Exclusive Wine Tour to the largest wine region of Austria, the “Weinviertel”
One of the best wine regions of Austria for white wines such as Grüner Veltliner, gemischter Satz, gelber Muskateller and Riesling is the “Wine quarter”. Eiswein is another important sweet wine harvested in winter but not every year. Red Wines such as Blauer Portugieser, Blauburger, Sankt Laurent, Zweigelt und Merlot are important and getting more noticed in the region of the Weinviertel. Crossing borders and tasting chech wines of the region of Moravia is another interesting option to be considerated.
Above the new fungus-resistant grape varieties are one of today’s most talked-about topics within the Austrian wine industry. They support sustainability and awaken people’s curiosity: Roesler, Blütenmuskateller, Muscaris, Donauriesling and Donauveltliner. These new grape types are known as PIWI:
PIWI is the German abbreviation for fungus-resistant grape varieties (pilzwiderstandsfähige Rebsorten; Pilz = fungus, widerstandsfähig = resistant). PIWIs are partially resistant grape varieties that are the result of methodical crossings and breeding. PIWI grape varieties display a high level of resistance to at least one fungal disease, such as Botrytis cinerea, downy mildew and powdery mildew.
The German abbreviation for these fungus-resistant varieties of grape is also well-recognised outside German-speaking regions. The abbreviation was first used by PIWI International, founded in 1988, and has now caught on around the world as a result of its catchy sounding name. Some experts like to interpret PIWI as the abbreviation for “pioneering wines” – a term that says all about these special varieties.
Long before the term PIWI was even invented, fungal resistance played a key role within the wine-growing industry. In the mid-19th century, as a result of the phylloxera epidemic, European winegrowers began experimenting with hybrid grape varieties. These were crossings between American and European varieties with the aim of building resistance to phylloxera, progressing later to develop resistance to fungal diseases.
To ensure a personalized experience, the tour is tailored to your wine preferences. Whether you have a penchant for bold reds, crisp whites, or something sparkling, your guide will ensure that the selection aligns with your tastes, making each tasting session a memorable highlight of your journey.
