Interim Report of the Austrian Wine Vintage 2002

Vintage 2002: Suspenseful to the Finish

(AWMB/MT/ST, November 2002) - Statistic Austria estimates the 2002 Austrian wine grape crop to bring 2.6 million hectoliters (1 hectoliter = 26.4 U.S. gallons). This means a production increase of 4% over the previous year and 11% over the past decade’s average.

As already reported, hail and flooding in Lower Austria and drought in Burgenland have had only regional influence and little impact on the total grape production. The total white grape crop is estimated to reach 12% over the previous year while a decrease of 15% in the black grape crop is expected.

Strict selection of grapes has brought a good vintage with wines distinguished by fruitiness and varietal character. The white wines are aromatic, elegant, and show good extract content. The red wines bring good primary aromas and fruit in the glass and in some wine areas it appears that the 2002 vintage is not only as good, but possibly even better than the 2000 vintage. “The 2002 vintage will once again surprise us with excellent quality in many Austrian wine areas,” emphasizes Austrian Wine Marketing Board director Michael Thurner.

Estimated harvest 20021)
October 2002
Wine-growing Areas White wine Red wine (incl. Rosé) Harvest quantity in total
productive vineyard area in ha Harvest in hl productive vineyard area in ha Harvest in hl productive vineyard area in ha Harvest in hl
in total per ha in total per ha in total per ha
 
Burgenland 8,165 431,17 52.8 5,320 265,044 49.8 13,485 696,215 51.6
Neusiedlersee 4,964 247,927 49.9 2,128 97,057 45.6 7,092 344,984 48.6
Neusiedlersee-
Hügelland
2,655 150,154 56.6 1,503 79,587 52.9 4,158 229,741 55.2
Mittelburgenland 339 20,769 61.2 1,494 76,627 51.3 1,834 97,397 53.1
Südburgenland 206 12,32 59.7 194 11,773 60.6 401 24,093 60.1
Lower Austria 22,652 1,370,937 60.5 5,699 323,780 56.8 28,350 1,694,717 59.8
Thermenregion 1,312 54,943 41.9 837 35,448 42.3 2,150 90,391 42.0
Kremstal 1,785 88,352 49.5 285 13,901 48.9 2,070 102,253 49.4
Kamptal 3,177 205,575 64.7 566 32,553 57.5 3,743 238,128 63.6
Donauland 2,152 128,531 59.7 415 22,974 55.4 2,567 151,505 59.0
Traisental 583 38,653 66.3 91 5,865 64.3 674 44,519 66.1
Carnuntum 550 31,811 57.8 260 13,679 52.5 810 45,49 56.1
Wachau 1,203 69,227 57.5 153 8,255 54.1 1,356 77,481 57.2
Weinviertel 11,867 752,726 63.4 3,089 190,961 61.8 14,956 943,687 63.1
others 22 1,119 51.4 3 145 55.3 24 1,264 51.8
Styria 2,828 151,954 53.7 1,162 61,548 53.0 3,990 213,503 53.5
Südsteiermark 1,527 77,547 50.8 312 15,438 49.5 1,839 92,986 50.6
Weststeiermark 169 8,393 49.7 592 31,301 52.9 760 39,694 52.2
Südoststeiermark 1,131 65,971 58.3 259 14,805 57.3 1,39 80,776 58.1
others 1 42 54.7 0 4 57.7 1 47 54.9
Vienna 286 12,182 42.6 49 1,957 39.9 335 14,139 42.2
                   
Austria 2002 33,93 1,966,243 57.9 12,230 652,33 53.3 46,160 2,618,573 56.7
Austria 2001 33,93 1,758,794 51.8 12,230 771,069 63.0 46,160 2,529,863 54.8

1) Without other Wine-growing Areas

Source: Statistik Austria

For further information please contact:
Austrian Wine Marketing Board
Susanne Staggl, Michael Thurner
T +43/1/5039267 F +43/1/5039268
s.staggl@winesfromaustria.com

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