The collection of awards presented to Neusiedlersee DAC wines in 2023 says it all: As a specific origin, Neusiedlersee DAC is clearly the No. 1 for red and sweet wines, both nationally and internationally.
It was just under two years ago that London-based Master Sommelier and renowned wine expert Stefan Neumann envisioned: “There is much to suggest that the Veltliner success story will be followed up by Zweigelt as the new international flagship of Austrian wine.” Today, we can say with confidence that he was absolutely right! The scores and awards amassed by red wines from Austria this year speak for themselves: Zweigelt wines from the eastern banks of the largest steppe lake in Central Europe are now “officially”, so to speak, amongst the world’s premium wines (see box for further details) – but more on that later. First of all, here’s a question: How did it all come about?
Well, it hasn’t just been the sweet wines from the Neusiedlersee DAC region that have created a stir in 2023, although they have been world-famous for many years. In this past award year, the sweet wines have been joined predominantly by wines from the grape variety Zweigelt which were given DAC status in Austria for the first time in 2012 and bear the designation Neusiedlersee DAC. “Positioning a grape variety amongst the leaders in this way and within such a short time, when it was previously unknown and therefore almost overlooked by the global community, is a very special accomplishment,” remarks Stefan Lamster Haubenwallner, Sommelier and President of the Burgenland Sommelier Association, recognizing this achievement.
Seal of origin as basis of success
It was undoubtedly the establishment of the Neusiedlersee DAC quality scheme in 2012, which linked up what has now become far more than 100 winegrowers in the region to offer local quality and typicity, that enabled this wine region to succeed, emphasizes Christoph Salzl, himself vintner in the region and since 2017 Chairman of the Neusiedlersee DAC Wines of Origin Association. In his opinion, actively encouraging members to communicate with each other has allowed knowledge to be conveyed in a targeted way and regional typicity to be vinified with greater precision, and ultimately communicated and marketed with a better impact. Nowadays, origin and typicity of origin are on everyone’s lips, particularly on the international stage. “In addition, the Neusiedlersee DAC vintners have managed especially well to establish their origin as the leading origin for Zweigelt within a relatively short time – at home in Austria and now internationally as well. It feels as though the region’s sweet wines have been established in this way for decades, as the numerous international awards continue to confirm impressively year after year,” continues Lamster Haubenwallner. Stefan Neumann agrees: “As an origin, Neusiedlersee DAC has become a very distinct guarantee of quality and typicity in the international world of wine – and now this includes Zweigelt as well.”
Grüner Veltliner as white pioneer
In fact, the same mechanism is behind the resounding success enjoyed by Grüner Veltliner. Neusiedlersee DAC Managing Director Torsten Aumüller names this famous example as a role model. He elaborates: “With Zweigelt it is also a question of location. Here at Lake Neusiedl, we have exactly what Zweigelt likes and needs: sunshine and warmth, moderate rainfall, tolerable differences in temperature between day and night thanks to the direct proximity to the lake, and winegrowers who know their craft. Altogether, this gives Zweigelt its regional identity and quality. And it is gaining ever greater recognition at an international level.”
First class around the world
The tangible success resulting from close cooperation between the vintners and the Neusiedlersee DAC committees within a decade can be measured – as is usual in the world of wine – in points and awards at international competitions. The following results are especially spectacular:
At the DWWA (Decanter World Wine Awards), the Neusiedlersee DAC wineries Preinerwein (Andrea and Robert Preiner, Apetlon) and Münzenrieder Wein (Johannes Münzenrieder, Apetlon) were awarded an incredible 95 out of 100 possible points for their traditionally cultivated Zweigelt Neusiedlersee DAC – the highest scores for Austrian red wines in this tasting throughout 2023! Just slightly behind on 94/100 points was the Zweigelt Neusiedlersee DAC by Alexander Egermann from Illmitz. At the IWSC (International Wine & Spirits Competition), as many as three wines from the Neusiedlersee DAC region of origin were named among the best in the country. Other frontrunners were the Zweigelt Ried Kaiserberg 2019 by Andreas Unger from Halbturn, the Zweigelt Neusiedlersee DAC by Weingut Kummer from Mönchhof and the “Every Days” Zweigelt Neusiedlersee DAC 2021 with 94/100 points. Incidentally, Gerhard Markowitsch’s premium Zweigelt Ried Kirchweingarten 2021 was awarded the same number of points at James Suckling (tasted by individual critic Stuart Pigott).
| Rating | Type of Award | Vintage | Winery | Region | Wine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95/100 + Best Buy | DWWA | 2021 | Münzenrieder Wein | Apetlon | Zweigelt Neusiedlersee DAC |
| 95/100 + Best Buy | DWWA | 2021 | Preinerwein | Apetlon | Zweigelt Neusiedlersee DAC |
| 95/100 | IWSC | 2019 | Andreas Unger | Halbturn | Zweigelt Ried Kaiserberg |
| 94/100 | DWWA | 2020 | Alexander Egermann | Illmitz | Zweigelt Neusiedlersee DAC |
| 94/100 | IWSC | 2021 | Weingut Kummer | Mönchhof | Zweigelt Neusiedlersee DAC |
| 94/100 | IWSC | 2021 | Weingut Keringer | Mönchhof | Zweigelt Every Days Neusiedlersee DAC |
| 93/100 | IWSC | 2021 | Bio-Weingut | Podersdorf | Zweigelt Neusiedlersee DAC Reserve Ried Römerstein |
| 92/100 | DWWA | 2021 | Gebrüder Nittnaus | Gols | Zweigelt Selection Neusiedlersee DAC |
| 92/100 | IWSC | 2021 | Bioweingut Tischler | Halbturn | Zweigelt Neusiedlersee DAC |
| 92/100 | DWWA | 2021 | Scheiblhofer THE WINE | Andau | Zweigelt Ried Prädium |
| 92/100 | DWWA | 2021 | Salzl Seewinkelhof | Illmitz | Zweigelt Selection Neusiedlersee DAC |
Austria’s most frequently (13.6%) grown red grape variety – the Zweigelt – dominates and defines the pinnacle of Austrian red wines in the award year 2023 at the most important international panel tastings! What they all have in common is their origin: Neusiedlersee, Austria’s easternmost wine region and the epicenter of great Zweigelt wines.
