The Carnuntum Challenge

The Carnuntiner wineries have devised an exciting tasting concept in collaboration with Master of Wine Caro Maurer. Whilst masterclasses and seminars usually aim to provide participants with as much information as possible about the region and the wines, the Carnuntiner wineries are turning the tables at their event as part of VieVinum:

In a blind tasting, a selection of wines from the Carnuntum region is served, and the guests then try to identify the winery, grape varieties, vintage and vineyard behind each one.

Caro Maurer, a self-confessed fan of Carnuntum, will present the wines in a tasting flight: the winemaker, their philosophy, how the terroir is expressed in the wine, and which vinification method was used.

But which wine in the tasting flight fits this description? Figuring out the answer – correctly matching the wine to its description – is the challenge for all participants.

“We want to challenge participants to engage not only with the wines, but also with their own tasting skills,” explains Caro Maurer. The renowned wine journalist passed the world’s most difficult wine examination in 2011 and has held the title of Master of Wine (MW) ever since. She will also be co-chair of the Decanter World Wine Awards in the UK in 2026. Furthermore, she lectures in many European countries on the WSET diploma, a globally recognised wine education programme.

Professional wine tasting and an approach to each wine that is as objective as possible are the core principles of the WSET programme and, subsequently, of the Master of Wine programme.

“It’s not about personal preferences or scoring points – it’s about engaging with each wine to understand its origins, production and grape varieties. That’s the approach to tasting we want to convey in this challenge.”

Caro Maurer

There’s a prize to be won

The participant with the best result will not only win fame, but also 3 x 2 free tickets to the three Carnuntum Experience events taking place this summer at picturesque locations in Carnuntum:

On Sunday, 31 May in Prellenkirchen on the Spitzerberg
On Sunday, 14 June in Höflein on the Hohen Weg
On Sunday, 12 July in Göttlesbrunn on the Rosenberg

INFO

Date: Saturday, 16 May at 12.15 pm
Venue: Hofburg Vienna, 1010 Vienna – Künstlerzimmer

To take part in this tasting, which will be conducted in English, you must purchase an entry ticket for VieVinum and book a place for the Carnuntum tasting.

Bettina Bäck

Senior Project Manager

No idea too big, no detail too small: Bettina impresses with her dedication to all things delightful. With years of experience in public relations, she masters even complex tasks with ease and great sensitivity. When she tells her clients’ stories, people listen — and she always manages to spark curiosity, as her passion is both contagious and inspiring. Today, she looks after some of the most prestigious names, such as Baur au Lac in Switzerland, the innovative top chefs of JRE, entire wine regions like Vinhos Verdes in Portugal, and emerging wineries around the world.

b.baeck@wine-partners.at