Austria's largest wine-growing municipality by vineyard area is the centre of Lower Austria's Kamptal wine-growing region and lies about 10 kilometres northeast of Krems. It includes the communities of Gobelsburg, Haindorf, Oberreith, Schiltern, See, Unterreith and Zöbing. Langenlois was first mentioned in a document in 1082 as "Liubisa" (the lovely one). Around 1100, 40 citizens were granted special rights and in 1519 Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519) granted the town the market coat of arms. Langenlois wines have been famous for many centuries. They were delivered to the court table of Emperor Charles VI (1685-1740) and served at the birth of his daughter Maria Theresa (1717-1780) (which, incidentally, also took place during the visits to Austria of US President Ronald Reagan and Pope John-Paul II). Charles VI also confirmed the special rights of the "Vierzigerschaft", an association of Langenlois arable farmers and winegrowers dedicated to promoting viticulture and culture, which still exists today. In 1990, the Ursin Haus was opened, a marketing and information centre about wine, tourism and culture plus a vinotheque with a tasting room.
On about 2,000 hectares of vineyards, 80% of white wine varieties are cultivated, mainly Grüner Veltliner (over a third), Welschriesling, Müller-Thurgau, Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris), Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Riesling. The three most common red wine varieties are Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch and Blauer Portugieser. The rare grape variety Queen Elisabeth is cultivated as a rarity. A viticultural landmark of the Kamptal is the famous vineyard Heiligenstein near Zöbing, which is mentioned as early as 1280 as "Hellenstein". Other well-known vineyards are Dechant, Fahnberg, Hasel, Käferberg, Kogelberg, Ladner, Letten, Loiserberg, Sauberg, Schenkenbichl, Sonnwendberg, Spiegel, Steinhaus, Steinmassl, Tagler, Panzaun, Vogelsang and Wechselberg. In 2003, the Loisium wine experience world was opened in Langenlois, where a lot of information about wine can be experienced. Well-known producers are Auer Leopold, Bründlmayer Willi, Ehn Ludwig, Grillmaier, Groll Wolfgang, Hiedler Ludwig, Jurtschitsch, Leithner Thomas, Loimer Fred, Nastl Günter, Rabl Rudolf, Sax Rudolf, Steininger Karl and Summerer.
Picture: © ÖWM - Kamptal Committee
