Idyllic and unspoilt SÜDBURGENLAND . Surrounded by Hungary, Slovenia and the regions of Styria and Lower Austria. The connection to the rest of Burgenland: a meeting point. A BORDER REGION, since time immemorial, always independent and always in demand – above all for its wines.
Border region
Independent, sought-after and self-confident:
A border region with character
The geography of the area around Eisenberg is special and has an eventful history. It is the gateway to the east, bordering Hungary and Slovenia. To the west are Styria and Lower Austria. The connection to the northern part of Burgenland: a meeting point.
The predominantly German-speaking southern Burgenland was politically and culturally part of Hungary for the longest time – which gave Eisenberg wine a great deal of distribution during the time of the Kingdom of Hungary and the Austro-Hungarian Empire Dual Monarchy: it was a popular export. When the Hungarian border was redrawn after the First World War, a commission decided to award the region to Austria. As a result, Burgenland was incorporated into the Republic of Austria by referendum in 1921.
Although the huge potential of the region around the Eisenberg has been known for a long time, the upswing was slow in comparison to the other Burgenland wine-growing regions. The small overall size of southern Burgenland, its idyllic remoteness and small business structures hampered further development. In addition, the wine scandal of 1985 prompted many winegrowers to sell up or leave their vineyards fallow. This was exacerbated by the fact that in the 1980s and 90s, customers’ preferences were for soft, easy-to-drink red cuvées. For a long time, sales of Eisenberg wines were limited to local wine taverns and only a few winemakers sold their wares outside the region. The result was a rural exodus and an ageing population. The region fell into a deep slumber.
Fortunately, there were also some forward thinkers who believed in the potential of their region. And they used the time to focus on the strengths of the place they call home. Today, they their strategy is proving to be be impressively prescient. Much has also changed on international markets. Wine tastes have become more differentiated and educated, while the trend is moving away from international grape varieties and towards autochthonous wines characterised by their terroir. Perfect conditions for making Blaufränkisch and Welschriesling from Eisenberg renowned worldwide.
When the Austrian DAC appellation system was introduced in 2002, the EisenbergDAC region was defined in southern Burgenland with the aim of promoting wines typical of the region. The approx. 40 winegrowers in the EisenbergDAC association aim to vinify a style that is recognisable and typical of the region. And to position the characterful wines of southern Burgenland on the radar of the world’s leading wine merchants and sommeliers. Not a difficult task given the fan base grows with every glass of wine drunk!
