The Kremstal Wine Region of Austria

 

Bordered by Kamptal to the northeast and Wachau to the southwest, the Kremstal wine region covers approximately 2,250 hectares of vineyards.

Slightly warmer than neighboring Wachau due to its exposure to the Pannonian Plain Continental climate with warm summers and cold winters, the Kamptal has diverse soild types including clay, limestone, loess, granite, and gneiss. Grüner Veltliner makes up the majority of plantings at 60% of all vines, followed by Riesling. Other common varietals include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir (referred to as Spätburgunder locally), Zweigelt, and Roter Veltliner.

Kremstal is a major wine-growing region in Lower Austria, Austria, known for its high-quality white wines, particularly Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. The Kremstal stretches on both sides of the Danube and includes three different zones: the historic city of Krems, the loess areas to the east and the small wine towns south of the Danube. The region benefits from a mixture of weathered primary rock soils in the west, which are particularly suitable for Riesling, and thick loess blankets in the east, which benefit Grüner Veltliner. This is because the Kremstal lies in an area of ​​climatic convergence. It is protected from cool northerly winds, while warm Pannonian air currents are felt from the east. This gives the wines a generally riper, aromatic character.

Established in 2007, wines from the Kremstal D.A.C. are characterized in particular by bright, spicy Grüner Veltliner and precise, mineral-driven dry Rieslings. The Districtus Austriae Controllatus (D.A.C.) is Austria's wine classification system introduced in 2001 to emphasize regional typicity and quality.

The white wines in particular from the Kremstal are characterized by their freshness, fruitiness and finesse as a result. Many renowned vineyards include Gebling, Kögl, Pellingen, Pfaffenberg, Sandgrube, Spiegel and Steinbühel, and Wachtberg

Krems has a long winemaking tradition, which is brought into the present by young winemakers. Today, there is an innovative, cooperative, and modern winemaking mindset which always builds upon a rich tradition.