by Peter Moser
In 2003 the Weinviertel was the first Austrian region to launch a Districtus Austria Controllatus or DAC for Grüner Veltliner. Mittelburgenland followed suit in September 2006 with Blaufränkisch. Traisental, with only 770 hectare of vineyard the smallest of Austria´s wine growing regions, is now the third region to trump, establishing two common wine styles for the appellation: Traisental DAC Grüner Veltliner and Traisental DAC Rheinriesling. Both must be made from grapes grown within the region and may only be sold in glass bottles. With standardized DAC wines, Austria wants to pair grape varietals with regions of production to brand its production like Bordeaux, Chianti and other well-known European origins have already done.
