Because Austria is so close to great wine producing countries like Italy, Germany, and France, Austrian wine tends to get overlooked. Things are starting to change, however, as more and more wine enthusiasts are recognizing the merits of the Austria wineries. The Austria wine region is found in the eastern part of the country, with Vienna near the top of the zone. In addition to the Austrian state of Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland also boast some of the best Austria vineyards.

Vienna is an excellent place to base yourself if you want to explore the Austria wine region. In the Middle Ages, Vienna actually had vines growing within the city limits, but these days, most of the Vienna Austria vineyards are on the outskirts of town. Just north of the Danube River, which flows through Vienna, growers in areas like Stammersdorf and Strebersdorg offer up mostly Pinot varieties, while Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Riesling do well throughout the area northwest Vienna. Part of the reason why these white wines do so well in this part of the Austria wine region is because of the limestone rich soils. South of Vienna, however, the soil is more of a black earth variety, supporting not only white wines, but also some divine red cuvees. Interestingly enough, some of the Vienna Austria vineyards follow the traditional "Gemischter Satz" method of growing, which involves planting different varieties in the same general area.

The most famous Vienna wine region is Grinzing, and it is where you will find the Weingut Wien Cobenzi Winery, which is owned by the city of Vienna. It's just one of the great wineries worth visiting. The company supports some 86 acres (35 hectares) of vineyards, and it churns out both reds and whites. Among the whites are the aforementioned varietals, and among the reds are Pinot noir, Pinot blanc, and Blauer Zweigelt, which is an up-and-coming Austria wine prospect. You can head to the winery yourself and grab a bottle before the word really gets out.

Austria Map

Not far northeast of Vienna, you can visit some of the most renowned Austria vineyards around. In the Wachau region, some of the wineries grow their grapes on steep hillsides that are terraced to help with irrigation. It's quite a unique way of growing, and it helps to make the Wachau Region really stand out. Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Muskateller are just some of the heralded varietals coming out of Wachau. Muskateller is a dry, white wine and a good amount of growers in the area produce it.

The easternmost Austria wine region is Neusiedlersee, which has well over 100 wineries to boast. The Neusiedlersee region is starting to get recognized more and more for its red wines, and a bunch of wineries across the area are known for their Welschriesling, which is a tasty white wine. As is the case throughout the entire Austria wine region, pairing the local product with local cuisine makes for a wonderful experience. In Neusiedlersee, you can enjoy hearty beef-based dishes while you savor a glass of Pinot noir, for example, and a nice Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc would go well with fish. You won't have to worry about all that, however, as the locals will be proud to recommend wine and food pairings in all the many Austrian wine villages.

Both north and south of Vienna are where the best Austria vineyards are, so plan your Vienna vacation and see what Austrian wine is all about. Chances are good that you will be surprised at the quality of the wine in Austria, and you're likely to find a few favorites while you're over here. To help you enjoy your Austrian wine experience, you can book a wine tour, which is a good idea for a variety of reasons. First off, you won't have to drive, which is nice, especially after you hit the various Austria vineyards, and secondly, you won't have to worry about getting directions to a good winery. A good amount of these Austria wine tours start in Vienna. Before heading off to your winery Austria destinations, you will enjoy some time to explore the city. Schonbrunn Palace is often a featured highlight of your Vienna-based wine tour.

Pairing an Austrian wine tour with a bicycling tour is just one way to go about exploring the Austria wine region, and it goes to show just how complete the Austria wine tour options are. So, if you like wine, or even just beautiful scenery, hit some Austria wineries while you're in the Vienna area, and treat yourself to a wonderful experience.