© Weinviertel Tourismus, Wurnig
Wine regions
around Retz
The Wine Route experience
132 eventful kilometres connect the Schmidatal, Retzer Land, Pulkautal and Hollabrunn surrounding regions, opening up a landscape in which harmony and diversity become a feast for all the senses. Wine accompanies the route, especially Grüner Veltliner at a high level and in seductive variety.
Other main varieties are Riesling and the red wines Zweigelt and Blauer Portugieser. They are joined by Müller Thurgau, Welschriesling and Muskateller. Pinot noir and Blauburgunder, but also increasingly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot enrich the spectrum.
The cellar lanes of the Weinviertel are a speciality that is unique in the world. Prehistoric earthworks, museums, ancient towns and remarkable churches and castles add further colour to the Wine Route experience.
Mysterious circular ditches trace millennia-old contours of prehistory in the landscape, precious monuments of faith tower above pagan places of worship, towns display valuable historical buildings, castles bear witness to the valley’s past. Memorials and museums preserve ancient life.
© Weinviertel Tourismus, Michael Reidinger
© Weinviertel Tourismus, Lisa Sedlatschek
The vineyards
Just like the entire Weinviertel, this region can be divided into many small climatic and soil islands. The town of Retz is the ancient centre of viticulture and wine trade in the region. The town itself has a cellar and is said to be longer underground than the road network. Under King Corvinus of Hungary, the people of Retz were granted the right to trade wine and a strong wine trade quickly developed in the town.
The Weinviertel is often referred to as the neighbourhood below the Manhartsberg, and the Manhartsrebe is synonymous with Grüner Veltliner. It is therefore not surprising that the Manhartsberg is one of the main influencing factors for viticulture in the western Weinviertel. It stretches from the south from Hohenwarth via Maissau, Straning and Röschitz to Retz and Retzbach.
Similar soils such as gneiss weathered soils directly on the Manhartsberg, loamy sand and loess soils as well as the uniform climate allow particularly fruity wines to thrive. The climate is characterised by the interplay of warm air in the Weinviertel and the cool downslope winds over the Manhartsberg. The grapes ripen slowly and produce wonderfully fruity wines!
© Weinviertel Tourismus, Michael Reidinger
© Niederösterreich Werbung, Nina Skalikova
