Austrian wine law — official wine-growing regions
Reference date: 3 August 2026.
Austria has 18 DAC regions and 42 authorised grape varieties (28 white, 14 red), spread across four main regions: Niederösterreich, Burgenland, Steiermark and Wien.
Source: Austrian Wine Marketing Board, 2024. Total vineyard area: approx. 44,210 ha (70% white, 30% red); DAC system in place since 2002.
1. Classification system (DAC — Districtus Austriae Controllatus, introduced in 2002)
| Designation | Level | Description | Requirement |
|---|
| Prädikatswein | Highest | Quality wine with special predicate designations | No chaptalisation; minimum must weight of 20–30 KMW |
| Kabinett | High | More precisely defined designation of origin | Dry wine; no chaptalisation |
| Qualitätswein / DAC | Middle | Quality wine with a designation of origin | Chaptalisation permitted under certain conditions |
| Landwein | Basic | Country wine | Geographical indication required |
| Wein (Tafelwein) | Lowest | Table wine | No geographical restriction |
Prädikatswein levels: Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Strohwein, Ausbruch, Eiswein and Trockenbeerenauslese.
2. The 18 official DAC regions
| DAC region | Region | Characteristics / main grape varieties |
|---|
| Weinviertel DAC | Niederösterreich | First DAC (2002), largest region; Grüner Veltliner – fresh and peppery |
| Kamptal DAC | Niederösterreich | Steep terraced vineyards; Grüner Veltliner & Riesling – mineral |
| Kremstal DAC | Niederösterreich | Slightly warmer climate; Grüner Veltliner & Riesling – softer and fuller |
| Traisental DAC | Niederösterreich | Smallest DAC; Grüner Veltliner – compact and mineral |
| Wachau DAC | Niederösterreich | Iconic region; Grüner Veltliner (Federspiel, Smaragd); UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Wagram DAC | Niederösterreich | Loess soils; Grüner Veltliner & Roter Veltliner – creamy texture |
| Carnuntum DAC | Niederösterreich | Modern red wines; Zweigelt & Blaufränkisch |
| Thermenregion DAC | Niederösterreich | Unique indigenous varieties: Zierfandler & Rotgipfler |
| Neusiedlersee DAC | Burgenland | Pannonian climate; Zweigelt – fruity and supple |
| Leithaberg DAC | Burgenland | Limestone soils; Blaufränkisch, Chardonnay and Weissburgunder |
| Mittelburgenland DAC | Burgenland | Specialist Blaufränkisch region – structured, with ageing potential |
| Eisenberg DAC | Burgenland | Slate soils; Blaufränkisch – spicy and mineral |
| Rosalia DAC | Burgenland | Newer DAC region; approachable red wines and rosé |
| Ruster Ausbruch DAC | Burgenland | Noble-sweet speciality: botrytis wines from Rust |
| Südsteiermark DAC | Steiermark | Sauvignon Blanc – highly aromatic, with tropical fruit |
| Weststeiermark DAC | Steiermark | Schilcher (Blauer Wildbacher) – unique rosé style |
| Vulkanland Steiermark DAC | Steiermark | Volcanic soils; Sauvignon Blanc, Traminer and Morillon |
| Wien DAC | Wien | The world's only urban DAC; Wiener Gemischter Satz (field blend) |
3. DAC quality pyramid (within each DAC region)
| Designation | Level | Description | Origin |
|---|
| Riedenwein / Lagenwein | Highest | Vineyard wine from a single recognised Ried | Specific vineyard |
| Ortswein | Middle | Village wine | Specific municipality within the region |
| Gebietswein | Basic | Regional wine, entry level | Entire DAC region |
4. Main grape varieties
| Grape variety | Type (area) | Characteristics |
|---|
| Grüner Veltliner | White (14,296 ha, 32%) | Austria's principal grape variety; spicy, peppery and showing stone-fruit character |
| Zweigelt | Red (5,940 ha, 13%) | Most widely planted red grape; a cross between Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent |
| Welschriesling | White (2,774 ha, 6%) | Fresh wines; also used for sweet Prädikatswein |
| Blaufränkisch | Red (2,550 ha, 6%) | Burgenland's principal red grape, with blueberry notes |
| Riesling | White (2,025 ha, 5%) | Mineral, elegant wines, particularly along the Danube |
| Chardonnay | White (1,927 ha, 4%) | International variety, made in both unoaked and barrel-aged styles |
| Weißburgunder | White (1,848 ha, 4%) | Pinot Blanc; fine acidity and a delicate floral bouquet |
| Sauvignon Blanc | White (1,740 ha, 4%) | Particularly popular in Steiermark, with green and tropical notes |
| Muskateller | White (1,543 ha, 3%) | Aromatic, with floral and grape aromas; made dry or sweet |
| Sankt Laurent | Red (588 ha, 1%) | Indigenous red grape related to Pinot Noir; fruity |
| Blauer Wildbacher | Red (520 ha, 1%) | Used for Schilcher rosé, a typical Steiermark style |
| Roter Veltliner | White (203 ha) | Rare indigenous variety producing spicy, nutty wines |
