📍 Kamptal

Kamptal is a wine zone in Lower Austria, in the valley of the Kamp river north of the Danube. The main wine town is Langenlois. The name comes from the Kamp river. The zone is part of Lower Austria and lies not far from Krems. The valley is wider closer to the Danube and narrower upstream.

There are two main grapes here: Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. Riesling likes steep sandstone slopes, where the soils are thin and poor but release warmth well. Grüner Veltliner grows better on the loess slopes near Heiligenstein and Seeberg. Red grapes cover a small part, closer to the Danube.

The Heiligenstein hill (Zöbinger Heiligenstein) is the best-known vineyard, with ancient sandstone. It is famed for Riesling.

Since the 2008 vintage the Kamptal DAC appellation has applied: only Grüner Veltliner and Riesling from Kamptal qualify. Wines are sold in four categories: regional, with a village name, with a single vineyard name, and Reserve. For lovers of white wine this is one of Austria's main addresses. Kamptal is a wine, tourism and health region in the Waldviertel; the valley's second notable town is Gars am Kamp.