{"id":4864,"date":"2025-09-15T10:27:42","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T08:27:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/?post_type=magazin&p=4864"},"modified":"2025-09-15T10:34:54","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T08:34:54","slug":"winemakers-impact-on-landscape","status":"publish","type":"magazin","link":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/magazin\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\/","title":{"rendered":"How winegrowing has a deeper impact on the landscape"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

To the casual observer, the sole responsibility of winegrowers appears to be producing fine wines. But a look behind the scenes reveals their role as guardians of biodiversity and hands-on climate protectors. This is especially evident in the Neusiedlersee DAC region of origin.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supported by the federal government, the federal province and the European Union.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Johannes Ehrenfeldner talks about wine, there is rarely any mention of aromas or vinification styles. As Director of the Neusiedler See \u2013 Seewinkel National Park, Ehrenfeldner naturally sees the practices of the Neusiedlersee DAC winegrowers in his \u201cbackyard\u201d from a different perspective. He observes the natural environment of the vines, and the role of the winegrowers as silent architects who nourish and cherish an ancient viticultural landscape. \u201cSome of them have effectively been landscape gardeners for years, even though they might not say so themselves,\u201d says Ehrenfeldner, \u201cbecause anybody who works with nature in their role as a winegrower actually influences not just their vineyard but also the entire surrounding landscape.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
As director of Neusiedler See\u2013Seewinkel National Park, Johannes Ehrenfeldner has a unique perspective on viticulture.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Greenery covers bare soil<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a case in point, Ehrenfeldner refers to the shining example of winegrowers in the region who actively allow plants to grow between the rows of vines \u2013 not just as an attractive embellishment, but also as a conscious way to increase biodiversity and provide added protection for the soil. \u201cThese areas of meadow are not simply mown, the vegetation is actually rolled and therefore worked into the ground. This reduces evaporation, stores water in the soil, and creates a habitat for many different insects,\u201d explains Ehrenfeldner. If you put your finger under this \u201cgrass roof\u201d, you feel the effect immediately: \u201cIt is up to five degrees cooler under there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

If winemakers can provide scientifically sound evidence that their soils store CO\u2082, they could even sell carbon credits in the future!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This is a clever approach, and not just from an ecological perspective. It makes sense financially as well. While some winegrowers remain apprehensive that the greenery will withhold water from the vines, the reality is very different: \u201cThe roots of the vines run deeply, while those of the surrounding vegetation remain on the surface.\u201d This means the nourishment is taken from very different layers of water. But crucially: \u201cWithout greenery, the top layer of soil dries out far more quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humus as a gold mine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The benefits here go far beyond reducing water consumption, however. Vineyards with natural greenery increase humus, lock up nutrients and create organic matter, which is arguably the most sustainable fertilizer. \u201cThis makes the whole system unbelievably fertile, as microorganisms and rainfall return the nutrients to the ground,\u201d continues Ehrenfeldner. At the same time, the method supplies natural protection against erosion, which is an advantage especially in the windy Neusiedlersee DAC region of origin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"Winzer
When nature is allowed to flourish between the vine rows \u2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"Winzer
\u2026 it\u2019s not only wildlife that benefits, but ultimately the winemakers themselves.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

But there is an even greater dimension here \u2013 climate protection. As humus forms, it stores carbon in the soil; this is called carbon capturing. In Brussels, as well as among experts, carbon farming<\/em> is a new buzzword, meaning agricultural methods that work specifically to sequester carbon. \u201cThings are really taking off in that respect,\u201d says Ehrenfeldner, and he unveils an inspiring vision: \u201cIf winegrowers can present scientific evidence that their soil stores carbon, in future they will even be able to sell carbon certificates.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trees, bushes and shade<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Still, biodiversity involves more than just the soil. A rising number of vintners from the Neusiedlersee DAC region are returning to the custom of planting trees and bushes in their vineyards. Nowadays, trees are seen to a diminishing extent as an obstacle to modern harvesting machines, and sacrificing a few vines for the sake of some shade is gradually becoming more popular. Ehrenfeldner sees definite advantages in this change of attitude, both for winegrowers and also for the natural world: \u201cIt conjures up memories of old methods: fruit trees between the vines, with rows of flowers. This doesn\u2019t just create places for birds, bees and other useful creatures to live, it also gives shade. And that is ever more important as the summers grow hotter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Winzer
The finest humus plays a crucial role in binding CO\u2082 \u2014 and is just as important for the health of the vines.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Inspiration instead of principle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ehrenfeldner believes that the tide is definitely turning: \u201cMany people in the region are beginning to rethink their way of operating \u2013 not because they are being forced to, but because they understand that it makes sense. And they realize the long-term benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Director of the Neusiedler See \u2013 Seewinkel National Park emphasizes that this is not about regulations or principles, but rather about inspiration. \u201cIn many places, the combination of biodiversity and viniculture is already producing impressive results. And whenever you talk about what is happening, other people recognize that it is possible \u2013 and that it not just results in good wines, but also preserves the landscapes and biodiversity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winegrowers as guardians of the viticultural landscape<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It is perfectly clear that vintners do far more than just press grapes, continues Ehrenfeldner: \u201cThey cultivate a landscape that is a habitat for innumerable species, which means it will remain valuable for us humans as well.\u201d This undertaking is especially relevant in the very flat Neusiedlersee DAC region because its vineyards are almost second to none in their influence on the region\u2019s character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And so, the soil itself has long since become an area where vintners focus their efforts beyond the cellar. They are landscape gardeners, biodiversity enthusiasts and climate protectors all at once. Or as Ehrenfeldner aptly puts it: \u201cWith every vineyard that is cultivated with nature in mind, vintners are shaping not just the taste of their wines but also the future of our landscape.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

