Tours coming soon: more details and itineraries to follow
Austria may be most famous for the ‘Sound of Music’, Mozart, mountains and Viennese pastries – but did you know that it’s also one of the most exciting wine producing countries in the world? Austria is home to a host of young, highly skilled winemakers who are producing some superb-quality, authentic, artisanal wines.
Geographically located in central Europe, but at the same latitude as France’s Burgundy region, Austria enjoys a strong continental climate, with warm, sunny summer and autumn days and northerly, cool nights, key to the development of fresh, aromatic wines with good body and fine character, for which Austria has become famous in recent years.
Most Austrian wine is made in the eastern part of the country, due to the more favourable climate conditions.
There are 3 main wine regions, namely: Niederösterreich (or Lower Austria), the largest Austrian wine region; Burgenland, known for its red and sweet wines and Steiermark; the home of incredibly elegant wines.
In addition there is Wien (capital city, Vienna), representing some 600 hectares of vineyards surrounding the city
Domane Wachau is a top Austrian winery located in the heart of the Wachau Valley, one of the most beautiful and best places to visit in Austria, hosts the annual Wachau Music and Wine Festival each Summer.
We’re planning a Wachau wine tour next year, around the Music and Wine Festival – once the date is available we will share details – but in the meantime, here is a flavour of what to expect!
Today, Domäne Wachau produces award-winning wines and some 160 hectares of the total area is now certified organic, making Domäne Wachau Austria’s leading wine estate for organically cultivated vines. Domäne Wachau was the only Austrian wine estate to earn a spot in the top 50 of the ‘World’s Best Vineyards Awards 2023’. Ranked in 14th position, alongside some of the world’s top estates, Domäne Wachau was rated by a panel of judges including journalists, wine critics and tourism experts, as a top wine estate to visit.
Switzerland is probably less known for wine and more for chocolate and cuckoo clocks, but…
The 26 cantons and 62 wine AOCs have been grouped into six wine regions. Each of the six regions has a specific identity defined by its landscape, its geology and its specific climate.
The Three Lakes are divided into three distinct entities: Neuchatel, Lake Biel and Vully.
At the heart of the Alps, Valais is home to almost one-third of Swiss vineyards. The canton of Vaud extends from Lake Geneva to Lake Neuchatel, where there are six AOCs and two AOC Grand Crus.
German-speaking Switzerland is made up of sixteen cantons where Pinot Noir and Müller-Thurgau largely dominate. The canton of Geneva is where the Jura and the Alps meet; it is the 3rd wine production area in Switzerland, between town and countryside.
Ticino is on the southern side of the Alps facing Italy; more than 80% of the vineyard surface area is Merlot. So lots to explore…
More info to come soon as we develop the Swiss Winery Tours
Not quite ready and want to know more?
