🥃 Wachauer Weinbrand
Austrian brandy from wines of the protected Wachau name: protected EU name, 36–45% ABV, distilled only in pot stills, at least 3 years in oak casks.
Wachauer Weinbrand, a protected EU name, is an Austrian brandy from the wines of the Wachau valley on the Danube. The raw material is only wines with the protected name 'Wachau' from eight municipalities, including Spitz, Dürnstein and Weißenkirchen, and they are distilled in the Wachau as well. It is 36 to 45% ABV, and the oak ageing lasts at least three years.
How it is made. The wines are distilled in traditional copper or steel pot stills; continuous distillation is not used. Wine distillate made below 94.8% ABV may be added to the wine spirit, but no more than half of it. The distillate matures in oak casks typical of the Wachau, most of them much smaller than 1,000 l.
Stricter than the general rules. Dry extract up to 20 g per litre, methanol up to 100 g per hectolitre of pure alcohol (up to 180 g from red wines), and ethyl acetate up to 90 g. The colour ranges from golden-yellow to amber; the aroma keeps wine notes, and the oak adds vanilla and sometimes a light smokiness.
Grape variety on the label. More than 20 white and red varieties are allowed, including Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. If at least 85% of the wine is of one variety, that variety may be named, for example 'Wachauer Weinbrand – Grüner Veltliner'. The name of the distillery is mandatory. Terraced vineyards on stony soils, the Danube and cold winds from the Waldviertel give the wines a rich aroma.
Why it matters to you. The name Wachauer Weinbrand guarantees Wachau wines, distillation in pot stills and at least three years in oak, which is longer than the general rule for brandy requires. It is a strong drink. The WHO notes that there is no safe amount of alcohol.
Facts
| EU category | category 5, brandy / Weinbrand; protected Austrian name |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | protected name since 29.08.1994; technical description Ref. Ares(2015)4116936 |
| Raw material | wines with the 'Wachau' name; more than 20 white and red varieties, including Grüner Veltliner |
| Distillation method | copper or steel pot stills; continuous distillation not used |
| Cask type | oak casks, mostly much smaller than 1,000 l |
| Minimum maturation | 3 years |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 36–45% ABV; dry extract up to 20 g/l |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Wachauer Weinbrand → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🍇 Grüner Veltliner
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Weinbrand, 🥃 Brandy
- Related to
- 📍 Wachau
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Pfälzer Weinbrand, 🥃 Wachauer Marillenbrand, 🥃 Wachauer Marillenbrand, 🥃 Wachauer Marillenlikör, 🥃 Wachauer Marillenlikör, 🥃 Südtiroler Marille, 🥃 Südtiroler Marille
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Wachauer Weinbrand can be made from any Austrian wine?
No. Only wines with the protected name 'Wachau' from the eight municipalities of the valley are allowed, and they are distilled in the Wachau as well.
How long is Wachauer Weinbrand aged?
At least three years in oak casks, mostly much smaller than 1,000 l.
What is the strength of Wachauer Weinbrand?
36 to 45% ABV.
What does a grape variety on the label mean?
That at least 85% of the wine used is of that variety, for example Grüner Veltliner.
How is a Weinbrand different from a brandy?
Not in category: Weinbrand is the German name for wine brandy (EU category 5); Wachauer Weinbrand is its protected Austrian variety.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Südtiroler Marille — Clear distillate of fermented apricots in the province of Bolzano, with a light note of bitter almond. Protected EU name, at least 40% ABV; sugar up to 20 g per litre.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
- 🥃 Wachauer Marillenbrand — Clear Austrian distillate of ripe apricots of the protected 'Wachauer Marille' name only: protected EU name, at least 38% ABV, up to 4 g sugar per litre, no column distillation.
Similar
🥃 Pfälzer Weinbrand · 🥃 Brandy italiano · 🥃 Wachauer Marillenlikör · 🥃 Brandy del Penedés · 🥃 Wachauer Marillenbrand · 🥃 Suhindol Grape Rakia (Suhindolska grozdova rakya)
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- eAmbrosia (EU GI register), technical file 'Wachauer Weinbrand', Ref. Ares(2015)4116936 (German original; the English attachment 66177 was empty on 07.11.2026): category 5 brandy/Weinbrand; 36–45 % vol.; total dry extract ≤ 20 g/l; methanol ≤ 100 g/hl a.a. (red-wine distillates ≤ 180); ethyl acetate ≤ 90 g/hl a.a.; only wines of the PDO 'Wachau' (8 municipalities); copper or steel pot stills, no continuous distillation; up to 50 % wine distillate < 94.8 % vol.; Wachau oak casks mostly well under 1000 l; minimum 3 years; grape variety may be named at ≥ 85 % (e.g. Grüner Veltliner); distillery name compulsory
- Regulation (EC) No 110/2008, Annex III as at 31.01.2020 (legislation.gov.uk): Austria — Wachauer Weinbrand (5. Brandy/Weinbrand)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I: category 5 — brandy/Weinbrand (wine spirit with or without wine distillate ≤ 94.8 % vol. up to 50 %; aged at least 1 year in oak, or 6 months in casks under 1000 l; min. 36 % vol.)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)