Winemaker Markus Huber gives us the lowdown on Grüner Veltliner and a Traisental wine region in this video interview. Amanda Barnes interviews Markus on the Traisental wine region, its formation and geology, and why it the terroir is particularly suitable for Grüner Veltliner.
Photo by AustrianWine
Spread over 815 hectares, the Traisental DAC is particularly renowned for its limestone soils which produce streamline and lean Grüner Veltliner and Riesling wines, as Markus explains in this full-length interview.
As a young winemaker at Weingut Markus Huber, Markus also shares what’s exciting for him today as a vintner in the modern Austrian wine industry.
Traisental wine region Quick Guide:
- Limestone, gravel terraces
- 815 hectares
- Grüner Veltliner (60%), Riesling, Other Whites
- Continental climate with cooling influence from Alps
- 162 wineries
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Clip transcript for the hearing impaired:
Traisental wine region & Grüner Veltliner interview with Markus Huber
So Markus, can you explain a bit about where we are, in terms of Austria and an overview of the region?
Photo by AustrianWine
Yes, so we are located in the Traisental appellation, which is located in the eastern part of Austria, bordering the Danube river in the north and the last foothills of the Alps in the south. It’s a relatively cool growing climate and therefore the main grapes which are grown here are white wines. The Traisen valley was formed by the ancient Traisen river many millions of years ago – around 60 million years ago – and this river originated, and still originates, in the Alps. There was a lot of water coming from the Alps towards the north, and when the river shrank, the stones which were transported in the river bank, they settled on the side banks of the valley and formed this unique limestone conglomerate soil which we have here in our area.
Excellent. And how do you think that affects your wines? What character would you say that your Grüner has compared to other neighbouring regions?
So I always use a simple comparison, if you would consider that Austria would be Burgundy, then the Traisental wines they represent a style almost like Chablis. So very precise, elegant, mineral-driven white wine style. Streamlined, never broad or extremely rich, very focused and concentrated.
More features on Austria’s wine regions and Austrian wine:
- Tunnel Vision – Austria’s focus on single vineyard wines
- Terroir Essentials & Fast Facts on Austria’s wine regions and wine production
- Blaufränkisch wine guide and the Spitzerberg wine region
- Carnuntum wine region guide
- The past, present and future of Austrian wine
- Grüner Veltliner wine guide
- St Laurent wine guide
- Zweigelt wine guide
