One of the five specific wine growing areas in the Austrian province or generic wine growing area Burgenland. In 2016 a restructuring took place with partial changes in the designations and area boundaries. In 2017, the newly defined Rosalia wine region replaced the former large vineyard in the political district of Mattersburg. This comprises 19 municipalities, including Bad Sauerbrunn, Forchtenstein, Loipersbach, Mattersburg and the capital Pöttelsdorf. It is named after the Heuberg, which at 748 metres is the highest elevation of the Rosaliengebirge, a spur of the Alps, also known as Rosalia. Because of the strawberry, the wine, the sweet chestnut and the many kinds of fruit, it was given the nickname "Sweet Region". Large parts are designated as a nature park. The area adjoins the Leithaberg wine-growing region to the south.
List of vine varieties
Pannonian climate prevails. In connection with geologically young deposits of a primeval sea with sandy soils there are favourable conditions for viticulture with mainly red wine varieties. In 2017 the vineyards covered 297 hectares of vines. A well-known producer is the Domaine Pöttelsdorf.
DAC system
From the 2017 vintage onwards, the origin-controlled quality grade Rosalia DAC was introduced. All other quality wines must be marketed with the origin Burgenland, the regional wines under the Weinland wine-growing region designation. In addition to the generally applicable DAC conditions, the following rules apply:
The red wine Rosalia DAC must be produced from the varieties Blaufränkisch or Zweigelt with at least 85% each. The alcohol content must be at least 12% vol., the residual sugar content must not exceed 4 g/l. The ageing must take place in stainless steel tanks or in large wooden barrels. The wines should have a multi-layered and regionally typical bouquet and a finesse-rich, fruity and spicy taste.
For the red wine Rosalia DAC Reserve, the general rules for Reserve apply. The alcohol content must be at least 13% vol. The indication of a grape variety on the label is permitted.
The Rosalia DAC Rosé must be vinified from one or more red quality wine grape varieties (according to Austrian wine law). The indication of a grape variety on the label is not allowed, but the indication of a Riede is. The wine must be aged dry in stainless steel tanks or in wooden barrels. It must have a bouquet of red berries and a fresh, fruity and spicy taste.
The application for obtaining the state examination number may be submitted from 1 January of the year following the harvest. In the case of the reserve stage, it may be applied from 1 May of the second year following the harvest.
Vineyards: Harald Michael Seymann
Map: © ÖWM