08/2010
Austrian Pinot Noirs showed their impressive top class status at an international blind tasting held in Singapore on August 4th. The tasting, which was organised by Michael Thurner, the former general manager of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board, comprised a total of 34 international wines from the vintages 2001-2008. Of these wines, 12 Austrian Pinot Noirs placed amongst the top 20 ! [ article ]
07/2010
Crème de la Crème of International Wine Bloggers to Gather in the Austrian Capital 22 - 24 October 2010. The 3rd European Wine Bloggers Conference (EWBC) will be held between October 22nd and 24th in Vienna, Austria – marking the first time that the event will take place outside of the Iberian Peninsula. [ article ]
07/2010
Wolfgang Puck, one of the most talented and renowned chefs in the world, brought a touch of Hollywood to this year’s SALON Austrian Wine Awards Gala Dinner, which was held on June 30th at Platinum, in the sparkling new UNIQA Tower in Vienna. [ article ]
06/2010
AWMB, Austria’s wine producers and the VieVinum wine fair give a great show. On Monday evening (31 May 2010), the VieVinum, Austria’s largest and most prestigious biennial wine fair, came to an end in the Wiener Hofburg. [ article ]
05/2010
The Austria Uncorked Wine Tasting held on 5th May 2010 in New York, attracted more than 1,000 visitors, making it the largest presentation of Austrian wines ever to take place in the United States. [ article ]
04/2010
The Austrian Wine Marketing Board and the Austrian Trade Commission announce two upcoming Austrian wine tasting events in San Francisco (May 3) and New York City (May 5) called Austria Uncorked. [ article ]
03/2010
Austrian wine exports were so successful in 2009, that they exceeded all expectations. Although the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB) had cautiously predicted at its annual press conference last December that total exports for 2009 likely would remain unchanged from the previous year, the latest figures from Statistik Austria show a dramatic development: in 2009, exports rose by 5.3% in value and an incredible 16% in volume. With nearly 70 million liters of wine exported during the year, turnover increased from € 112 million to € 119 million. [ article ]
03/2010
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. [ article ]
03/2010
With the Weinviertel dac Reserve, the Weinviertel joins the rest of Austria’s two-tiered DACs. In 2003, the Weinviertel became the first Austrian wine-growing area to market typical wines of origin under the specific name of the region. This gave the Weinviertel dac its pioneering role for wines with a clear identity and a typical taste profile. So far, six other regions - Mittelburgenland, Traisental, Kremstal, Kamptal, Leithaberg and Eisenberg - have joined this appellation system as well. [ article ]
01/2010
It’s almost eerie – the 9 series! The legendary Austrian “9er” vintages certainly live up to their reputation even in the new millennium. It began in 1959 – the vintage that nature gave an outstanding performance in Austria (and in many other wine countries of Europe). Magnificent white wines and especially sweet wines are still living proof of the vintage’s legendary reputation. [ article ]
12/2009
Over the past year, Austrian wine was very successful despite the economic crisis. In fact, the growth that defined the previous few years continued in 2009, especially in the food retail trade. Market shares increased further, culminating in an excellent result. While the total of exported Austrian goods decreased by almost a sixth in 2009, Austrian wine exports rose throughout the year, gaining market share especially in shrinking markets - even though, in general, lower priced products were sold in all price segments. [ article ]
12/2009
Five Burgenland Winemakers Snap Up Top Awards! For the third time, the international dessert wine competition Concorso internazionale di vini passiti was organized by the Accademia della muffa nobile – the Italian “Botrytis Academy” – and this year’s event proved outstandingly successful for Austria’s Burgenland sweet wines. [ article ]
12/2009
It´s brand new on the market - a fabulous book on the genesis of wine. Wine Genesis features the unique photography of Peter Oberleitner. And Karl Mayer from the Teaching and Research Center for Viticulture and Horticulture Klosterneuburg (Lehr- and Forschungszentrum für Wein- und Obstbau Klosterneuburg) has authored the text. [ article ]
11/2009
Good news from the USA ! The economy is growing again (+ 3% in the 3rd quarter). The restaurants are full, shoppers are willing to spend - and Austrian wine is going full speed ahead. [ article ]
10/2009
It was a very hectic time in Austria’s vineyards during the last few weeks. The warm and sunny weather until the beginning of October brought healthy grapes with optimal ripeness and - thanks to the cool nights - perfectly preserved aromas and flavours. [ article ]
09/2009
Austrian wine has been holding its ground surprisingly well during these difficult economic times. In the first half of this year, the record level of export earnings achieved in the previous year remained practically unchanged (-1.8%). Also during the first half of 2009, an export volume increase of 10% was recorded. [ article ]
09/2009
The London-based international Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW), which for several decades has been offering the world-renowned qualification and title of Master of Wine (MW), has announced that Roman Horvath, the managing director of Domäne Wachau, has successfully completed the Institute’s extensive programme and achieved the prestigious MW title. Horvath is the second Austrian to achieve the MW title and become a member of the Institute. There are only 280 Masters of Wine worldwide. [ article ]
06/2009
According to a decree issued on July 30th by the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, quality wines with regional typicity from the town of Eisenstadt and its surrounding area, including the communities of Jois and Winden, can be marketed under the Leithaberg dac designation as of September 1st, 2010. [ article ]
06/2009
Austria’s diverse array of wines has made this country a genuine wine world treasure. The quality, the styles, the character and the expressions – they are truly individual. [ article ]
06/2009
Wine Summit 2009: 150 top wine specialitsts from 38 countries. The Austrian wine sector stood for one thing during the second weekend in June: the Wine-Summit 2009. [ article ]
