Rich variety of grape. Steep terraces. Incredible wines.
UNESCO World Heritage Site and gourmet landscape – that is the Wachau, the landscape in and around the Danube valley between Melk and Krems. Unique, distinctive wines grow on terraces, some of them extremely steep, which will be declared as Wachau DAC from the 2020 vintage onwards. The best sites produce some of the world’s greatest white wines with years of development potential, especially Grüner Veltliner and Riesling!
“DAC” stands for “Districtus Austriae Controllatus” and is the legal abbreviation for particularly regionally typical Austrian quality wines.
If the combination of letters DAC can be found on a wine label, it is a wine with unmistakable characteristics. This brings the terroir concept and the detailed origin of the wines fully into focus.
The Wachau triangle of origin
The Wachau wines are divided into regional wines, local wines and estate wines. The following applies to all of them: 100% handpicked.
- Regional wines reflect the diversity of the Wachau and can be pressed from 17 grape varieties typical of the area. A winery can use grapes from the entire Wachau winegrowing region. In terms of style, it is also freer for a winery to use new barrique barrels for ageing, for example.
- Village wines are made from grapes from a single place and have no noticeable wood influence. 22 place names are permitted, the corresponding one is noted on the label. Only grape varieties that are particularly typical for the Wachau may be used in connection with a place name: Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Weißer Burgunder, Grauer Burgunder, Chardonnay, Neuburger, Muskateller, Sauvignon Blanc or Traminer.
- Ried wines are made exclusively from the Wachau's leading varieties Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. Neither noticeable wood influence nor enrichment are permitted. Each Ried wine may only contain grapes from one vineyard. In the Wachau, a total of 157 vineyards are defined, the corresponding one is visible on the label. Company brands or fancy brands may not be used for Ried wines.
Wines by FJ Gritsch
RIED – We are proud of our vineyards, each vineyard has its own character, we see it as our task to maintain and preserve them in the best possible way!
VILLAGE – Spitz an der Donau. Our historical, beautiful home and wine-growing village around the 1000 bucket mountain, unique interplay of special geological, climatic and scenic diversity!
REGION – The Wachau. A coexistence of river landscape, dry grassland, hillside meadows, near-natural forests, orchards and unique wine terraces – one of the most beautiful river valleys in Europe!
