The Wine

Wine in northern Burgenland has been cultivated for over 3000 years. The Celts are responsible that the region round the Neusiedler lake is one of the oldest wine growing areas of Europe. Wine cultivation in Austria developed from the present day Burgenland. In Celtic hill graves located in Zagersdorf near Eisenstadt – about 700 before Christ – grape seeds were found which proved to be narrowly related to Chardonnay and Sylvaner. Finds near Jois show clearly that vines were cultivated since earliest times.

Already in 1240 Cistercian monks cultivated noble grapes such as Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris on the Neusiedler lake. Very early they recognised the optimal conditions for these varieties of grape in the Burgenland. They demonstrated themselves to be developers of viniculture through sorting out varieties and improved cultivation. Jewish wine dealers were responsible for worldwide spreading and recognition of these excellent wines.

The current top wine-firms in Burgenland are all members of the association, “Renommierte Weingüter Burgenland”(Renowned Wine Estates of Burgenland):

• Paul Rittsteuer – Neusiedl am See
• Ernst Triebaumer und Hans Feiler – Rust
• Hans Igler und Albert Gesellmann – Deutschkreuz
• Weingut Juris, Axel Stiegelmar – Gols
• Weingut Paul Kerschbaum – Horitschon
• Anton Kollwentz – Großhöflein
• Weingut Giefing – Rust
• Hermann Krutzler – Deutsch Schützen
• Weingut Josef Leberl – Großhöflein
• Weingut Paul Achs – Gols
• Josef Umathum – Frauenkirchen
• Heinz Velich – Apetlon 
• more vintners in Burgenland
• Zantho, a new wine-project
• Tourist options in Burgenland