 hectares planted to the variety in this zone, just under half the total of Weinviertel Vineyards. It is also about half the national (and therefore global) total for the grape variety.
- Minimum 12 percent Alcohol by Volume vs 13 percent
- Maximum 6 grams per liter residual sugar vs completely dry
- No Botrytis or oak aromas allowed vs subtle botrytis or oak aromas allowed
- Submission to Tasting commision from January 1 of year after harvest vs from March 15
Weinviertel is Austria's most important wine region in terms of both its area under vine and the quantity of wine it produces. With more than 13,800 hectares (34,100 acres) planted, its Vineyard area is 10 times that of Austria's most famous region, Wachau, and about the same as the entire state of Burgenland.
Outside of the DAC title, the region also produces fresh, citrusy white wines made from Riesling, and increasing quantities of bright, spicy red Zweigelt. However, non-DAC wines are labeled with the Niederösterreich designation.
Zweigelt holds a distant (but steadily closer) second place in the DAC, outnumbered four to one by Grüner Veltliner. Third equal are Welschriesling and Blauer Portugieser – both as traditional as they are unfashionable, and both declining rapidly as they are replaced with more internationally popular varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc and, particularly, Muscat.
Pinot noir is an important red grape variety in Burgundy and Champagne, and its reputation is well known! Great wines such as the Domaine de la Romanée Conti elaborate their wines from this famous grape variety, and make it a great variety. When properly vinified, pinot noit produces red wines of great finesse, with a wide range of aromas depending on its advancement (fruit, undergrowth, leather). it is also the only red grape variety authorized in Alsace. Pinot Noir is not easily cultivated beyond our borders, although it has enjoyed some success in Oregon, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
sparkling wines from the region of Weinland go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or shellfish such as recipes of basque piperade, leek and fresh salmon tart or soy and shrimp noodles.
On the nose in the region of Weinland often reveals types of flavors of red fruit, tree fruit or citrus fruit and sometimes also flavors of non oak, earth or microbio.
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