Rosalia wines

Burgenland‘s terroir encompasses a wide range of wine styles, with notable sweet wines crafted around the lake thanks to shallow waters, autumn mists, and the presence of noble rot. The slopes of Leithaberg, Eisenberg, and Mittelburgenland, characterized by limestone, clay, and schist soils, create ideal conditions for the production of red wines, offering excellent water retention and drainage.

The implementation of the DAC (Districtus Austriae Controllatus) system in Burgenland has brought about regional distinctions, dividing the area into Leithaberg, Neusiedlersee, Mittelburgenland, Eisenberg, and Rosalia. While Eiswein is produced near the lake, the finest examples often come from the Weinviertel region, as well as Germany and Canada.

Each region within Burgenland has unique characteristics that contribute to the production of diverse wines. Mount Eisenberg, for instance, provides optimal conditions for producing elegant Blaufränkisch wines. The Mittelburgenland area and the northern part of Rosalia yield exceptional Blaufränkisch wines known for their depth and length. The eastern slopes of the Leitha mountain offer a terroir suitable for complex white wines and Blaufränkisch. The Seewinkel area benefits from a special microclimate and is renowned for its sweet wines, particularly those made from Welschriesling.

The Rosalia wine region in Austria, despite being officially established in 2018, boasts a rich winemaking history dating back over 2,500 years. Known for its full-bodied red wines and fruity rosés, the region benefits from a unique terroir. The Pannonian climate and young, mineral-rich soils, remnants of an ancient sea, create ideal conditions for grape growing. Rosalia’s diverse soils, ranging from gravelly to calcareous, contribute to the distinct character of its wines. The dominant grape variety is Blaufränkisch (60% of vineyards), known for producing robust reds with fruity and spicy notes. Rosé wines, often made with Blaufränkisch, are another specialty, offering a refreshing and fruit-forward profile. The Rosalia DAC classification ensures quality standards and reflects the region’s unique identity.

Rosalia overall presentation

“Migrated” in 2018 from a major climate zone to a wine-growing area, the Rosalia region has a long-standing tradition of wine production. Over 2,500 years ago, the Celts recognized the potential of this region for vine cultivation.

Currently, 297 hectares of agricultural land are dedicated to vineyards, primarily producing full-bodied and spicy red wines, as well as fruity and refined rosé wines.

Furthermore, the Rosalia region has significant tourism potential due to its vast natural areas, including the Rosalia-Kogelberg Nature Park, rare fruit cultivation such as strawberries and chestnuts, and its proximity to the regional capital, Eisenstadt.

Terroir of Rosalia: climate and soil

The combination of the Pannonian climate and geologically young sediments from a prehistoric sea creates favorable conditions for viticulture.

The southwest part of the region consists of crystalline rocks, followed by progressively younger Neogene sediments from the Vienna Basin towards the northeast. The sequence begins with coarse blocks in a sandy and clayey binder, covered by gravelly sandy and clayey sands.

These formations serve as the foundation for vineyards in the south and west of Mattersburg and near Draßburg. The lower-lying areas of Walbersdorf, Marzer Kogel, and Schattendorf are also situated on these sediments, remnants of an ancient sea where waves once crashed against the foothills of the Rosalia range 16 to 12 million years ago.

Towards the north and northeast, there is a band of relatively newer predominantly sandy sediments, followed by even younger sandy sediments that correspond to the deposits left by the ancient Pannonian Lake. In these areas, the vineyards of Pöttelsdorf, Sigleß, Bad Sauerbrunn, and the northern vineyards of Antau thrive.

Gravel-dominated vineyard soils are rare, except in the vicinity of Neudörfl and Baumgarten.

In the vineyards of southern crus, there is an alternating presence of slightly calcareous and calcareous soils, while those of central and northern crus are predominantly composed of highly calcareous soils.

Grape varieties in Rosalia

The Blaufränkisch grape undoubtedly occupies the first position among the cultivated grape varieties, covering 60% of the vineyard area, followed by Zweigelt. The heavy soils yield robust wines with typical fruity, spicy, and fine notes of the region. In addition to red wine, rosé wines also play an important role.

Rosalia DAC

Rosalia, established in 2018, is essentially the southwest extension of the Leithaberg region.

The wines can be produced not only from the main grape varieties of the region but also from other common red grape varieties, as long as they are permitted for the production of Qualitätswein. The resulting Rosalia DAC Rosé wine is fruity, fresh, and spicy, representing the typical characteristics of the area.

Wineries in Rosalia

Here are the wineries recommended by Falstaff:

• Weingut Migsich
• Domaine Pöttelsdorf
• Weingut Piribauer
• Weingut Alfred Fischer
• Weingut Lassl
• Weingut JbN
• Weingut Waldherr
• Weingut Döller
• Weingut Franz Steiger
• Vinum Rosali

Conclusion : Rosalia wines

The Rosalia region, which underwent a transformation in 2018 to become a wine-growing area, has a rich history of winemaking dating back over 2,500 years. With 297 hectares of vineyards, it primarily produces full-bodied red wines and fruity rosés. The terroir, characterized by a Pannonian climate and young sedimentary soils from a prehistoric sea, provides favorable conditions for viticulture.

The region’s geological composition consists of crystalline rocks in the southwest, followed by progressively younger Neogene sediments towards the northeast. These formations support vineyards in various areas, while the northern parts feature predominantly sandy sediments left by the ancient Pannonian Lake. Different soil types, ranging from gravel-dominated to slightly and highly calcareous, contribute to the unique characteristics of the wines.

The Blaufränkisch grape is the leading variety in the region, covering 60% of the vineyard area, followed by Zweigelt. The heavy soils contribute to the production of robust wines with distinct fruity and spicy notes. Rosé wines also play an important role in the region.

As part of the Rosalia DAC (Districtus Austriae Controllatus) classification, the wines can be produced not only from the main grape varieties but also from other permitted red grape varieties. The resulting Rosalia DAC Rosé wine is known for its fruity, fresh, and spicy profile, reflecting the region’s typical characteristics.

Some recommended wineries in the region, according to Falstaff, include Weingut Migsich, Domaine Pöttelsdorf, Weingut Piribauer, Weingut Alfred Fischer, Weingut Lassl, Weingut JbN, Weingut Waldherr, Weingut Döller, Weingut Franz Steiger, and Vinum Rosali.