Wachau DAC

Technical Summary

• Classification: DAC (Districtus Austriae Controllatus) — Austrian quality wine system
• Geographic scope: Wachau valley along Danube River, Lower Austria
• UNESCO Status: Wachau Cultural Landscape - World Heritage Site (2000)
• Wine type: Dry white wine only
• Permitted varieties: Grüner Veltliner and Riesling
• Unique feature: Vinea Wachau three-tier classification by alcohol/body

Regulatory Constraints (Verified)

Authorized Varieties (DAC)

• Grüner Veltliner: ~40% of plantings
• Riesling: ~30% of plantings
• Other varieties: May be produced but not as Wachau DAC
• Source: DAC regulations

Geographic Delimitation

• Location: 33 km stretch of Danube between Melk and Krems
• Municipalities: Spitz, Weissenkirchen, Dürnstein, Loiben, others
• Total vineyard area: ~1,350 hectares
• Terroir: Primary rock (gneiss, granite), loess terraces
• Source: Austrian Wine Marketing Board

Vinea Wachau Classification System

Category	Alcohol	Style
Steinfeder	≤11.5% vol	Light, delicate, early-drinking
Federspiel	11.5-12.5% vol	Medium body, balanced
Smaragd	≥12.5% vol	Full body, powerful, age-worthy

• Named after local flora/fauna:
  • Steinfeder: Delicate grass growing on stone walls
  • Federspiel: Falconry term
  • Smaragd: Emerald lizard found in vineyards
• Source: Vinea Wachau Codex

Vinea Wachau Codex Requirements

• No chaptalisation: Natural ripeness only
• No concentration: No must concentration techniques
• No new oak: Preservation of pure fruit character
• Origin: 100% Wachau grapes
• Source: Vinea Wachau Codex (private association standards)

Ried (Single Vineyard) Classification

• Ried labeling: Permitted for designated vineyards
• Notable Rieds: Achleiten, Kellerberg, Loibenberg, Klaus, Singerriedel
• Source: Austrian vineyard register

Enological Implications

Evidence-Backed Implications

Alcohol-based classification:

• Ripeness at harvest determines category
• Same vineyard can produce all three categories
• Vintage variation affects category distribution

No chaptalisation policy:

• Natural sugar accumulation required
• Climate determines wine weight
• Cool vintages produce more Steinfeder/Federspiel

Terroir diversity:

• Primary rock (gneiss): mineral, structured
• Loess: aromatic, approachable
• Ried-level distinctions significant

Operational Observations

Harvest timing decisions:

• Earlier harvest: Steinfeder/Federspiel
• Extended hang time: Smaragd potential
• Weather risk increases with later harvest

Vinea Wachau membership:

• ~200 members (not all producers)
• Non-members cannot use Steinfeder/Federspiel/Smaragd terms
• Quality commitment association

Frequent Compliance Risks

Alcohol Category Boundaries

• Risk: Wine falling outside declared category range
• Impact: Must relabel to correct category
• Mitigation: Accurate pre-bottling analysis

Chaptalisation Detection

• Risk: Any enrichment violates Vinea Wachau Codex
• Impact: Loss of Vinea Wachau membership/labeling
• Mitigation: Vintage-appropriate expectations

Variety Restrictions

• Risk: Labeling non-GV/Riesling as Wachau DAC
• Impact: Non-compliant product
• Mitigation: Clear varietal tracking

Relevant Grape Varieties

• Grüner Veltliner — primary variety
• Riesling — primary variety

References

1. Austrian Wine Marketing Board

   • DAC regulations
   • URL: https://www.oesterreichwein.at/

2. Vinea Wachau

   • Codex Wachau classification
   • URL: https://www.vinea-wachau.at/

3. UNESCO World Heritage

   • Wachau Cultural Landscape (2000)

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Last Updated: January 6, 2026