For Austrian winemakers, the year 2024 was marked by late frosts, hail storms, and torrential rain, which resulted in small harvests and ripe wines.
The year 2024 was challenging for winemakers in
Austria, according to the national wine body's latest vintage report, with extreme weather conditions leading to small harvests. All regions have reported significantly reduced yields compared to the recent average. Several factors contributed to this decline, including late frosts and coulure – failure of grape development after flowing – during the flowering period. Consequently, the grapes were primarily loosely clustered, small, and healthy but had a lower juice content.
Despite the difficulties, described as a 'rollercoaster' by the organisation, the 2024 vintage is said to have produced pleasing wines, including well-balanced and approachable whites featuring attractive fruit flavours, body, and moderate acidity. Furthermore, the deep-coloured, concentrated red wines are expected to mature into an outstanding vintage, likely among the best in the last few decades, according to The Austrian Wine Marketing Board (Austrian Wine).
Extreme weather
After a winter with plenty of rainfall, the warm start to spring caused the vines to bud earlier than usual. In the latter half of April, several regions experienced severe late frosts that damaged low-lying vineyards and affected premium vineyards in the Kamptal and Wachau areas. Flowering also occurred earlier than usual. The damp weather during this time led to coulure, which resulted in a lower fruit set. Starting in June, hot summer spells accelerated the growth process, but unfortunately, some areas experienced hail damage once again.
The warm summer led to an early harvest that began at the end of August, with many areas finished by mid-September. A significant rainfall followed, particularly in Niederösterreich, but it did not affect the healthy grapes. Vintners could harvest well-ripened, thick-skinned berries, resulting in generous white wines with a delicate bouquet and good balance. Alcohol content varies by region and harvest time but is generally higher, while acidity levels remain moderate.
Exceptional wines
According to Austrian Wine, Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, along with the various grape varieties of the Pinot family, consistently showcase their unique varietal characteristics and a charming fruitiness. This quality was also evident in Sauvignon and Muskateller from Steiermark (Styria), where exceptionally high sugar levels were achieved in some low-volume harvests.
Additionally, a small quantity of high-quality sweet wines with clean botrytis mould was harvested at the end of November in the vineyards around Lake Neusiedl, which are particularly well-suited for producing wines.
Winemakers in Burgenland, as well as in the Thermenregion and Carnuntum – the primary red-wine-growing regions of Niederösterreich – have great reason to celebrate the vintage. They harvested exceptionally small, thick-skinned berries with high sugar content in perfect condition. Even the young wines are highly concentrated, full-bodied, and exhibit pronounced notes of dark fruit, supported by a firm tannin backbone. This quality applies to Austria’s indigenous flagship varieties, Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt, as well as international varieties such as Cabernet, Merlot, and Pinot Noir.
As a result, Austrian winemakers can anticipate an excellent vintage for red wines, building on the outstanding vintages of previous years. According to Austrian Wine, there is a strong possibility that 2024 will be one of the best vintages for the country in recent decades.
Chris Yorke, CEO of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board, spoke to
db last month about the single vineyard focus in Austria.
