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That was the ÖTW Single Vineyard Summit 2024
© Anna Stoecher
“Many thanks for making this event one of the leading tastings in the world!”
This is just a taste of the feedback received from more than 300 wine experts who travelled from 26 countries to taste the wines from Austria's best vineyards.
Media, retailers, importers and sommeliers from around the globe came to this specialist event in the second week of September to taste and evaluate Erste Lage (Premier Cru) wines from the Österreichische Traditionsweingüter (ÖTW). They were also presented with single-vineyard wines from Styria’s STK group, Eisenberg and Leithaberg in Burgenland and Vinea Wachau, thereby covering the best single-site wines from Austria’s most important regions – before they were launched on the market.
“Semaine fixe” for international wine professionals
The Single Vineyard Summit traditionally takes place at the picturesque Grafenegg Castle west of Vienna, hence what has now become permanent fixture in many wine experts' calendars has been dubbed the ‘Grafenegg Tasting’.
The summit began in 2003 with around a dozen wine experts who were invited to a preview tasting that lasted just under a day. Twenty-one years later, the event has grown into a five-day format with over 100 seats in every half-day tasting slot. “Numerous slots were booked out weeks before the event began,” reports Michael Tischler-Zimmermann, the Managing Director of Österreichische Traditionsweingüter.
Best of the best
In addition to the ÖTW, four significant regions have joined the event over the years, so that the summit is now recognised for presenting the best single-vineyard wines in Austria.
One of its features is that the winemakers themselves provide the service at this specialised tasting. It is a personalised service for tasters who want first-hand, in-depth information and explanations about individual wines.
This singular touch was even more demanding this year, as the event coincided with an unusually early start to the 2024 harvest.
Large international wine family
While the focus during the day was on expert-focused evaluation of the wines in a so-called ‘silent tasting’ format, the evenings were used for networking and enjoyable get-togethers. This year, the ÖTW Carnuntum region kicked off proceedings by inviting the international visitors to a tasting of mature single site wines and an educational vintage tractor ride through the region’s vineyards. Other evening events were organised by the STK and Leithaberg wineries and Vinea Wachau. One evening, guests went on an excursion to the vineyards of the river valley appellation of Kremstal.
Culture and wine
It was not just the wines that impressed the guests. They were treated to an extraordinary programme on their first evening in Grafenegg, which underlined the close connection between Austrian wines and culture. The Sächsische Staatskapelle (Saxony State Orchestra) performed with Rudolf Buchbinder, the artistic director of the Grafenegg Festival on the award-winning open-air stage in the Grafenegg Castle park. Beethoven and Schumann were interpreted while the summer sky slowly faded from evening sun to dusk and finally to night.
© Anna Stoecher
“Austria is simply excellent in every respect”
Save the date
The ÖTW Single Vineyard Summit 2025 will be held from 8 to 12 September.
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