Burgenland

The land and its wines

From the east of Austria, particularly red wines flow into all parts of the world. In addition, there is a range of full-bodied white wines. Sweet wines should not be missing from this list either, as some of these wines also have their origins in Burgenland. However, the most important wine varieties are Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch, two indigenous grape varieties.

Zweigelt has many names. The variety is also known as Blauer Zweigelt, Rotburger or Zweigeltrebe. In Austria it is no longer impossible to imagine life without it and in many parts of the country it shapes the landscape. The grape variety is considered the most widespread in all of Austria and can be processed into exquisite red wine.

Blaufränkisch also bears some other common names, which are used sometimes more and other times less frequently. The variety is also called Lemberger or Blauer Limberger. The cultivation of Blaufränkisch grapes is associated with certain risks. For example, the vine should not come into contact with late-frost. However, the climate in the region is beneficial to the cultivation and is changing increasingly in the direction that is more favourable to the Blaufränkisch vine.

The vintners from the east of Austria

Behind every good wine there is of course a winemaker who, through his engaging efforts, continuously refines the character of the wine. He is not only familiar with the microclimate, the local soils and the selected grape variety, but also pays great attention to the smallest details of cultivation, harvesting and processing. As Burgenland is predestined for wine growing, numerous winegrowers live here, including many family businesses. We would like to introduce three of them in detail.

The winery Günter & Regina Triebaumer Rust

The Triebaumer family can look back on a centuries-old history of wine growing. They have been cultivating wine on Lake Neusiedl near the free city of Rust in Burgenland since the end of the 17th century. Today, Günter Triebaumer and Regina Limbeck are responsible for the winery, which covers an area of around 24 hectares. Their trademark: on the one hand, they rely on tradition, which stems from their family history, on the other hand, they have opened up to the world through their great interest and their professional reasons. These values play an important role in the production of wine, but in every bottle that originates here there is always the soul of the excellent Rust vineyards.

The Esterházy Winery

The Esterházy family is an old family from Austria with Hungarian roots, which can be traced back to the 13th century. In the 17th century, a noble line of the Esterházys emerged making them part of the Austrian aristocracy at that time and influencing the history of the country significantly. The family is also known for its close ties to the Hungarian Crown of the time and to the House of Habsburg, and still owns properties steeped in history to this day. These include the Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt in Burgenland.

The name Esterházy is not only known for its influence on Central Europe's history, but also for having strongly influenced European viticulture. This is still true in Burgenland today: The Esterházy vineyard on the Leitherberg covers around 90 hectares and is considered one of the most modern in Austria. Mainly red grape varieties such as Blaufränkisch, Cabernet Sauvignon or Zweigelt can be found on the estate. But about one third of the vineyards are also planted with white varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc or Welschriesling.

The Leo Hillinger Winery

Not every winery in Burgenland can look back on an ancient history. But that still does not exclude the possibility that stunning wines might see the light of day there. Leo Hillinger is one of those winemakers who have founded their own winery. His father was a wine merchant and handed over the business to his son in 1990.

He eventually bought around 90 ha of cultivated area near Jois and Rust in Burgenland and has been producing his own wine using organic farming methods ever since. An international orientation is very important for Leo Hillinger. He now sells his products in 20 countries - mainly in Europe, but also in the USA and China.

Climate and soils in Burgenland

Hot in summer and cold in winter: that's how classic the climate in Burgenland is. The average annual temperature is 10°C. Around 2,000 hours of sunshine pamper the province throughout the year. About 350 to 650 millimetres of precipitation fall, with winter snow rarely being less. The Burgenland climate is often described as Pannonian. The term is based on the fact that the eastern part of Austria and its neighbour Hungary are largely located on the Pannonian Plain.

At the same time, the region boasts valuable soils from which the demanding vines draw the decisive nutrients and aromas. Moreover, the soils continue to differ between the individual wine-growing regions within the country. This partly explains why Burgenland wines sometimes differ so markedly from one another, even though they all originate from the small country.

Things to know about Burgenland

Many wine lovers would like to learn more about Burgenland. In the following paragraphs we answer frequently asked questions in our FAQ.

Where is Burgenland?

It is located in the east of Austria and borders directly on Hungary, Slovakia and the Austrian provinces of Lower Austria and Styria. The capital is Eisenstadt. In Austria this federal state is the least populated. Only about 293,000 people have found a home here.

The name Burgenland is due to the presence of local castles. Even though the three castles that probably played the biggest role in this, today belong to Hungary (meaning the Wieselburg, the Ödenburg and the Eisenburg). Within the country's borders there are still numerous castles and palaces to be found, such as Lockenhaus Castle or Amber Castle.

When is the grape harvest in Burgenland?

Burgenland, like many other parts of the world, is directly affected by climate change, with average temperatures rising. This can now be seen in the timing of the grape harvest, which begins in mid-August. Normally, Burgenland winegrowers would not start harvesting grapes until the end of August. Today the grape harvest usually reaches its annual peak at this time.

Buy online at VINELLO: Taste the Burgenland wines!

We would like to invite you to try the popular wines from Burgenland. Browse through our offer to your heart's content and find your new favourite wine at VINELLO today. We are proud to present you a large assortment of wines from different parts of the world.

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