Vienna winemakers expect smaller harvest but excellent vintage

Vienna’s winemakers expect this year’s harvest to be 30 to 40 percent smaller because of extreme summer heat and drought, but the wine is expected to be of exceptional quality, ORF reported Tuesday.

The traditional harvest at the city’s smallest vineyard on Schwarzenbergplatz took place unusually early. The grapes ripened significantly earlier than usual, with the main harvest at other Vienna wineries also beginning about two weeks ahead of schedule.

The early harvest affects traditional Vienna wines including Grüner Veltliner and Gemischter Satz, as well as Burgundy varieties such as Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay.

Thomas Podsednik of Mayer am Pfarrplatz winery, which manages the Schwarzenbergplatz vineyard, described the year as challenging. “We have 30 to 40 percent less wine in the cellar,” he said.

Norbert Walter, president of the Vienna Chamber of Agriculture and a winemaker himself, said initial tastings indicated very good quality. “We are pleased that what we bring into the cellar will be small but fine,” he said. He added that Vienna’s wine producers had been preparing for the effects of climate change for some time, including by using drip irrigation.

Mayor Michael Ludwig welcomed the forecasts, saying there would be less wine but that it would be particularly special. He also highlighted the importance of urban agriculture in Vienna, noting that about 400 businesses are involved in wine production.

The roughly 60 vines at the Schwarzenbergplatz vineyard are expected to produce about 40 to 60 bottles of Wiener Gemischter Satz. The bottles will be auctioned for charity.