Kamptal is the second best-known sub-region of Lower Austria after Wachau. It is a unique terroir from which some of Austria's finest wines are made. Located 55 kilometres north of Vienna, the Kamptal vineyards are located on steep terraces not far from Langenlois. A must for wine tourism, this town is home to the famous Loisium, a futuristic centre where you can visit a centuries-old labyrinth of underground wine cellars.
With mostly south-facing vineyards along the Kamp river, the wines of Kamptal reflect the beautiful climatic duality of the region. Warm days bring the grapes to full ripeness, while cool nights give them their acidity.
Two grape varieties for which Austria is famous are grown in Kamptal: Riesling and Grüner Veltliner. In the north, the thin layers of topsoil make the vines take root deep in the soil to get nourishment. This geological constraint results in low-yielding but very robust vines from which magnificent Rieslings emerge. Elsewhere, the Heiligenstein vineyard is set around a huge rock and also produces some of the best Rieslings in the country. The typical Austrian grape variety, Grüner Veltliner, is enhanced by the low-lying land, where the soil is very deep. Indeed, a dominant clay and limestone content contributes to the very concentrated and rich character of the wines.
Kamptal wines from these two emblematic grape varieties are classified as DAC (Districtus Austriae Controllatus), which is equivalent to the French AOP (appellation d'origine protégée). Therefore, they all have to be dry and meet strict criteria that ensure their exceptional quality.
