Austria
Look for at Ramstein
Austria's top 3 grapes to seek out at the Class 6 BX or nearby shops. If you see any of these, grab them.
| Category | Grape | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| White Wine | Grüner Veltliner | Austria's flagship — crisp, mineral-driven with signature white pepper spice |
| White Wine | Riesling (trocken / Dry) | Typically dry, structured, and intensely expressive of site |
| Red Wine | Blaufränkisch | Earthy, dark cherry, bright acidity, peppery edge — surprisingly serious |
Austrian Wines to Look For
These bottles showcase Austria's best — from everyday Zweigelt to age-worthy Wachau Grüner Veltliner. Worth seeking out at wine shops near Ramstein or ordering online.
| Wine | Varietal / Region | Notes | Taste | Est. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner “Terrassen” | Grüner Veltliner / Wachau | Benchmark entry Wachau; clean, precise, excellent QPR | Crisp, Peppery, Mineral | ~$16–20 |
| Bründlmayer Grüner Veltliner | Grüner Veltliner / Kamptal | Polished, structured, slightly more depth | Citrus, Herbal, Elegant | ~$22–28 |
| F.X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner (if stocked) | Grüner Veltliner / Wachau | Premium producer; powerful, age-worthy style | Dense, Spicy, Structured | ~$45–65 |
| Weingut Wieninger Wiener Gemischter Satz | Field Blend / Vienna | Traditional Viennese mixed-vineyard white; very food-driven | Fresh, Savory, Bright | ~$18–25 |
| Prager Riesling Federspiel | Riesling / Wachau | Dry, mineral-driven, serious structure | Lime, Slate, Focused | ~$28–35 |
| Lenz Moser Zweigelt | Zweigelt / Burgenland | Easy, fruit-forward red; great value | Cherry, Soft, Juicy | ~$14–18 |
| Heinrich Blaufränkisch | Blaufränkisch / Burgenland | Structured, savory, serious red | Dark, Peppery, Firm | ~$20–28 |
| Moric Blaufränkisch | Blaufränkisch / Mittelburgenland | Old-world tension; cellar-worthy | Earthy, Tart, Refined | ~$35–50 |
| St. Laurent (Stift Klosterneuburg) | St. Laurent / Thermenregion | Elegant, Pinot-adjacent Austrian red | Red, Silky, Savory | ~$18–25 |
| Kracher Spätlese Cuvée | Welschriesling Blend / Neusiedlersee | Iconic sweet wine producer; botrytis richness | Honeyed, Apricot, Lush | ~$25–35 (375ml) |
General Info
Like Germany, Austria produces roughly two-thirds white wine. Grüner Veltliner is the country's flagship native grape, known for producing crisp, mineral-driven wines with signature white pepper spice. Austrian Riesling is also exceptional — typically dry, structured, and intensely expressive of site.
Austrian wines are often described as spicy and seductive, especially when compared to other European styles. That signature spice shows up in both whites and reds.
Austrians Love Their Wine
Blaufränkisch is Austria's premier red grape, producing wines with earthy undertones, bright acidity, dark cherry fruit, and a peppery edge. The structure can be surprisingly serious, with excellent aging potential.
A wine shop owner once told me that Austrian Blaufränkisch is so good they don't need to export much of them — locals happily keep them to themselves. Most red wines that are exported seem to be Zweigelt, an easy drinking table wine.
And uniquely, the city of Vienna maintains its own commercial vineyards, making it one of the only capital cities in the world with significant urban wine production.
Region & Grape Overview
