School of Wine

A new beginning in Vulkanland Steiermark! Convinced that the power of the soil together with their skills as winemakers are key ingredients of their single vineyard wines, the members of this dynamic group have set about creating their own official single vineyard classification, choosing LACON as their independent control body. Now they are eager to show how consistent they are in what they do - and just how well this can be combined with drinking pleasure. Nine wines certified as Erste Lage and Große Lage will be presented at this tasting; one of the wines is from the current vintage, and another is from a mature vintage. Moderating will be Marie Christin Baunach, Head Sommelière Restaurant Überfahrt (Rottach-Egern) and Suwi Zlatic, Austrian National Champion and Finalist of 2021 European-African Sommelier Championship.

Wachau wines unmistakably show their origin. Rieslings from the Wachau in comparison with Rieslings from all over the world. Vinea Wachau and Caro Maurer MW present the Wachau in an international context.
With simultaneous English translation.

The past 25 years have changed Austria’s wine world profoundly. Top-class wines of international calibre have arisen, especially in Burgenland. The Renowned Wineries of Burgenland has contributed significantly to this development. Taste representative examples that demonstrate how this Austrian “wine miracle” has emerged and evolved; learn the background stories directly from the first source. The Renowned Wineries of Burgenland present gems from their wine cellars. Embark on a treasure hunt with the RWB vintner association and taste the unknown, the newly discovered, and the honourably matured – a cross-section of a quarter century of genesis in the Austrian wine world.

The winegrowers from Leithaberg aim to vinify exciting, mineral, and structured wines.
The unique soil structure of Leithakalk and slate lay the foundation for these mineral wines. The cooling effect of the forests of the Leitha Mountains brings finesse and liveliness to the wine. In addition to the heat-regulating function of Lake Neusiedl, the warm winds from Pannonia bring the necessary maturity. Nestled between the Leitha Mountains and Lake Neusiedl, wines with the Leithaberg DAC seal are vinified from the regional varieties Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Neuburger, and Blaufränkisch with careful attention to tradition and work for hand in hand with nature.

The top wines from Burgundy, which are highly desired these days, are only bottled in very small editions. This pushes prices to astronomical heights, so that many people have no access to the great Chardonnays and Pinots Noirs from the Côte d'or. But if you look for worthwhile alternatives away from the big names, you will find wines from up-and-coming wineries that still offer reasonable value for money, allowing even less well-heeled noses to enter this fascinating world. Willi Klinger has been dealing with this area for over three decades and always finds real insider tips. And then there is the Beaujolais beyond trivial mass wines to discover, far too little known plants from those specific volcanic soils of the Beaujolais Crus, which help the Gamay grape to surprising complexity and longevity.

Willi Klinger, wine expert and known for his sharp tongue, presents together with Gerhard Retter, sommelier and maître, the real insider tips from Burgundy and the Beaujolais in the School of Wine at the VieVinum!

In Südsteiermark, Weststeiermark and Vulkanland Steiermark, the traditional Steiermark grape varieties are especially worth tasting. The typical Steiermark wines are dry, aromatic, juicy, mineral and spicy, elegant and with substance. And there is a large variety of those, that cannot be compared. Here, quality wines are produced that are shaped by terroir and winemaker. More than half of the vineyard area in Steiermark is hills and mountains with slopes of which some are very steep. Immerse yourself in the world of Steiermark wine and discover the wide portfolio of Steiermark winemakers.

For the first time, the vintage year 2021 sees the Wagram present wines with specific origin typicity. Great opposites converge in the emerging region of the Wagram. And produce something wonderful. A Pannonian climate and cool Waldviertel winds. Tradition and innovation. Internationally renowned and autochthonous grape varieties. Metres thick loess soil for Grüner Veltliner with a great texture. Strong gravelly soils for full-bodied Roter Veltliner. Mineral limestone for the fruity Riesling.
This exciting wine-producing region constitutes the wine provenance Wagram DAC: From wines typical to the region via domain-typical wines through to the highest quality single vineyard wines, the Wagram capitalises on its range of varieties with identifiable origins. Peter Moser, editor-in-chief of Falstaff magazine, presents the typical Wagram wine in all its facets in this exciting tasting session. Come and see for yourself why Grüner Veltliner sees red!

Zweigelt, Austria‘s by far most commonly cultivated and most popular red wine variety, ranges from young-drinking, non-oak matured versions to strong, structured and firm wines from the barrique.
In this very special masterclass tasting the international renowned wine expert and Master Sommelier Stefan Neumann MS will show you the diversity and versatility of this archetypal Austrian grape variety based on Austria‘s most significant dedicated Zweigelt areas of origin, Neusiedlersee DAC (Burgenland) and Carnuntum DAC (Niederösterreich). Can Zweigelt be the next international big hit for Austrian reds? What stylistics may succeed? Exciting questions to share with the experienced moderator as well as the producers.

The Weinviertel DAC is celebrating its 20th anniversary! The first vintage of Austria’s first DAC wines will be presented in an exciting tasting highlight. These wines launched the triumphant procession of DAC wines of origin in Austria. Wines that have “Weinviertel” on the label are unique, unmistakable, and above all typical for Austria’s largest wine-growing region: hearty, spicy Grüner Veltliners with their inimitable peppery aroma. In this tasting, A la Carte wine editor-in-chief Willi Balanjuk will span the spectrum of Weinviertel DAC wines from mature examples from the early years to Weinviertel DAC Reserve wines from great vintages while shedding light on the value of Austria’s oldest wines of origin as exceptional wines and perfect food accompaniments.

„What are the most unique sweet wine regions of the world? The west and east shore of Lake Neusiedl – no doubt for me!“ says Dr. Josef Schuller MW, director of the Austrian Wine Academy, Master of Wine and host of this masterclass tasting. In the last 500 years of history the sweet wines of these regions were wines of Kings and kings of wines. The Freistadt Rust doing this with the longest tradition – at least until the 16th century. The east bank of Lake Neusiedl – here above all the protected sub-region Seewinkel – has become the „rising superstar“ among the major sweet wine appelations in the world over the past 50 years. Burgenland can truly be happy to have defined Ruster Ausbruch DAC and Neusiedlersee DAC as a protected origin for their world champion sweet wines. Don’t miss this masterclass tasting with some of the best sweet wines of this entire world.