President's word of mouth:

Control laboratories for wine remain in the regions

A shift would be "empty kilometers" for the numerous tasters.(Bild: Mathis Fotografie)

It is not only the facilities that were modernized three years ago, but also the large number of wine tasters, that have prompted Viticulture President Johannes Schmuckenschlager to advocate for the test outposts in Retz and Poysdorf to remain.

Following the "Krone" report on the planned closure of the modern wine control laboratories in Retz and Poysdorf, winegrowing president Johannes Schmuckenschlager sees a complete contradiction to the currently ideal conditions in practice.

Relocation would mean long journeys
"It's not just the longer journeys for the delivery of samples by the winegrowers," said the President of the Lower Austrian Chamber of Agriculture. A merger in Hollabrunn - far away from the major wine-growing regions - would not only contradict any practical idea, but would also pose a certain risk for viticulture in the Weinviertel: "There would also be a risk that wine tasters who have to travel to the inspection body several times a week as part of the labeling and evaluation campaigns would be absent," said Schmuckenschlager, putting his foot down: "The inspection bodies will remain."

The inspection bodies will stay. A change would undermine the highest quality and control standards that already exist.

Weinbaupräsident Johannes Schmuckenschlager

Last but not least, small winegrowers might also reconsider whether the effort would continue to pay off. This could also have an impact on the quantity and variety of the region's good wine.