<img align="right" alt="reben ebene" border="0" height="162" hspace="2" src="http://www.austrian.wine.co.at/wein/images/nseefoto.jpg" width="216">8326 hectares consisting of loess, black soil, gravel and sand are cultivated. The main varieties are the Welschriesling and Weissburgunder; specialities are the Bouvier, Muskat Ottonel and Traminer. The red varieties, Zweigelt, St. Laurent, Blaufränkisch, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir, make up 30% of the vineyards.
Upon leaving Vienna and heading southeast of the capital, the landscape begins to change. The distinctive flatness of the area recalls the Hungarian puszta. In fact, beginning at the town of Neusiedl, nearly the entire region along the eastern shore of Central Europe's only steppe lake is planted with grapevines.
In the past, vineyards were found almost exclusively around the districts of Illmitz. The wine-growers there took advantage of the highly favourable microclimate which allowed them to produce high-quality Prädikat wines year after year. Many of these wines won top honours at several international competitions. Other wine-makers in the region, impressed with the success, planted their own vines. However, high yields limited the quality.
So, a group of young wine-makers from Austria's largest wine-growing community, Gols, as well as from other villages including Illmitz, Weiden, Möchhof, Halbturn, Frauenkirchen, Podersdorf and Apetlon, worked hard to improve the growths. Slowly but surely, their sweet wines developed a reputation for excellent quality. Superb dry, full-bodied white and red wines followed. And now, regional associations, such as "Pannobile", "Seewinkler Impressionen" and "Pannonischer Reigen" are helping to set initiatives for the region's future.
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