Weingut Emil Bauer is a family-run winery in Wagram, part of Lower Austria (Niederösterreich), with vineyard roots dating back to 1840 and now in its fifth generation.

Based in the village of Ottenthal, about 45 minutes from Vienna, the estate works around 14 hectares with a focus on local and traditional varieties suited to the fertile loess soils and temperate climate of the region.

Matthias Bauer leads the winery today, re-emphasising regional grapes such as Grüner Veltliner, Roter Veltliner and Riesling, alongside reds like Blauer Zweigelt.

The estate’s philosophy blends tradition with careful craftsmanship, aiming for expressive wines that reflect place and variety.

Niederösterreich, or Lower Austria, is the country’s largest and most diverse wine region, stretching along the Danube and its tributaries. The climate is markedly continental, with warm summers, cold winters and significant diurnal variation, which helps retain freshness in the wines. The influence of the river valleys moderates temperatures, encouraging slow, even ripening. Soils vary considerably across the subregions, ranging from loess and loam to gravel, sandstone and primary rock. This diversity allows a wide spectrum of styles to flourish.

Grüner Veltliner is the flagship grape, producing wines that range from light, peppery and citrus-driven examples to more structured, ageworthy styles with stone fruit, savoury spice and a distinctive white pepper note. Riesling thrives on the steep, rocky terraces of the Wachau, Kremstal and Kamptal, yielding elegant, mineral wines with vibrant acidity and flavours of apricot, lime and herbs. Red grapes such as Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch are also cultivated, especially in the warmer Pannonian-influenced zones to the east, producing juicy, cherry-scented wines with supple tannins.

Overall, Niederösterreich offers an impressive variety: crisp, refreshing whites of finesse and purity; powerful, complex single-vineyard bottlings; and approachable, fruit-forward reds. The region is renowned for its balance of precision, freshness and terroir expression.

Roter Veltliner is an ancient white grape variety native to Austria, most closely associated with the Wagram region in Lower Austria.

It is distinctive grape variety with pink-skinned berries that produce richly textured white wines. Roter Veltliner thrives in deep loess soils and warm continental climates, where it develops both concentration and natural acidity.

The wines are typically dry, medium-bodied and expressive, offering aromas of ripe apple, pear and stone fruit, often layered with herbal notes, white pepper and subtle spice.

With age, Roter Veltliner can gain nutty, savoury complexity and impressive depth. Its structure and versatility make it particularly well suited to food, pairing easily with roasted meats, creamy dishes and refined Austrian cuisine, while also rewarding careful cellaring.