Austria
2023 by ombiasy WineTours took place from Sunday, May 28 -
Thursday, June 08, 2023. We toured Austria for 12 days, starting and
ending in Vienna: Wien, Wagram, Carnuntum, Burgenland, Steiermark, Wachau, Kamptal, Kremstal, Traisental, Wien.
Following:
At Loisium Wine & Spa Resort Langenlois, Kamptal: Impromptu Steininger Sekt Reception with Eva Steininger and Klaus Wittauer - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
we visited Weingut Steininger the following day in the morning. Brigitta Steininger was our host. She showed us the ancient wine making cellar and led a seated tasting of still and sparkling wines.
We were now in Grüner Veltliner country, the flagship white grape variety in the northern part of Austria’s wine landscape, Niederösterreich – Lower Austria.
Weingut Steininger is represented by Klaus Wittauer in the USA and is widely available on the East Coast of the USA.
Weingut Steininger, Langenlois, Kamptal, Niederösterreich
Karl and Brigitta Steininger took over the winery from Karl's parents in 1980. At that time it was a mixed farming estate with a few vineyards. Karl attended viticulture school and Brigitta grew up in a winery in Zöbing and knew the daily life of a winegrowing family. Together they decided to quit farming and focus on winemaking.
In 1989, after a few trips to Champagne region, they began producing sparkling wine. In 2021 daughter Eva took over managing the winery. Her husband Peter is responsible for the vineyards and the cellar, hand in hand with Karl.
Over 50% of the 130 acres of vineyards are planted with Grüner Veltliner. The Grüner Veltliner wines are made in different styles, from a light summer wine to a powerful, full-bodied wine.
The Steininger winery is also well known for its high quality Sekt - sparkling wine - production. They even invented their very own methods of bringing sparkling wine production to an even higher level. I quote the Steiningers: “With the single-variety and single-vintage sparkling wine of the typical Kamptal varieties, we have found our own Austrian sparkling wine philosophy. With a bit of luck, our philosophy has been confirmed by top ratings at home and abroad. The secret of the success of the classic line is based on two factors: on the one hand, the high quality of the base wine, which is clear, fruity and fragrant, and on the other hand, the careful, skilful second fermentation in the bottle. Both together perfectly bring out the character of the respective Sekt.”
In the just published 2023 Gault&Millau wine guide for Austria, the Steininger Sekt production was awarded 4 grapes, and they just won the highest award at an international sparkling wine competition in London for their Muskateller Sekt.
Steininger - Klaus Wittauer
Weingut Steininger is located in Austria’s biggest wine growing village, Langenlois in the Kamptal region. Kamptal refers to the Kamp river which runs through the region and eventually empties into the Danube. The Kamptal area is filled with culture and tourism, which are enhanced by the numerous Heurigen, wine taverns and Vinotheques. The Steininger family estate comprises 135 acres and is owned by Karl & Brigitta Steininger. Karl inherited the farm from his parents in 1980, at this time and as young newlyweds, Brigitta and Karl decided to focus on grape growing and Karl soon found himself in oenology school. The winery was launched 1989.
Brigitta and Karl realized very quickly that they could only survive on the international market with high quality wines. “Our philosophy is to make wines, which show the fruit and the character of the grape. We love the stylistics, which we receive because of the cool climate and the terroir of the Kamptal – the flavors are clear, proud and expressive. We focus on the main varieties of Kamptal, Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. These varieties are very attractive to us because they produce very interesting wines from different vineyards and the different vintage conditions.” Karl’s chief lesson to his children is that good wine cannot be rushed. It must be given the time it needs to develop, mature and evolve.
Eva, the eldest daughter of Karl and Brigitta, already knew in kindergarten that she wanted to stay in the winery. She attended the Vino-HAK (a combination of viticulture school and commercial academy), followed by a degree in international business administration. Eva has been managing the winery since 2021 and is responsible for everything organizational, sales and customer service. Peter is responsible for the vineyards and the cellar, hand in hand with Karl. They live at the winery, together with their sons Julian, Florian and Sebastian.
