Austrian wine

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Austrian wines are primarily focused on white wines similarly to Germany, however, Austria has a more temperate climate. Most wines come from the region north of Vienna and they produce about 70% white wines and 30% red wines

[edit] History

In the 1800's, Austrian wines were often blended with German wines and other European wines. These wines were produced mainly for export. During the 1980's, Austrian wines were sold based primarily upon alcohol content. This standard led to a scandal among Austrian wines when producers were adding extra alcohol to their wines to increase the price. This scandal discredited the reputation of Austrian wines across the world. In the 1990's producers in Austria began to push for better quality and recognition in their wines. Because of this effort, Austrian wines have become more and more trendy.

[edit] Grape varieties

The number one varietal in Austria is Gruner Veltliner. This grape comprises 37% of the production in Austria. The red grapes grown include Zweigelt, Blaufrankisch, St. Laurent, and Pinot Noir. Because of the cool climate of Austria, these red grapes are lighter and crisper than reds from warmer climates.