What is the "SALON" in Austrian Wine?

 

English speakers will hear SALON and likely think of getting a hair cut or treatment, but for Austrian wines and winemakers this has a very different, and arguably much more important, meaning. 

The SALON Austria Wine Awards, first organized in 1988, has established itself as Austria's most rigorous wine competition, earning the reputation of being the country's unofficial state championship for local wines. This prestigious event has become a benchmark for excellence in Austrian winemaking, showcasing the finest wines produced across the nation. 

The competition's selection process is meticulous and multi-tiered, ensuring that only the highest quality wines make it to the final round. Out of the 270 wines featured in the SALON, 210 are chosen through blind tastings conducted by an independent jury. These wines are selected from among the award winners of competitions held in various Austrian federal states. The remaining 60 spots are divided between 40 "fixed places" determined by votes from journalists, specialist magazines, and sommeliers, and 20 slots reserved for the best sparkling wines (sekts) in Austria. 

The SALON Austria Wine Awards places a strong emphasis on the expertise of its judges. Jurors must demonstrate extensive experience as official tasters or possess training comparable to that of a Weinakademie Österreich (Austrian Wine Academy) graduate. To keep pace with evolving styles in the Austrian wine scene, the competition organizes annual tasting training programs for its jurors, focusing on selected vinous challenges. This rigorous approach to judging, combined with the comprehensive selection process, solidifies the Salon's position as Austria's most demanding wine competition.

This event also serves as an important touching point for winemakers, as well as stores, importers, and journalists in the wine industry. The ability to connect at wine competitions serve as a mixture of competition, marketing, revelry, and performance, which tie the wine world together. In Austria, if you hear "SALON," think about the importance of bringing together nature, work, business, passionate, and comradery (and its also okay to maybe think of scheduling your next hair cut too).