06/2009
After more than 20 years of successful advertising, the Austrian Wine Marketing (AWM) is implementing its most significant advertising and publicity changes since its founding. With the integration of the Austrian banderole into the Austrian Wine logo, quality origin is now strongly emphasized. The former message, “A Taste of Culture”, has been refined to the more dynamic "Taste Culture". And theme advertising is now focused on wine and food, while emphasizing the diversity of Austrian wine. [ article ]
05/2009
In the middle of May, the Austrian Wine Marketing Board organized a series of events that took place in the Russian Federation. Just prior to the Annual Austrian Tasting - which is always held in Moscow for the specialist trade - a presentation of Austrian wines was conducted for the first time for top-sommeliers. This presentation took place in the Ural metropolis, Ekaterinburg. [ article ]
05/2009
An inspiring new double-CD captures the exciting combination of Austrian wine and classical music. Wine and music have a great deal in common. Just look at the vocabulary alone: words used to describe a good wine are strikingly similar to those used to characterise musical compositions - vivacious, effervescent, elegant, rich. [ article ]
05/2009
ALDO SOHM , originally from Tyrol in Austria and Wine Director at Le Bernardin, New York's internationally acclaimed four star seafood restaurant, is Winner of the 2009 James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Service. [ article ]
03/2009
Out of 644 wines tasted, 265 were rated “outstanding” or “extraordinary” with 90 points or higher. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate is one of the most important and influential wine rating publications in the world. Along with Robert Parker himself, a number of top wine journalists under his aegis regularly taste the wines of the world’s best known wine-growing areas. [ article ]
01/2009
The AWMB proudly welcomed star-vintner and wine-icon Angelo Gaja from Barbaresco, Piemonte, as guest on the Marketing Days in Eisenstadt and Stockerau on January 12th and 14th. [ article ]
01/2009
Despite the turbulent economy, Austrian wine is looking back on yet another successful year. Exports once again are promising record results. And even at home, the market share of Austrian wine has increased, thanks to the stabilization of direct sales (ex-cellar) and the successful development in the food retail market.[ article ]
11/2008
Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without some of the mainstay dishes that symbolize the day itself: turkey, giblet stuffing and gravy, cranberries and sweet potatoes, to name a few. But, while their flavors are inimitable, these foods are not necessarily easy to accommodate when it comes to finding their ideal matching wines – especially when served altogether at the same meal.
[ article ]
10/2008
For the 7th, completely revised edition of Robert Parker's perennially
best-selling Wine Buyer's Guide, the entire six-headed team of the Wine
Advocate was mobilized in order to generate for the most part entirely
new text.
[ article ]
09/2008
At its annual general meeting in London on September 11th, the renowned Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) elected the Director of the Austrian Wine Academy, Dr. Josef Schuller MW, as the first non-UK Chairman of the Institute since it was established 55 years ago. Dr. Schuller will be supported in his role by the Institute’s new Vice Chairman, Lynne Sherriff MW, a London-based South African native and a long-time lecturer at the Austrian Wine Academy.
[ article ]
07/2008
S4C, short for Sommeliers for Consumers, is the world’s only sommelier tasting council uniting 14 of the world’s greatest sommeliers, amongst whom Gérard Basset, Master Sommelier & Master of Wine, Olivier Poussier, Best Sommelier of the World 2000, Markus del Monego, Best Sommelier of the World 1998, and Isa Bal, Best Sommelier of Europe
2008, to cite but four of the prestigious S4C tasting panel members. The mutual purpose of the S4C council is to provide producers and consumers with an objective reference point regarding wines, spirits and other beverages.
[ article ]
07/2008
The American publication "Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate" is one of the most important wine magazines in the world. Every year, countless wine-growing regions and winemakers around the globe feverishly await the ratings of their wines by this influential medium. In the current online issue, the ratings of Austrian wines from the 2006 vintage (and occasional older vintages as well) are given through the publication’s standard 100-point system. Especially exciting for Austria: 216 of the more than 500 wines tasted were rated with 90 or more points - achieving "outstanding" status; 8 wines even merited "extraordinary" status (96 or more points.
[ article ]
06/2008
The European Academy of Wine Education (EAWE) recently held its first Conference in Rust, Austria. The Austrian Wine Academy, a founding member of EAWE hosted this first European Conference for Wine Education. Educators from 16 countries met and discussed issues of international relevance in the field of wine education. This conference marked the beginning of an international network of exchange and cooperation amongst wine educators from all over Europe.
[ article ]
03/2008
Highest-Ever Export Values Reached with High Value Bottled Wines.
For Austrian Wine, 2007 appears to be the most successful export year ever. At the end of December, it was estimated that total exports for 2007 would be at 51 million litres with a value of € 93 million. Now, the actual figures are much higher: according to Statistik Austria, total exports for 2007 were 56 million litres with a sensational total value of more than €105 million.
[ article ]
03/2008
After the first tastings of the young 2007 vintage wines, the faces of the winemakers and professional tasters throughout Austria’s wine-growing areas expressed strong satisfaction about the high level of quality achieved.
[ article ]
01/2008
Agreements reached for EU Wine Market Reforms Promotes Further Quality Improvement Programmes in Austria. Austria’s wine sector enjoyed a successful economic year in 2007. The domestic wine-growing policy made important gains on the EU level, and was able to secure an additional € 20 Million from the EU coffers for quality improvement measures.
[ article ]