And so there’s no doubt: In the award year 2023, the red grape variety grown most frequently in Austria – Zweigelt (13.6%) – dominated and defined the pinnacle of Austrian red wines at the most important panel tastings around the world. Or as Torsten Aumüller says with delight: “In its harmonious expression and with a previously unknown density of winegrowers, Zweigelt Neusiedlersee DAC is displaying the vast potential offered by this versatile grape variety: maturity and freshness, fruit and power, structure and origin.”
Understanding award results
When it comes to points and awards, it all gets more interesting when you take a closer look and work out the context. This is because there is a difference between how the rankings are structured, explains Lamster Haubenwallner. “As a winegrower, it all boils down to the market where I want to sell my wine.” For instance, awards like the Falstaff magazine award in Austria are very valuable because Austrian consumers are familiar with the badges and scoring system. However, at an international level, titles such as those at the Austrian Wine Challenge (AWC), and above all the International Wine Challenge (IWC), the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) and the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) are much more relevant because their quality is recognized beyond the borders of Austria as well.
| Rating | Type of award | Vintage | Winery | Region | Wine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97/100 + Best in Show | DWWA | 2021 | Angerhof Tschida | Illmitz | Schilfwein Muskat Ottonel |
| 95/100 | IWC | 2020 | Angerhof Tschida | Illmitz | Sämling |
| 95/100 | IWC | 2020 | PMC Münzenrieder | Apelton | Welschriesling TBA Neusiedlersee DAC Reserve |
| 95/100 | IWSC | 2021 | Alexander Egermann | Illmitz | Cuvée TBA Mosaik Neusiedlersee DAC Reserve |
| 95/100 | IWSC | 2019 | Angerhof Tschida | Illmitz | Sämling 88 TBA Neusiedlersee DAC Reserve Ried Lüss |
| 92/100 | DWWA | 2018 | Münzenrieder Wein | Apelton | Sämling TBA Neusiedlersee DAC Reserve |
Points & ratings: What does it all mean? How do competitions reach their results?
The points and ratings from the aforementioned international panel tastings enjoy an excellent reputation among experts. The reason for this is quite clear: While at competitions with acronyms such as AWC, IWSC, IWC and DWWA, the wines are tasted by large juries made up of sommeliers, master sommeliers and masters of wines who reach the results together as a team, the results at other tastings frequently represent individual opinions. This means that although 94/100 points is always a good result, in some cases it is better. It helps to make a comparison.
But let’s return to the latest collection of prizes. The fact that the Neusiedlersee DAC wines are on the podium both at home and also abroad is especially pleasing for vintner and Neusiedlersee DAC Chairman Christoph Salzl. “Our region of origin integrates winegrowers of different sizes, whose focus is on different target groups and customer segments. This latest success shows that award-winning wines can be produced by both large and small operations in their respective segments, and as a region of origin we fulfil our objectives at all levels.”
| Rating | Type of award | Vintage | Winery | Region | Wine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOLD +1st Place | AWC | 2020 | Weingut Johannes E.F. Strudler | Podersdorf | Zweigelt (Rotburger) Neusiedlersee DAC Reserve |
| 96/100 Sieger Zweigelt | Falstaff | 2021 | Weingut Schwarz | Andau | Zweigelt Schwarz Rot |
| 94/100 Platz 2 Zweigelt | Falstaff | 2021 | NESTOR. Neukamp+Stadler | Halbturn | Zweigelt Neusiedlersee DAC Reserve |
| 94/100 | Falstaff | 2021 | Weingut Pöckl | Mönchhof | Zweigelt Neusiedlersee DAC Reserve |
| 93/100 | Falstaff | 2021 | Weingut Harald Kiss | Halbturn | Zweigelt Neusiedlersee DAC Reserve Ried Waldacker |
| 93/100 | Falstaff | 2021 | Allacher Vinum Pannonia | Gols | Zweigelt Neusiedlersee DAC Reserve Ried Salzberg |
| 92/100 Sieger Grand Prix | Falstaff | 2022 | NESTOR. Neukamp+Stadler | Halbturn | Zweigelt Neusiedlersee DAC |
In any event, Neusiedlersee DAC Managing Director Torsten Aumüller is convinced that – since 2023 at the latest – Neusiedlersee DAC as a region of origin is quite distinctly the No.1 for sweet wines and also for Zweigelt. Nationally and internationally.
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Neusiedlersee DAC.
Unique Zweigelt. Unique sweet wines.
From the bright side of Austria. For the enjoyment of all.
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