Page 310 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Austria

308  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

What to Drink in Austria

Austria is a source of excellent wines and good rich
beers. Austrian wine is mainly white, though there
are excellent local red wines. The wine is drunk
before it has finished maturing: Most, available from
late summer, is the product of the first fermentation
of the grapes. In early autumn, this is followed by
Sturm, a gently fizzing, low-alcohol drink produced
by the next stage of grape fermentation. Finally, the
Heuriger, new-vintage wine, is served. Sweet Eiswein
is made from grapes left on the vines until the first
frosts. Some first-class brandies are also produced –
fruit brandies and Schnaps are typical drinks.

Vineyards to the north and west of Vienna, producing
Heuriger wines

Austrian Wines
The most popular wine in
Austria is Grüner Veltliner
(see below); a grape variety
that also makes an excellent
Eiswein. Other varietal wines
include superb dry Rieslings,
especially from the Wachau,
and rich Weissburgunders
(Pinot Blanc), Chardonnays and
Traminers. Red wines tend to Riesling from the Wachau
be soft and lush; robust reds can be light or full-bodied
Chardonnay from Styria and sparkling come from the Blaufränkisch in style.
wine from Lower Austria and Zweigelt grapes.

Producer’s name

Grape variety Vintage St Laurent is a soft
red wine from the
Neusiedler See region;
it is rich and stylish.
Producer’s
address
Level of
ripeness Alcohol
content

Style (dry) Quantity
Blaufränkisch is
a quality red wine –
Grüner Veltliner is a fresh, fruity white grape. It makes a dry the best is produced
wine that is widely available. in Burgenland.

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