From 9 to 13 September 2024, Grafenegg castle in Austria will once again become THE place to be for wine professionals from around the world. During the five tasting days, Austria's best single vineyard wines will be presented to an international audience of experts in a unique setting – before they are released on the market. What you should know about the Single Vineyard Summit of the Österreichische Traditionsweingüter (ÖTW):
1. Success story
The Single Vineyard Summit was initiated in 2013 and offers international wine experts an exclusive preview of the latest vintages of the best single vineyard wines from Austria's most important regions. Since its first edition, this multi-day tasting has become Austria's most prestigious specialist tasting event and is now a permanent fixture on the agendas of sommeliers, importers, retailers, restaurateurs and trade press from all over the world. This is due to the highly professional organisation and the personalised concept, which means the attendees decide which wines to taste and in what order.
2. More than 500 single vineyard wines
The centrepiece of the Single Vineyard Summit 2024 will be the 109 Erste Lage (Premier Cru) from the regions of the ÖTW wineries. Weinviertel is excluded, as the wines from the 13 wineries in the youngest member region are still in the classification process and will be launched for the first time in 2025. Thermenregion will also be presenting its red wines from Erste Lage vineyards for the first time at the Single Vineyard Summit 2024. The guest regions of Styria (represented by the STK wineries), Eisenberg, Leithaberg and Wachau (Vinea Wachau) will also be presenting their most exciting wines from single vineyards.
3. Unique tasting format
The Single Vineyard Summit format is a so-called ‘silent tasting’. Each day, there are two tasting slots, at 9 am - 1 pm and 2 pm - 6 pm. Admission is only possible at the start of both tasting slots to ensure silence and concentration. Tasters can put together their own individual programme. This ensures that everyone can taste the samples that are relevant to them, at their own pace. If that is not special enough, the winemakers themselves usually provide the wine service. It doesn't get more personal than that!
“One brilliant aspect of the ÖTW tasting: even though producers are typically about to start harvesting, they give up a day or more to be part of the team that pours the wines to the seated tasters.”
Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com
4. Industry players
From China to Latvia, Japan, Portugal and Canada: every year, wine experts from all over the world travel to the Single Vineyard Summit, including media representatives and somms as well as key importers and specialist retailers. In 2023, 450 guests from 15 countries came to Grafenegg - a record! The Single Vineyard Summit thus offers a unique opportunity not only for wine discoveries but also for networking and exchanging ideas.
5. The hosts
Österreichische Traditionsweingüter (ÖTW) was founded in 1991 with the primary aim of classifying the best single vineyards in Austria. An important part of this process was the development of the Single Vineyard Summit. A milestone in the history of the Österreichische Traditionsweingüter was reached in 2023 when the classification of vineyards was enshrined in law. The ÖTW currently has 90 members in the Kamptal, Kremstal, Traisental, Wagram, Vienna, Carnuntum, Thermenregion and Weinviertel appellations. 109 vineyards are classified as ‘ÖTW Erste Lage’. The classification of the ‘ÖTW Grosse Lage’ (Grand Cru) has not yet been finalised. The ÖTW site classifications – 1ÖTW and GÖTW – refer to the top of the Austrian quality pyramid: Ried or single vineyard wines.
Julia Wachter is always passionate about her work. © Anna Stöcher
More details about Single Vineyard Summit 2024 and registration: https://wine-partners.at/en/news/oetw-single-vineyard-summit-2024
