Burgenland
Burgenland, located in far eastern Austria, is one of the country's largest wine regions. This area enjoys a hot continental climate, making this red wine territory. There are about 35,000 acres planted, with local red varieties, such as Lemberger (Blaufrankisch), St. Laurent and Zweigelt, leading the plantings, along with Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Merlot. For whites, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Gruner Veltliner are the most abundant. In the northern reaches of Burgenland, Lake Neusiedlersee is an important factor, especially as the humidity of this lake, along with a few smaller lakes, creates favorable conditions for for noble rot (botrytis) for the production of remarkable examples of dessert wines such as Beerenaulese and Trockenbeerenauslese; these wines are produced from a variety of cultivars, from Chardonnay to Scheurebe to Traminer. These wines are incredibly powerful and lush with very high acidity to balance the intense sweetness.