Where wine and water flow: The wine-producing region of Kamptal
If the wine in your glass tastes of sun-kissed hills, meadows in full bloom and cool forests, then it can only be a delicious DAC wine from Kamptal
Picture simple pressing houses made of brick and wood, as well as ultra-cool tasting rooms made of concrete and glass. Think of hidden wine villages in quiet side valleys. At the same time, Langenlois is one of the liveliest wine-producing communities in Austria. Original taverns, but also an abundance of top winemakers: In Kamptal, the diversity of the wine culture is presented in a concentrated way, and exciting wine-related excursions are on offer.
All about wine: Kamptal and its vineyards
Kamptal, especially the area around Langenlois, is steeped in a long winemaking tradition, which you can not only see in the vineyards, but taste with every sip. Hot days and cool nights, old wineries and young winemakers... these exciting contrasts make the palate rejoice. The DAC wines Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, which thrive particularly well in the loess and clay soils, are particularly impressive. It’s no wonder, then, that the Kamptal, with over 3,800 hectares of vineyards and a number of top, internationally-known companies, is one of the best wine regions in the country.
Vineyard expeditions in Kamptal: Our excursion tips
Follow the Kamp, and meander from the source of the river in the Waldviertel, to where it meets the Danube. The Kamptal cycling route is lined with evergreen trees – starting in the forests of Zwettl, and continuing along the vine-fringed slopes around Hadersdorf, and onto the flat alluvial land of the Danube floodplains in Altenwörth. Against a backdrop of varied landscapes and featuring delightful taverns and several points of interest such as Grafenegg Castle and the imposing Rosenburg Castle with its falconry displays, this tour is an experience. Our culture tip: see the frescoes by Paul Troger in Altenburg Abbey! The best way to explore the famous Langenlois vineyards – Dechant, Käferberg, Steinhaus and Schenkenbichl – is on foot, heading along the Langenlois WEINWEG (Wine Trail), which gives an insight into the exciting life of a wine producer, and delights with several tasting stations along the way. Our tip: Combine your walk with a visit to the LOISIUM World of Wine or a tasting in the Ursin Haus wine shop wine shop.
On the wine trail: Our tip:
We are particularly fond of the educational wine trail in Schönberg am Kamp. The wonderful mixture of wine, water and woodland is both refreshing and relaxing. The starting and end point is the Alte Schmiede wine store, which is a tourist information centre and winery rolled into one. Embark on a journey of the senses and learn exciting things about viticulture in Kamptal, heading through mellow vineyards, past idyllic wine cellar lanes and along the banks of the River Kamp. Our tip: The 2-hour Weinlehrpfad educational wine trail tour, which explains how a vineyard is created, what a winemaker does, and how the vineyards used to be cultivated, is even more detailed and truly fascinating.