Ever since Austria passed new wine laws in 1972, the quality of its wines has improved dramatically. Austria now has a system similar to Germany with qualitatswein and kabinetts.

Austria is known for its white wines almost exclusively. The grapes include riesling, muller-thaugau and the traminer with the riesling being the grape that produces the finest wines.

Geographically only eastern Austria makes wine. The vineyards are concentrated north and east of Vienna.