The 10 best wines from Upper Austria

Connoisseurs like to associate Upper Austria with beer, cider and schnapps. The country’s winegrowers and their wine have been smiled at a little so far, but are increasingly becoming the focus of attention.

After a thirst period of around 200 years, a handful of pioneers began to focus more on wine again around the turn of the millennium – with success. 15 years ago, award-winning chef Elisabeth Grabmer flirted with putting local wine on the menu, demonstrating foresight. “It’s not about squinting to New York, but first of all appreciating and listing the wine in our best restaurants. After that, there are no limits. Upper Austria is in the fast lane,” says wine legend Willi Klinger.

After the first regional wine awards, it is only a matter of weeks before every well-run restaurant will offer guests at least one wine from Upper Austria. The OÖN sommeliers were part of the eight-strong jury that selected eleven wines as state winners in a blind tasting. They present ten winners. If you want to feel the taste of Upper Austria, you can either visit your trusted innkeeper soon or order in an uncomplicated way.

And this is how you order

Order your favorite wines (minimum order quantity is a box of six identical bottles) at wein@nachrichten.at. The winemaker sends these free shipping home.

Leo Gmeiner

Upper Austria
Sparkling Toni
perg
15.90 euros

The Bouvier variety supplies the grapes for the fruity, sparkling frizzante. Aromas of delicate nutmeg. Pleasant balance on the palate in terms of acidity, body and alcohol. Drinking incentive with moderate alcohol content.

Armin Kienesberger

Upper Austria
Sparkling Wine Apollo 22 (PetNat)
Schluesslberg
25 euros

Biodynamic Pet Nat (natural fermentation in the bottle) shows “orange” colors. The Grüner Veltliner provides the fruitiness, the pleasant spiciness comes from the aromatic varieties. Fresh, fruity and light.

Lukas Schiefermair

Upper Austria
Grüner Veltliner 2022
Kematen an der Krems
9.90 euros

Upper Austria can do Veltliner, as Lukas Schiefermair shows. In the Kremstal, the soil and the climate are suitable for our flagship grape variety. Precise notes of pomaceous apple, accompanied by lemon balm and some citrus. In addition, a casually spicy herb garden.

sibling worm

Upper Austria
Yellow Muscat 2022
St Florian
10.50 euros

A muscatel straight out of a picture book. Fresh scent of elderflowers with exotic fruits, limes and the tangerine peel typical of the variety. Fresh, sparkling, light in alcohol with a slim body.

sibling worm

Upper Austria
Mixed set 2022
St Florian
10.50 euros

The Wurm siblings again. A mixed set that requires precise work to catch the varieties at the right stage of ripeness. It succeeded: fresh, fruity, balanced, spicy components of the aroma varieties. Elegant palate.

Stephan & Andrea Greindl

Upper Austria
Danube Riesling 2022
Naarn
13.90 euros

Fresh, fruity, light-footed and exciting: fresh, stimulating acidity, fruity impressions of stone fruit and lime, light-footed because only 11.5% alcohol and exciting taste impression on the palate. This is what Upper Austria tastes like.

Florian Eschlbock

Upper Austria
Chardonnay Reserve 2020
Hörsching
16.90 euros

Limestone enables the Hörschinger successful winemaker to produce a strong Burgundy – just as it should be: spicy, slightly salty, pleasant minerality, creamy on the palate. Well-matched wood tones round off the elegant maturity.

Armin Kienesberger

Upper Austria
Pinot Blanc 2022
Schluesslberg
18 euros

An organic Pinot Blanc as an all-rounder. Subtle aromas of ripe apples, plus some almonds. Classically developed, well structured. Mild acidity, alive through the fruit. Pleasant palate with precise extract. Food accompaniment to fish or baked goods.

Wolfgang Koltringer

Upper Austria
Rose from the blue
Zweigelt 2022
Weilbach
10.80 euros

Innviertler Rosé, has already won the OÖ Nachrichten wine show. Cherry and berries in the aroma, pleasant tannin structure on the palate, with a refreshing, well-adapted acid structure and an elegant, fruity finish.

Leo Gmeiner

Upper Austria
Blue Zweigelt 2020
perg
11.80 euros

Classic Zweigelt play of colors with a ruby ​​garnet core and violet reflections. Fruity aroma of plums, berries, some cherries and spicy mint. Very well balanced, full-bodied palate with delicate tannins and a structure rich in finesse.

… and something to eat

Elisabeth Grabmer (Waldschänke) was one of the first top chefs to put Upper Austrian wine on the menu. Little has changed to this day. With her son Clemens, she stands for tasteful, regional award-winning cuisine. Pinot Blanc from Kienesberger goes well with trout.

Salmon trout with creamed kohlrabi, radishes and lamb’s lettuce

Ingredients:
2 kohlrabi, bay leaf, salt, 5 peppercorns, 3 juniper berries, 1 tbsp touched water
Salmon trout: 2 tbsp olive oil, 4 fish fillets (100 g each), salt, freshly ground black pepper, 20 g butter, 1 sprig of thyme, 1 slice of organic lemon

Preparation:
Peel the kohlrabi and cut the tender leaves into small pieces. Place the peels in the saucepan with the bay leaf, salt, peppercorns and juniper and cook for 15 minutes. Strain through a sieve, catch the stock and set aside.

Cut the kohlrabi into small cubes and sauté in clarified butter. Add the white wine and pour over the stock until the cubes are covered. Simmer for 5 minutes, add cream and crème fraîche. Boil, taste.

Finally, fold in the kohlrabi leaves. keep warm Heat 120 ml kohlrabi stock in a small saucepan, season to taste and thicken slightly with the cornstarch. Boil again so that the stock becomes clear again. Keep warm until serving.

Season the fish fillet, place the skin side in the pan, fry gently. Remove the pan from the stove. Add the butter, thyme and lemon wedge. Turn the fillets, pour butter over them, cook for 1 min. Remove, drain on kitchen paper, serve. Pickled radishes and lamb’s lettuce go well with this.