Wine from Austria - Harvest 1999

Everything the heart desires

(AWMB, November 1999) - It is certain that the harvest 1999 will bring great enjoyment to Austrian wine friends. At the turn to a new millenium expressions like "wine of the century" appear somewhat jaded, but surely one can call it a great year.

There were no considerable frost damages this winter. The vineyards were also unaffected by late frost. Flowering lasted from the middle until the end of June. It generated a very good cluster base without substantial coulure damages. The warm, rainy summer contributed to good foliage development. However, hail caused damages in Lower-Austria as well as in Styria in an area of approximately 1000 ha. After a varied August, an unusually mild sunny September followed, which advanced ripening, thus creating the prerequisites for a very good vintage.

The early ripening varieties were harvested by late September in almost all wine regions. In accordance with tradition there was a wait for the main harvest. Optimal weather conditions in October with mild sunny days and cool nights supported the development of aromas in the grapes. The pleasing long vegetative period created grape material rich in extracts. Strong, well-structured white- and red wines are expected. Typical varietal fruit and typical regional character are also the logical consequences of a thoroughly successful vintage. This applies also to Austria's famous sweet wine regions, such as the lake corner of Neusiedlersee and Rust in the Burgenland: because the noble rot botrytis cinerea appeared at the right time.

According to official estimates received in September, the prospective result of the harvest 99 will be around 2,87 million hl, which is slightly above the range of averages over many years.

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