Wine Snobbery on a Budget: Weingut - Or, How Austrians Buy Their Wine

NB: As V.C. is currently living in Austria, and has plenty of wine stories to share...consider this overlap, the intersection of two blogs with the intention to educate distinct groups of followers...rather than pure laziness on our parts.

The Weinviertel is one of Austria's loveliest areas, a region to be proud of. On the border with the Czech Republic, it is rather hilly (certainly not mountainous when compared to the Alps) and known for white wines. For red wine, one must go to Burgenland...on the border with Hungary.

During the, excursion, partaken with Austrians who really know their wines, I sampled some typical Austrian wines (mostly Grüner Veltliner) but also some Rieslings, a Traminer...etc., went to three different Weinguts, that is, wineries...or wine-growing estates...all family-run and charming!

Each was different and offered different specialties, which I enjoyed. I tried to keep them all straight, but by the end of the afternoon (it must be said) I just had had too much wine! Each place is family-run and -owned, so there is a real homey atmosphere. My hosts told me that they had been going to one of the wine farms for over 20 years, and knew the whole family. I found that kind of amazing.

Another interesting aspect of Austrian wine culture is the Heurige, which means both "new wine" and the place where the vintners showcase their new wines once they come out -- which should be pretty soon! Exciting stuff. Depending on whether the Heurige is owned by the vintners, or by a local Gasthaus (Pension), they open between mid-October and early November.

Here are some photos of the last place we went.

Unfortunately, there are no photos of the other 2 places. One was in a dungeon (OK. Wine cellar) which did not make for a photographic scene.

The second place was actually in the home of the Weinbauer and, yes, I was introduced as the American teaching assistant (probably a precaution against my sitting there looking stupid) but I still feel uncomfortable taking pictures in people's homes uninvited. I don't want to get a reputation as one of those Americans, you know.

Below are the grapes they gave us at the second place. I've eaten them all ready and they were super yummy! The one downside is that they had seeds. Which makes for a messy snack, but even better, you know they didn't put disgusting chemicals on the grapes to make them "seedless" i.e. infertile.