Austria — wine

Leithaberg DAC

Leithaberg DAC occupies the limestone and schist foothills of the Leitha Mountains on the western shore of the Neusiedlersee in Burgenland — just across the water from the better-known Neusiedlersee DAC. The combination of the lake's thermal influence, limestone-schist hillside terroirs, and the Pannonian climate produces two DAC specialties: Grüner Veltliner and Blaufränkisch of unusual mineral depth and structure. The region was established as a DAC in 2009 and remains one of Austria's most promising yet least-known appellations.

Year Rating Notes
2023 Leithaberg's lake and limestone sites combined well; Blaufränkisch showed the characteristic sour cherry and iron mineral.
2022 Outstanding Burgenland vintage; Pannonian warmth combined with limestone-schist sites to produce Blaufränkisch of exceptional depth.
2021 Spring frost and mixed summer challenged yields; Prieler's hillside sites fared better than valley floor vineyards.
2020 Reliable vintage; Neusiedlersee thermal influence maintained ripeness while Leithaberg altitude preserved freshness.
2019 Fine Austrian vintage; Leithaberg Blaufränkisch achieved a mineral precision and depth that placed the DAC firmly on the quality map.