Awards

These are the best wines from Lower Austria

(Bild: stock.adobe.com)

From over 6000 wines submitted, the best wines were honored at the largest wine competition in the state.

A glass of Grüner Veltliner, Rose or Merlot - the best wines from Lower Austria in 24 categories were awarded the coveted seal of approval at the 37th Provincial Wine Awards last Thursday at the Festspielhaus St. Pölten and could even be tasted by the public afterwards this year.

But it wasn't just the "Lower Austrian Winner Tasting" that took place for the first time - this year, for the first time, two wineries of the year were honored at the prestigious gala: Weingut Laurer and Weingut Heinzel-Gettinger, both of which not only had the same number of regional winners and finalists, but also come from the same Weinviertel town of Deinzendorf in the Hollabrunn district.

Austrian Winegrowers' President Johannes Schmuckenschlager (left), Christoph Metzker (RWA), Petra & Markus Laurer (Winery of the Year), Martin Gettinger, Elfriede & Franz Gettinger (Winery of the Year), LHF Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Lower Austrian Wine Queen Laura Hummel, Deputy Governor Stephan Pernkopf, Lower Austrian Winegrowers' President Reinhard Zöchmann

(Bild: Leonardo Ramirez Castillo)

The best of the best
The Laurer winery won with its two wines in the "Sparkling & semi-sparkling rosé wines" category, while the Heinzl-Gettinger winery won in the "Piwi" and "Burgundy red" categories.

First place in the "Grüner Veltliner classic" category went to Weingut Johannes Hofer, in the "Grüner Veltliner full-bodied" category to Weingut Schneider and in the "Grüner Veltliner Riedenw. matured" category to Weingut Tom Dockner. 

Weingut & Buschenschank Greilinger topped the "Riesling" category, while Weingut Thomas Seidl won the "Welschriesling" category. The winner in the category "Quality sparkling wines from Lower Austria with second fermentation" (sparkling wine) was Weingut Eder Wachau. 

The facts

With 6,303 wines, more than ever before were submitted to this year's 37th State Wine Awards. The variety winner was Grüner Veltliner with 2000 wines submitted.

The state wine winner in the "Burgundy white" category was the Blauensteiner estate and the Weixelbaum winery in the "matured vineyard white" category. The Roter Veltliner 2021 Reserve from Weingut Hagenbüchl won in the "Lower Austrian white specialties" category, Gewürztraminer from Weingut und Weinkellerei Schloß Fels in the "all white semi-dry varieties" category and Riesling 2023 Trockenbeerenauslese Ried Leiten from Weingut Müller in the "Prädikatsweine" category.

The "Sauvignon Blanc" category was won by Weingut Roman Wagner, the best "Schmeckerte" came from Weingut Hagn and the "other varieties and cuvées" category was won by Bio-Weingut Gössinger.

First place in the "other red wine varieties" category went to the Domäne Baumgartner winery for its Blauer Portugieser 2023 Aurora Next Generation inspired by Lorenz Baumgartner Großlage Pulkautal, while victory in the "Zweigelt" category went to the HBLA and BA for Viticulture and Fruit Growing in Klosterneuburg. The best "Zweigelt Riedenwein gereift" comes from Weingut Urban, the best "Rotwein Cuvée" from Weingut Norbert Greil.
The state wine winner in the "matured red vineyard wines" category was the Blauburger 2020 Ried Neustift from Weinbau Haller, while the "Orange/Naural/Petnat" category was won by Weingut & Heuriger Schmid with its Grüner Veltliner 2023 PetNat #leidergeil. 1st place in the "sparkling wine" category went to Probstweingut Wachau.