Upper Austrian winemakers expect smaller but high-quality harvest

Upper Austrian winemakers are anticipating a strong wine year, although drought will reduce yields by producing smaller grapes, ORF reported. The quality is expected to be very good.

Only 0.002 percent of Austria’s wine-growing area is in Upper Austria. The region’s 100 hectares of vineyards produce about 500,000 litres of wine, two-thirds of it white and one-third red.

Leo Gmeiner, a winemaker from Perg and president of the Upper Austrian Winegrowers’ Association, said the heat was benefiting the vines. He said grapevines develop extremely deep roots, reaching up to 30 metres and allowing them to access groundwater. However, the plants need several years to become fully rooted and produce their maximum yield.

Mildew is a major threat to grapes. Rose bushes planted beside vines can help detect it early because the disease affects the roses before the grapevines. This year, there have been no problems, as the heat has been too intense for the pests.

Winemaker Florian Schmuckenschlager, who runs a wine tavern in Enns, is benefiting from the high temperatures and from the clay in the soil around his vineyards. Clay retains moisture better than sandy soil.

In Wolfern, the Gerstmayr family planted its first vines in 2020 as part of a move into direct sales. The arable farmers converted part of their land into a vineyard and opened a wine tavern. Their first harvest, known as a maiden harvest, took place in 2022.

Six years after the first vines were planted, yields are still below their potential because the plants are too young. The vines are expected to produce their maximum volume of grapes in a few more years. Two additional varieties are planned before then.