Austria
Austria is split into four wine-producing regions and in total has around 46,500 hectares of vineyards, just under half of which is in Lower Austria. Whilst there are some imported varieties, Austria has many indigenous varieties. Most of the plantings are white aromatic varieties such as Traminers, however, the flagship is Gruner Veltliner. Many of the wine regions are in the valley of the River Danube, and many of the estates are either organic or biodynamic certified. There are two principal styles of Austrian wine, either unoaked and racy or oaked and complex. As of 2018, sixty-two sites have been approved as ‘Erste Lage’ (Premier Cru) which recognises certain producers of superior status, an accolade which continues to grow and build.