Austria

The next time you strap on your lederhosen or dirndl, don’t feel out of place if you prefer a glass of wine to a mug of beer. Austrian wine may be something of a rarity, but its history is as old as the country itself. In fact, Vienna has more urban vineyards than any metropolitan city in the world.

Austrian wines are mostly made in the eastern side of the country and the cooler continental climate produces racy, dry white wines and elegant, fruity reds. This is not a region for rich, opulent wines like what you’ll find in much of California and Australia. Instead, Austrian wines lean towards tart, herbaceous flavours in a style more akin to France. So, if you’re a Francophile when it comes to wine preference, Austrian wine has that certain je ne sais quoi.