📍 Leithaberg

Leithaberg is a wine zone in the Austrian state of Burgenland, on the western shore of Lake Neusiedl. The name comes from the Leitha mountain range, which runs along the border of Burgenland and Lower Austria. The vineyards lie on slopes where the soils are made of limestone and slate. The zone also includes the free city of Rust, known for the sweet wine Ausbruch. Leithaberg is part of Burgenland.

The Leithaberg DAC applies to red wines from the 2008 vintage and to whites from 2009. Red wine is made above all from Blaufränkisch, to which Zweigelt, St. Laurent and Pinot Noir may be added. The whites are made from Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Neuburger and Grüner Veltliner.

The style of the wines is restrained and mineral, and they are valued for freshness and balance. Lake Neusiedl softens the weather, so in a warm autumn noble rot forms in Rust for Ausbruch.

The cultural landscape of Lake Fertő/Neusiedl was added to the UNESCO list in 2001. The Leitha range is a chain of low hills on the border of Lower Austria and Burgenland, part of the Eastern Alps. In all, Austria now has 18 DAC appellations.