Austria (Grüner Veltliner)

Austria is a small but coherent wine country with high quality standards. Grüner Veltliner is the indigenous flagship variety, covering roughly one-third of the planted area. It produces dry, fresh whites with characteristic white pepper and herbal spice, good acidity, and ageing potential in its finest expressions. Wachau is the most prestigious white wine region, with three internal classifications: Steinfeder (lightest), Federspiel, and Smaragd (richest). Riesling is also grown with great success in Wachau and Kamptal. Blaufränkisch is Austria's most important red variety, known for spicy cherry fruit and good acidity.