Shortly after the start of this year's edition of the wine fair VieVinum at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, a glamorous highlight awaited visitors. The Winemakers of the Year were honored in the Falstaff Lounge in the winter garden. This year, the title went to the Wachau.

After receiving regular awards in the past, Roman Horvath and Heinz Frischengruber from Domäne Wachau were awarded the highest accolade in the Austrian wine scene, the Falstaff Winemaker of the Year. "Roman Horvath and Heinz Frischengruber are leading Domäne Wachau into a successful future with great sensitivity. Their range of wines acts as an award-winning ambassador for the entire Wachau wine-growing region", said Falstaff wine editor-in-chief Peter Moser at the award ceremony.

A stage for the Wachau

Over the past twenty years, Domäne Wachau has developed into one of Austria's most important wine estates with a variety of typical Wachau wines under the management of Roman Horvath MW (currently one of three Austrian Masters of Wine) and Heinz Frischengruber. Many industry experts have long ranked the company among the best cooperatively organized wineries in the world. Famous vineyards such as Achleiten, Kellerberg and Singerriedel are only representative of the wealth of top sites that Domäne Wachau vinifies, because Domäne Wachau succeeds in depicting the entire diversity of the picturesque wine-growing region with great precision.

The work of the winegrowing families plays a decisive role in the Wachau domain as a whole. Often working on the steep terraces of the Wachau for generations, they know the special features of each parcel. With great attention to detail and a wealth of experience, they ensure an ecological balance in the vineyards, promote biodiversity and plant diversity and increasingly rely on organic farming. Minimalism at the highest level of craftsmanship is the motto of the winemaking process.

For Frischengruber and Horvath, tradition and innovation are two sides of the same coin. In addition to the production of expressive single-vineyard wines, the Backstage series breaks new and particularly old ground. The common thread remains the precise identification of origin, vintage and variety.

The Domäne Wachau was named one of the World's Best Vineyards by an international jury (No. 1 in Europe & No. 3 worldwide) and is now a top destination for wine lovers from all over the world. The quality-oriented event program includes vineyard hikes, winery tours, a Kellerschlössel wine tavern and unique culinary experiences.

Presentation of the Falstaff Ultimate Wine Guide 2024/25

In addition to the award ceremony, Falstaff hosted exclusive tastings in the winter garden of the Vienna Hofburg and presented the freshly printed Ultimate Wine Guide Austria 2024/25. Wine editor-in-chief Peter Moser took a close look at the current vintage for white, red and sweet wines and rated them according to the tried-and-tested 100-point system. Sparkling wines and natural wines were also tasted. The Wine Guide in English is regarded by international wine experts as an indispensable overview of the best wineries in Austria and neighboring countries, and by the domestic wine scene as the first indicator of the new vintages. The guide contains over 2000 wine ratings from over 200 wineries.

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