The largest wine town. The most spectacular wine experience. And some of the best Riesling vineyards in the country. It is not without good reason that Kamptal has a reputation as a first-class wine-producing region. The centre is the town of Langenlois, which boasts several addresses for wine fans. The Loisium, for example. Vinotheque, wine world, event location – the spectacular building by New York architect Steven Holl is truly something to behold! Did you know that the shapes of the window openings exactly mirror those of the associated 900-year-old cellar systems? You can spend the night in the neighbouring Loisium Hotel, or if you want to visit another wine bar, head to the Ursin Haus at the heart of the city. Here, the winegrowers serve the wine themselves at the weekend.
In addition to Langenlois, the Kamptal wine-producing region also includes small villages such as Schönberg, Zöbing and Strass im Straßertale. Some of these also have their own wine shops or cultural centres, such as the Alte Schmiede in Schönberg am Kamp or weinkontraste in Strass. And in between: traditional wine taverns, country inns and fine dining. A well-rounded mix!
The Heiligenstein towers like a mighty keystone to the west of the wine town of Langenlois. The soil here is between 250 and 330 million years old, and the earth is characteristically red in colour. Some of the best Rieslings in the country stem from here. If you want to see this for yourself, the best way is to hike to the Kamptalwarte observation tower on the Heiligenstein and enjoy the view of the valley from the top. You can also go for a walk on the plain, for example, on the Langenlois wine trail.
Besides Riesling, it is mainly Grüner Veltliner that is grown in Kamptal. However, many wineries have also made a name for themselves with Burgundy varieties such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Varieties that are also ideal for sparkling wine. If you like sparkling wine, you’ve come to the right place in and around Langenlois. It is worth tasting classic sparkling wines modelled on French wines, as well as sparkling wines made from Austrian grape varieties. And yes, PetNat – the natural sparkling wine – can also be found in Kamptal!
