Austrian wine has experienced a truly sensational quality boom in the last twenty years and is widely regarded as a phenomenon in the wine world. Austrian wine is found on every good wine list and is widely appreciated by a growing band of ardent consumers. In this thorough and engaging book, the product of visits spanning almost forty years, award-winning wine writer Stephen Brook takes a tour around Austria's wine regions and samples wines from nearly 300 producers in a quest to discover just what it is that makes this country's wines so special. Austria has a long tradition of wine making. Vines have been cultivated in the same regions for thousands of years. With an ideal geological and climatic environment Austrian vines thrive in the essential conditions for authentic, distinctive wines packed with character and personality. Austrian estates have recognized the importance of combining traditional viticulture with modern vinification processes to create wines of the highest quality. The sheer diversity of the country's wine culture has also played an essential part in the re-emergence of Austrian wine, from lively and light-bodied or monumental and opulent white wines, to charming, fruity and full-bodied reds with long cellaring potential, and enticing and elegant sweet wines that are among the world's best. After an introduction charting the history of Austrian wine making and the regulations regarding its production Brook details the grape varieties used, before embarking on his journey round the regions. Each chapter starts with a guide to the viticultural history and topography of the region and the defining characteristics of its wines. Prominent wineries are discussed, notable features of their history and wine-making methods detailed, and typical wines assessed. The book ends with a chapter on vintages, with notes on prominent wine-producing years from the last half century and detailed analysis of vintages from the last decade. From armchair wine-buffs to those studying Austrian wine, The Wines of Austria is an invaluable resource for anybody interested in this wine-producing gem.
