I’ve just returned from a little over a week of tasting the new wines at 40 different wineries in North Burgenland.  Anyone who suffers from the illusion that being a wine and food writer is a luxuriously relaxing  job should join me on one of these tours.  You will be instantly cured. Extremly intense 11-12 hour work days are the norm.  It’s off-season and many of the hotels and restaurants are closed.

But it is interesting work.  And north Burgenland is a fascinating subject.  Dry white and red wines are prouced as well as botrytized sweet wines and ice wines and even a few sparkling wines.  The overall quality is very high and seems to increase each year.  There is a new regional pride to be felt and tasted.  North Burgenland is coming into its own and has no more need to copy other regions in the world.  They have a unique combination of soil, climate, and heritage.  And I am so glad that they finally identify with their own indigenous grape varieties!  It is really exciting to observe this pride and quality grow as the potential of varieties like Furmint, Pinot Blanc, Muskateller, Neuburger, and Sankt Laurent along with Grüner Veltliner and Blaufränkisch are being discovered.

Along with the growing regional pride the number of new regional appellations called DAC are growing.

Here is the new press release from the Austrian Wine Marketing Association:

Eisenberg DAC Confirmed The DAC Family in Burgenland Continues to Grow Region-typical quality wines from the Austrian administrative districts of Oberwart, Güssing and Jennersdorf (Südburgenland) can be marketed under the designation of Eisenberg DAC as of September 1st, 2010, according to a decree issued recently by Austria’s Agriculture and Environment Minister Niki Berlakovich. With the Eisenberg DAC, wines characterised by a distinctive spicy minerality while reflecting the terroir of the Südburgenland wine-growing area will be highly profiled. Moreover, the new DAC will help to further the reputation of not only the area’s wines, but also the wine-growing area overall. Eisenberg DAC – minerally & spicy With Eisenberg DAC, a new member has joined the Austrian DAC family; a member whose motto could be “small – but fine”. Out of the Südburgenland’s entire vineyard area, only around 150 hectares comprise the Blaufränkisch variety, even though it is the region’s dominant grape. Like all of the other DACs, Eisenberg DAC is subject to the general conditions and requirements for Austrian quality wine. Specifically, Eisenberg DAC wines must be produced from 100% Blaufränkisch grapes. Eisenberg DAC stands for the typical, fruity and mineral-spicy Blaufränkisch, which is further characterised by the loamy, mineral-rich soils of the Südburgenland wine-growing area. The wines can be matured either in steel tanks or in wooden barrels, but the wines should show no – or else barely noticable – wood tone. Eisenberg DAC wines also may be marketed with the additional designation of “Reserve”. These are complex wines with great storage potential. They must be matured in large wooden barrels or in barriques, allowing for the aromas and flavours of Blaufränkisch to be complemented by wood notes. The first Eisenberg DAC vintage is 2009, and the wines can come on the market no earlier than September 1st of the year following the harvest. For Eisenberg DAC Reserve, the first vintage is 2008; these wines can be released for sale no earlier than March 1st of the second year following the harvest. (For adjustment purposes regarding this introductory year only – the 2008 vintage Eisenberg DAC Reserve wines must not be released for sale before September 1st, 2010).

The DAC Family

Weinviertel DAC, Grüner Veltliner, since 2002; also Reserve category as of 2009 vintage

Mittelburgenland DAC, Blaufränkisch, since 2005; also Reserve category

Traisental DAC, Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, since 2006; also Reserve category

Kremstal DAC, Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, since 2007; also Reserve category

Kamptal DAC, Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, since 2008; also Reserve category

Leithaberg DAC: Takes effect as of September 1st 2010: white: Grüner Veltliner, Weißburgunder, Chardonnay, Neuburger, with 2009 vintage red: Blaufränkisch, with 2008 vintage

Eisenberg DAC, Blaufränkisch, with 2009 vintage, Reserve category with 2008 vintage; Takes effect as of September 1st 2010

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