More Wine Culture from Austria
Tasaki for Grüner Veltliner & Co

(AWMB, October, 2001) - On 3 October in Osaka and on 5 October in Tokyo the Japanese Meilleur Sommelier du Monde (1995), Shinya Tasaki, invited wine professionals to a tutored tasting giving an overview over Austria's greatest wines. The number of confirmations (300 in Osaka, 200 in Tokyo) spoke eloquently not only of the authority of the illustrious Japanese wine star, but also of the attractiveness of Austria as a country of wine culture.

Austria's wine country is situated around the capital Vienna, in the eastern part of the state. Vienna itself produces wine and is therefore an ideal point of departure for visits to all wine growing areas. Only one thing is better than traveling around this wonderful country of great wines: drinking the wines.

Traditionally, a large part of the annual production is consumed directly in the country by guests and by the Austrians themselves. During the last years, however, interest in Austrian wines grew exponentially in countries such as Germany, Switzerland, and the USA. In Japan access to Austrian wines was until recently the privilege of specialists. In 2000 the import of Austrian wines into Japan was low (100,000 liters), but the renewed efforts of Japanese importers and restaurants should result in an increase of these import figures.

Encouraged by Japanese wine experts, who now write regularly about Grüner Veltliner, Zweigelt & Co, the elite of Austrian wine makers is now looking for increased contacts with Japanese wine friends, restaurateurs, and dealers. The Austrian case is strengthened by an amount of media attention that is higher than it has ever been. The "Wine Spectator" writes regularly about Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, and other Austrian specialties, and even Parker's "Wine Advocate" (which had for long followed the sweet wines from the Burgenland) has discovered Austria's wines as a force to be reckoned with.

"The reason of this success is not only the outstanding quality of Austrian wines but also the indisputable harmony with the Asian cuisine," reflects Michael Thurner, director designate of the Austrian Wine Marketing (2002).

Interest in Austria as a wine country with a great tradition and modern wines is growing in line with these developments. At the heart of this wine country, Vienna is time and again the scene for great, international wine events:

• 1998 it hosted the Sommelier World Championship
  
• From 8 to 10 June 2002 the great wine festival of VIEVINUM will make the city the meeting point of the international wine world
  
• During the same year (11 to 13 July 2002) the Masters of Wine Symposium of the WSED (Wine & Spirits Education Trust in London) will be held in Vienna. 150 Masters of Wine are expected to attend.

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