The Thermenregion was created with the 1985 wine law, when the former wine-growing areas of Gumpoldskirchen and Bad Vöslau were merged. 2196 hectares of vines lean against the foothills of the Vienna Woods, from the outskirts of Vienna along a chain of hills with the Anninger as the highest elevation to the south of Baden. Autochthonous grape varieties such as Zierfandler (also called Spätrot) and Rotgipfler are the specialties of the area.
More than 2000 years ago, vines were already cultivated in the climatically favourable region south of Vienna. Roman legionaries stationed in Carnuntum and Vindobona brought vines from their homeland and knowledge about wine production to Pannonia. The name "thermal region" refers to the sulfurous hot springs of Aquae (Baden). Vines benefit from the Pannonian climate influence, with hot summers and dry autumns, and 1800 hours of sunshine per year. Constant air movement allows the grapes to dry quickly after dew or rain in autumn.
The geological diversity is dominated by relatively heavy soils such as loamy clays, sandy loams and brown earths with high shell limestone content. The underlying weathering debris and deep layers of alluvium help with drainage and soaking. In the Steinfeld, rather stony, poor gravel soils provide excellent conditions for red wine varieties. The white grape varieties Zierfandler and Rotgipfler, which are typical of the area and are otherwise hard to find, have the right of domicile and form the legendary wine marriage Spätrot-Rotgipfler as a cuvée.
The traditional diversity of varieties also includes the Blaue Portugieser, formerly known as Vöslauer, or the Neuburger, as well as modern wines from the Burgundy family such as St. Laurent and Zweigelt, but also Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Red wine centers are Bad Vöslau, Sooß, Tattendorf and Teesdorf. The classic white wines come from Perchtoldsdorf, Gumpoldskirchen, Pfaffstätten, Baden, Guntramsdorf and Traiskirchen.
Nature and culture allow for a varied leisure program; from a visit to the reborn Freigut Thallern of the Cistercian Abbey Heiligenkreuz, one of the oldest wineries in Austria, to the cultural and spa city of Baden with theater, operetta, wellness or grape cure, to excursions along the Wine Road or hikes through the vineyards along the Vienna High Spring Pipeline. From the water to the wine, an excellent food companion and perfectly complementing the regional gastronomy.