Arriving
Cellar Tour
Tasting
Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours - Published and Forthcoming Postings
ombiasy WineTours: Wine Tour Schedule 2023 - Austria, Germany/East, Burgundy/ Champagne, Germany/ North
Announcement: Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours - 12 Days: May 28 - June 08, 2023
The Wines of Austria - Presentation by Annette Schiller, ombiasy WineTours, at the 2021 American Wine Society National Conference in Atlantic City
Wine Producer Austria - Not Only Gruener Veltliner
Summary: Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Schiller’s Favorite Spots to Drink Wine in Vienna, Austria
Dinner at an Iconic Beisl in Vienna: Griechenbeisl - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour of the Monastery/ Palace Klosterneuburg and of the Weingut Klosterneuburg, with Wine Tasting - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Wiener Schnitzel and Tafelspitz at Plachutta in der Wollzeile, Vienna. Plachutta is more than a Restaurant: it is a Vienna Institution - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
After Dinner Drinks at Vis-a-Vis Wine Bar, Vienna - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Vienna: Viaker City Tour and Tour of Schloss Schönbrunn - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch at Restaurant Die Seejungfrau in Jois at Lake Neusiedl - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Leo Hillinger, Burgenland, with Jakob Scharner, Diplom-Sommelier - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Weingut Netzl, Carnuntum, with Franz, Christine and Christina Netzl - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch at Restaurant Mole West at Lake Neusiedl- Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour and Tasting at Weingut Anita and Hans Nittnaus, Burgenland, with Anita, Hans and Martin Nittnaus - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Umathum, Burgenland, with Joseph Umathum - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
2 Nights at Schloss Halbturn at Lake Neusiedl: Sekt Reception and two Dinners - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Steindorfer, Burgenland, with Ernst and Roland Steindorfer - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Light Lunch at Gránátos Étterem at Esterházy Kástely in Fertöd, Hungary: Hungarian Goulash Soup and Esterházy Cake - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
At the Liszt House in Raiding, where the Great Pianist, Romantic Composer and Conductor was Born - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Weingut Straka, Rechnitz, Burgenland, with Thomas Straka- Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
High-end Sleeping and Eating in the Vineyard: Wohnothek am Ratschen and Restaurant am Ratschen (16/ 20 Gault Millau), Deutsch-Schützen - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Weingut Wachter-Wiesler, Burgenland, with Julia Wachter - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Weingut Jalits, Burgenland, with Mathias Jalits - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Neumeister, Straden, Vulkanland, Steiermark, with Christoph Neumeister - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Dinner with a View at Weinrefugium Brolli, Steiermark- Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Sattlerhof, Steiermark, with Justė Sattler- Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Wohlmuth, Steiermark, with Maria Wohlmuth - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
"Brettljause" and Wine at Buschenschank Trummer, Weingut Trummer, with Jürgen Trummer - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Weingut Polz, Strass, Südsteiermark, with Sommelier Philipp Heidenbauer - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Tement, Steiermark, with Sommelier Andy Bodor and Manfred and Heidi Tement- Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
"Steierisches Backhendl"-Lunch at Weingut Tement/ Restaurant Magnothek, Südsteiermark- Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Gustav Mahler, Sinfonie Nr. 3, at Graz Opera, Steiermark - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
In Eisenstadt, Burgenland: Tour at Haydn House, Lunch at Restaurant Henrici, Tour at Esterhazy Castle - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
At Loisium Wine & Spa Resort Langenlois, Kamptal: Impromptu Steininger Sekt Reception with Eva Steininger and Klaus Wittauer - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Wine-pairing Dinner at Heurigenhof Bründlmeyer (14.5/20 Points Gault Millau) - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Steininger, Kamptal, with Brigitta Steininger - Austria 2023 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Stephanie and Alwin Jurtschitsch, Kamptal, with Alwin Jurtschitsch
Lunch at Braugasthaus zum Fiakerwirtin Langenlois, Kamptal
Tasting at Weingut Markus Huber, Traisental, with Markus Huber
2 Days in Dürnstein, Wachau, at Hotel Richard Löwenherz
Martin Mittelbach
from the "Tegernseehof"and Klaus Wittauer from "KWSelection" Presented
Tegernseehof Wines and Stefan Trummer and Chef Austin Fausett from
“Trummer’s on Main” in Clifton Austrian Appetizers at the Austrian
Embassy in Washington DC, USA
Vineyard Walk and Tasting at Weingut Tegernseerhof, Wachau, with Owner/ Winemaker Martin Mittelbach
Tour and Tasting at Domäne Wachau, Dürnstein, Wachau
Tasting and Dinner at Weingut Nigl, Kremstal, 13.5 Points Gault Millau
Vintage 2011 Tasting with Lucas Pichler, Weingut F.X. Pichler, with Dirk Wuertz at his Koenigsmuehle in Rheinhessen, Austria/Germany
Tour and Tasting at Weingut F.X.Pichler, Wachau, with Lucas Pichler
Tasting at Weingut Matthias Hager, Kamptal, with Doris Hager
Lunch at Gasthaus Gutmann, Zöbing, Kamptal
Tour and Tasting at Weingut Schloss Gobelsburg, Kamptal, with Stefan Tabery