Austria´s Kamptal wine-growing area has just adopted the DAC appellation system.

The Kamptal, with 4,300 ha of vineyards, is now the second of Austria´s top three internationally renowned white wine-growing areas to acquire DAC classification.

Kamptal DAC is defined by two tiers of quality white wines made from Grüner Veltliner and Riesling.

The first is a dry, light and fruity style with 12-12.5% alcohol, the second a dry, deep Reserve style with pronounced body and length and at least 13% alcohol.

‘In five or ten years, the Kamptal and especially Grüner Veltliner will be even more recognised around the world,’ Karl Jurtschitsch of the Jurtschitsch winery in Langenlois said.

‘And we will probably see Grüner Veltliner make up more than 60% of the Kamptal´s vineyards. That´s 10% more than today.’

According to winemaker Fred Loimer, 3–4m bottles of the first Kamptal DAC wines (the 2008 vintage) will come on the market in 2009.

Written by Darrel Joseph in Vienna

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Darrel Joseph
Darrel Joseph
Decanter Magazine, Wine Writer & DWWA Judge

Darrel Joseph is based in Vienna and began writing about the wines of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe in 1995, after his palate was captured by Hungarian Tokaji and Austrian Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. Since then his interests have broadened to include Croatia, Slovenia and all Balkan wine countries, plus Georgia and Russia, as well as the aforementioned Austria and Hungary. Joseph's writing has appeared in Decanter, Wine Spectator, Wine Business International and Harpers Wine & Spirit, and he has also contributed to Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book and wein.pur's Best of Austria, and Guide to Grüner Veltliner. He was also the English language editor of Lászlo Alkonyi’s book, Tokaj, The Wine of Freedom. When he's not writing, Joseph conducts wine tastings and seminars internationally, and translates a wide range of wine texts from German to English.