Austria's youngest winegrowing region - it has only existed in this form since 1995 - is also one of the country's smallest, with around 790 hectares of vineyards, but in one respect it is very big; here, Grüner Veltliner runs the show. Fixed points in the small wine villages are down-to-earth Buschenschanken and historical Traismauer or Herzogenburg.
Since the 2006 vintage, typical fruity, spicy Grüner Veltliners and pithy, mineral Rieslings have been marketed under the designation "Traisental DAC". In no other Austrian winegrowing region does Grüner Veltliner have such a dominant share of acreage: with 63 percent, Traisental is the undisputed leader. But Riesling is also considered a specialty of the Traisental.
The vines are predominantly planted on - often tiny - terraces with dry, gravelly soils that are very rich in limestone. They give the wines a very distinctive profile, with deep body and firm backbone.
The minerality is also a flavour carrier, supporting the acid structure and thus promoting the longevity of the wines.
Special climatic factors - Pannonian influences and cold air from the Alpine foothills bring warm days and cool nights - ensuring a very fine aroma and spicy finesse. The nearby Danube also has a role to play in temperature regulation.
The Traisental is an attractive destination for wine lovers, hikers, cyclists and those interested in culture. Ancient wine traditions in this region, dating from long before the wine culture of the Romans, are confirmed by findings of grape seeds from the early Bronze Age.
A modern and varied cultural program is offered by the nearby Lower Austrian capital St. Pölten. From this southernmost point of the wine-growing region, many routes open up to the west and east: from Statzendorf, Unter- and Oberwölbling to Nussdorf, Reichersdorf, Getzersdorf, Inzersdorf and Herzogenburg with its magnificent monastery, to Stollhofen, Frauendorf and Gemeinlebarn.
The unifying element is the wine culture, which is conveyed by the winegrowers' families in the numerous Buschenschank establishments in a sympathetic and enjoyable manner.
The winegrowers are well aware of the importance of Grüner Veltliner and Riesling as ambassadors for the area. They make a significant contribution to raising the profile of these distinctive wine styles and in turn, those nuances provide a great complement to the simple gastronomic delicacies of the area.
But one should not miss tasting other varietal specialties amongst the whites and reds.
