It’s Austrian Wine Month! Wine Merchants and bars across the country are celebrating all things Austrian as the spotlight is on Vienna for the Eurovision Song Contest and an international wine festival, VieVinum, all in the same weekend!
It’s showtime in Austria with all eyes on Vienna.
VIENNA, known as the ‘City of Music’ has a rich musical heritage, from Mozart, Strauss, Haydn, and Schubert.
This week in May, it is hosting the 70th Eurovision Song Contest (2026). The theme this year is ‘United by Music.’
Around 35 counties are taking part this year, hosted at the Wiener Stadthalle. The semifinals on Tuesday saw the departure of Boy George with San Marino in the first heat. The grand final takes place on Saturday (16 May).
Vienna itself will be heaving this weekend as it will also be hosting VieVinum, a place where winegrowers and connoisseurs from all over the world will descend to discuss and enjoy wine together.
Austria’s wine culture is dominated by Grüner Veltliner for crisp, citrusy whites; and bright, fruity, Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch for reds, alongside a rich portfolio of indigenous and international grape varieties.
In fact, according to the Austrian Wine Marketing Board, there are 42 grape varieties, 28 white and 14 reds.
These wines are foody-friendly; Perfect with signature serves such as Wiener Schnitzel, sausages and dumplings and tangy hard cheeses that will whet your appetite.
There are many culinary delights to be found in Vienna; from the traditional Heurige taverns to trendy wine bars and sophisticated gourmet restaurants, it’s a city reputed for its culinary diversity, and the wealth of cultural and historical sites making it a popular destination.
Whilst the beauty of Austria will come alive on our screens, wine merchants and bars across the UK are featuring the best of Austrian wines, wines imported by Alpine Wines in collaboration with Austrian Wine.
They will feature wines deeply rooted in the varied landscapes, where every mouthful is a song in itself.
Alpine Wine winemakers
Alzinger
Pioneered by Leo Alzinger (senior) in the 1970s, who committed to “working by hand the steep slopes of the Wachau.” Katharina and Leo Alzinger (junior) continue that journey today.
Alpine Wines describes these wines as “diamonds.” Cultivated on mountain sites including Loibenberg, Steinertal, Hollerin and Hohreck Only Grüner Veltliner and Riesling are planted but each singel vineyard site gives its own expression. They also develop into more complex wines with age
Günter & Regina Triebaumer
“Two glorious globetrotters making amazing wines.”
A range of wines produced in the picturesque city of Rust in the Austrian state of Burgenland, surrounded by the western shore of Lake Neusiedl near the border with Hungary. It is the country’s smallest city. A pretty town full of old wineries and baroque mansions. It’s a magnet for tourists.
Try the Blaufränkisch Rust Classic, Blaufränkisch Reserves, Rosé of Blaufränkisch Reserve, refreshing off dry Traminer Spätlese, indigenous grape Furmint or one of Europe’s noble sweet wines- a Ruster Ausbruch.
If you are not sure where to start, Joelle Nebbe-Mornod, founder/owner of Alpine Wines, recommends starting with the classics. Try Furmint with Vacherin Mont D’Or, made from cow’s milk cheese.
“Regina describes the Classic Rust Blaufränkisch as vivaciously juicy…think tart cherries and black pepper,” she says.
Weinhof Waldschütz
“You simply cannot go wrong with Weinhof Waldschütz.”
Charismatic Ralph, a 6th generation Waldschütz, is very much the driving force of the winery in Kamptal.
If you don’t know much about Austria wine, start with the classic wines. Grüner Veltliner, Zweigelt, Riesling. It’s within the single origin wines where the magic is.
Weingut Christ
“The best in Vienna.”
Rainer Christ is one of the best in Vienna and he is one that you should seek out if you are visiting the only capital city that has vineyards within the city limits. Located in Jedlersdorf in the 21st District you will find the winery and tasting room along with another Viennese tradition, the Heurige, or wine tavern. Enjoy Rainer’s fabulous wines under a pergola with a delicious smorgasbord of roast pork, pickles, cold cuts, and Viennese delights.
Gebrüder Nittnaus
“Cultivating wine in Gols am Neusiedlersee for 300 years.”
The wine estate produces 40% white wine, 40% red wine and 20% dessert wine. The sweet wines are an absolute gem!
Where to buy Austrian Wines
Scotland
Luvians St Andrews.
Valhallas Goat (Glasgow).
Cornelius Beer and Wine (Edinburgh Easter Road).
North England
Ripponden Wine Company. (Ripponden, West Yorkshire).
Ad-Hoc. (Manchester).
Crush Wine Bar (Durham).
Taste the wines at: Grape N Grain Bar. (Littleborough).
Barks Wine Shop (Sheffield).
Whalley Wine Shop (Clitheroe).
The Dilly Deli (Stockport).
Reserve Wines (Manchester).
District Bottle Shop (Whitley Bay).
Godfrey C Williams (Sandbach).
Home Counties/Midlands
Grape Minds Oxford.
Waddesdon Wine Shop.
Decanter Spirit (Leamington Spa).
Peterley Manor Farm Shop (Great Missenden).
Cornwall
Bin Two (Padstow).
Devon
Jolly Vintner (Tiverton).
Grape and Grain and Amapola Wine Bar (Crediton).
Sussex
Sarah’s Cellar. (Battle).
Partners in Wine (Goring on Sea).
Dorset
Selected Grapes (Bridport).
Dorset Wine Company (Dorchester).
London
Vindinista.
Hometipple.
D Vine Cellars.
Must & Lees (Warren Street).
Must and Lees (Liverpool Road).
The Salusbury Wine Store. (Queens Park).
Dulwich Vintners.
Blackheath Vintners.
Hackstons (Knightsbridge).
The Wine Library.
The Wine Twit – (Balham).
Hedonism (London).
The Farm Shop (Mayfair).
Surrey
Banstead Vintners.
The Wine Reserve (Cobham).
The Vineking (Reigate).
Wined Up Here (Norbiton).
Musselman (Egham).
Wilson’s Farm Shop (Bagshot).
