Austria

Sekt g.U. in three tiers

Austrian Sekt with protected origin (Sekt g.U.) is regulated by the Sektbezeichnungsverordnung of 2022, amended in 2023, which allows three tier names: Sekt Austria, Sekt Austria Reserve and Sekt Austria Große Reserve.1 Minimum time on the lees rises from 9 to 18 and 36 months.1,2

Three tiers

Quality sparkling wine with protected origin (Qualitätsschaumwein g.U. or Sekt g.U.) may be marketed only under one of three tier names.1 Each tier narrows the origin and lengthens the time on the lees:1,2

TierOriginMethodMinimum on leesPress yieldResidual sugar
Sekt Austriaone federal statebottle or tank9 months (bottle), 6 months (tank)not setnot set
Sekt Austria Reserveone federal state, a Gemeinde may be namedtraditional method18 monthsmax 60%max 12 g/L
Sekt Austria Große Reserveone Gemeinde, a Großlage or Ried may be namedtraditional method36 monthsmax 50%max 12 g/L

The two upper tiers also require hand harvest and whole-cluster pressing.1,2 The base tier may use bottle or tank fermentation following the EU rules on oenological practices.1

Terms that are no longer allowed

Since amendment BGBl. II Nr. 191/2023 took effect, the term "Klassik" (and variants such as "Classic") may not be used, nor may "Crémant" or "Frizzante". Stock labelled before the amendment may be sold until it runs out.1 The optional term "Hauersekt" may be added to the product name.1

Approval and the origin mark

A tier name needs official approval after analysis and tasting at the Bundesamt für Weinbau in Eisenstadt or the HBLA und Bundesamt für Wein- und Obstbau in Klosterneuburg. The Österreichisches Sektkomitee proposes the training of tasters.1 Tier-named Sekt is sold only in bottles carrying the mark "Österreichischer Sekt geschützter Ursprung", designed and licensed by the same committee.1

The 2022 regulation replaced the earlier rules of 2016 (BGBl. II Nr. 365/2016).1 No official volume statistics for Sekt g.U. were collected for this page.

See also

Sekt Austria Große ReserveRegionsSekt Austria ReserveRegionsSekt AustriaRegionsSekt AustriaRegionsSekt Austria ReserveRegionsSekt Austria Große ReserveRegionsTraditional methodMethodsAgeing on leesMethodsGermanyRegionsPressingMethods

Sources

  1. Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes (RIS). Sektbezeichnungsverordnung, BGBl. II Nr. 30/2022 idF BGBl. II Nr. 191/2023 (consolidated) (2023-06-24)
  2. RIS. Sektbezeichnungsverordnung § 3 (Sekt Austria Reserve), version in force from 24.06.2023 (2023-06-24)

Facts checked on 2026-10-19