The Kamp Valley Wine Road lies in the heart of Lower Austria. It has an unmistakable wine landmark with the 360 m high vineyard-covered hill known as Heiligestein. It also offers the most spectacular and exciting wine experience in the land with the Loisium.
This Region along the Kamp River has 3,802 ha of vineyards, making it one of the largest and most successful wine regions in the country. Soils of primordial rock, clay and loess predominate, providing vines with superb conditions for strong, healthy growth. Langenlois is the Center of the Kamp Valley and produces more wine than any other town in Austria. At Ursin Haus, the regional wine shop, wine enthusiasts can obtain a comprehensive overview of the rich range available from the many local winemakers, some of whom are internationally renowned.
Wine lovers are escpecially partial to wonderfully peppery Grüne Veltliners with aging potential and of course to the unique Rieslings from the legendary vineyards on Heiligenstein. This hill with its characteristically reddish soil is intertwined with many a story and is traditionally considered one of the best Locations for Riesling in the world.
This Region has remarkable reds, too, such as Zweigelt and sophisticated Pinot Noir. With the region´s interplay of warm, Pannonian climatic influences and the bracing climate of the adjoining Waldviertel, the wines tend to be very fruity and structured.
Diversity in the Kamp Valley is attributable not only to the Grape varieties, however, but also to the different types of soils. They range from imposing loess formations to clay and Brown earth and even include Danube gravel in the south.
The lookout Tower built in 1897 at an Elevation of 351 m affords a magnificent panoramic view of the entire Kamp Valley. Along with the regional wine shop, Langenlois has a secod must-see Location for wine Lovers: LOISIUM Wine World.
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Grüner Veltliner
Economically, the light to middle-weight wines are the most important representatives of a Kamp Valley winemaker’s products. But reserve wines step into the limelight where longer aging and more complex varietal and vineyard traits are involved. They convey the tension and finesse underlying the excellent reputation of Grüne Veltliners from the Kamp Valley. The diversity of aromas ranges from typical notes of stone fruit and legumes to exotic aspects and nutty-smoky impressions.
Riesling
For reserves, robust plants with impressive fruit and finesse plus a striking mineral note predominate. The soil tones of Kamp Valley Rieslings vary, too, from dark and smoky to light and spicy depending on whether the vineyard soil is from primordial rock or sandstone. All reserve Rieslings share an expressive fruit with seductive depth and a clearly distinguishable vineyard character.
Weißburgunder
This variety results in top quality only if grown in prime locations. Young wines are flowery with a zesty acidity; aged wines take on flavors reminiscent of bread and nuts. Wine is matured slowly and top quality is not achieved until after an extensive period of bottle aging.
Chardonnay
Wines range from immature, thin and grassy in youth to very full-bodied wines when fully mature. There are two basic styles of Chardonnay: the classic style in steel tanks with a pronounced fruit and stimulating acidity and the more usual approach internationally, involving the reduction of perceived acidity by biological means and barrique aging. The key characteristic of a great Chardonnay is its complexity. This trait can only be achieved in special locations with soils rich in lime. Austria’s best representatives of these complex Chardonnays hail from northern Burgenland and Styria but also from single vineyards in Lower Austria and Vienna.
Müller-Thurgau
This grape yields mild wines that mature early and taste slightly of nutmeg. These wines age rapidly if the acidity is too low. Premium wines can have a great potential for quality.
Zweigelt
Wines from this grape variety are violet-red in color and have powerful tannins. When made from fully mature grapes, these wines are full-bodied and long-lived with sour cherry aromas. High quality wines are also aged in barrique.
Roter Veltliner
These wines are low in acid but rich in extracts and aromas (roses, citrus, wild berries, raisins, dried fruit). They can be stored for long periods and have great aging potential. Premium wines often have residual sugar and a discrete and harmonious dryness.
