Wiener Gemischter Satz becomes Austria's ninth designated DAC

By Anne Krebiehl MW, Emily Kearns

Published: 21 August, 2013

Following the successful creation of eight DACs (Districtus Austriae Controllatus), an official classification designating origin, grape variety and flavour profile of the wine, the historic Wiener Gemischter Satz has become the latest DAC under Austrian wine law.

Vienna, the Austrian capital, boasts 612ha of vineyards on its surrounding hills, within the city limits, making it the world's only capital with significant wine production.

The creation of the new DAC follows the quality revival of the historic white wines grown on traditionally co-planted vineyards of varieties such as Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Muskateller. The upcoming 2013 vintage will be the first to use the new DAC status.

Viennese winemaker Rainer Christ said: "Gemischter Satz is our most important white wine. Within a scant decade a new dynamic has been created. We are really excited about the new DAC: it ensures that this wine region, one of Europe's oldest, and its most traditional viticulture, namely co-planting, will be preserved for many future generations."

According to the Austrian Wine Marketing Board, Wiener Gemischter Satz must be made from at least three white quality grape varieties, co-planted in a registered Viennese Gemischter Satz vineyard. "In the wine, the share of one grape variety must be no more than 50%, while the share of the third variety must be at least 10%," it said. The alcohol content cannot exceed 12.5% and the wine must be dry without a strongly discernible wood influence.

Herbert Schilling, head of Vienna's Regional Wine Committee, said: "With the Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC, we've achieved a milestone in the consistent, years-long quality policy for winegrowing in Vienna. The new regulations sharpen the origin profile of Wiener Gemischter Satz and, at the same time, reflect Vienna´s diversity in the glass."

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