Burgenland

Burgenland is located in eastern Austria, along the border with Hungary, and stretches from the Neusiedlersee in the north to the Eisenberg in the south. The region is known as Austria's warmest wine region - with a dry, continental climate, where warm summers and cool nights create optimal conditions for both ripe red wines and noble sweet wines. Lake Neusiedlersee - a shallow, steppe-like lake - acts as a climate regulator and plays a central role in the region's unique style.

The history of wine in Burgenland dates back centuries and has been marked by a mix of Eastern and Western European heritage. The region was formerly part of the Hungarian Kingdom until 1921, and winemaking here still bears the mark of the borderland of Central European traditions.

Burgenland consists of four subregions:

Neusiedlersee DAC – known for its sweet wines (especially Trockenbeerenauslese) and red wines made from Zweigelt.
Leithaberg DAC – focus on elegant, chalky wines of Blaufränkisch and Chardonnay.
Mittelburgenland DAC – “Blaufränkisch land”, where structured and dark red wines thrive.
Eisenberg DAC – southernmost part, where slate soil produces spicy and mineral Blaufränkisch wines.

Burgenland is particularly known for red wine and sweet wines – in contrast to the white wine focus in, for example, Wachau and Kamptal. The most common grapes in the region are:

Blaufränkisch – the most prestigious red wine grape, which produces wines with dark fruit, acidity and aging potential.
Zweigelt – a cross between Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent, Austria's most planted red wine grape.
St. Laurent – delicate, often a bit Pinot Noir-like.
Welschriesling and Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) – used for the famous sweet wines around Neusiedlersee.
Chardonnay and Grüner Veltliner – especially in Leithaberg and as a component in dry white wines.

Burgenland has around 13,000 hectares of vineyards , which corresponds to approximately 30% of Austria's total vineyard area. More than half of the area is planted with red wine grapes – an unusual proportion in Austrian terms – and the region produces some of Austria's most acclaimed and age-worthy red wines.