___<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neusiedlersee DAC.
Unique Zweigelt. Unique sweet wines.
From the bright side of Austria. For the enjoyment of all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

____<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"template":"","categories":[115],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4864","magazin","type-magazin","status-publish","hentry","category-wine-knowledge","no-post-thumbnail"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow winegrowing has a deeper impact on the landscape - NEUSIEDLERSEE DAC. Zweigelt und S\u00fc\u00dfwein mit Herkunft.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Winemakers are guardians of biodiversity and active protectors of the climate. This becomes especially clear in the Neusiedlersee DAC region of origin.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/magazin\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How winegrowing has a deeper impact on the landscape - NEUSIEDLERSEE DAC. Zweigelt und S\u00fc\u00dfwein mit Herkunft.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Winemakers are guardians of biodiversity and active protectors of the climate. This becomes especially clear in the Neusiedlersee DAC region of origin.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/magazin\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"NEUSIEDLERSEE DAC. Zweigelt und S\u00fc\u00dfwein mit Herkunft.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-15T08:34:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Winzer-bei-der-Arbeit.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/en\\\/magazin\\\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/en\\\/magazin\\\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\\\/\",\"name\":\"How winegrowing has a deeper impact on the landscape - NEUSIEDLERSEE DAC. Zweigelt und S\u00fc\u00dfwein mit Herkunft.\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/en\\\/magazin\\\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/en\\\/magazin\\\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/MG_8651-1024x683.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-15T08:27:42+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-15T08:34:54+00:00\",\"description\":\"Winemakers are guardians of biodiversity and active protectors of the climate. This becomes especially clear in the Neusiedlersee DAC region of origin.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/en\\\/magazin\\\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/en\\\/magazin\\\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/en\\\/magazin\\\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/MG_8651-1024x683.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/MG_8651-1024x683.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/en\\\/magazin\\\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Startseite\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/en\\\/home\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Magazin Beitr\u00e4ge\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/magazin\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"How winegrowing has a deeper impact on the landscape\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/\",\"name\":\"NEUSIEDLERSEE DAC. Zweigelt und S\u00fc\u00dfwein mit Herkunft.\",\"description\":\"Einzigartiger Zweigelt. Einzigartige S\u00fc\u00dfweine. Von der Sonnenseite \u00d6sterreichs. Zur Gaumenfreude aller.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"NEUSIEDLERSEE DAC. Zweigelt und S\u00fc\u00dfwein mit Herkunft.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/02\\\/Logo_Neusiedlersee-DAC-scribble_schwarz_1200_600.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/02\\\/Logo_Neusiedlersee-DAC-scribble_schwarz_1200_600.png\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":630,\"caption\":\"NEUSIEDLERSEE DAC. Zweigelt und S\u00fc\u00dfwein mit Herkunft.\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ndac.471.at\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How winegrowing has a deeper impact on the landscape - NEUSIEDLERSEE DAC. Zweigelt und S\u00fc\u00dfwein mit Herkunft.","description":"Winemakers are guardians of biodiversity and active protectors of the climate. This becomes especially clear in the Neusiedlersee DAC region of origin.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/magazin\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How winegrowing has a deeper impact on the landscape - NEUSIEDLERSEE DAC. Zweigelt und S\u00fc\u00dfwein mit Herkunft.","og_description":"Winemakers are guardians of biodiversity and active protectors of the climate. This becomes especially clear in the Neusiedlersee DAC region of origin.","og_url":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/magazin\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\/","og_site_name":"NEUSIEDLERSEE DAC. Zweigelt und S\u00fc\u00dfwein mit Herkunft.","article_modified_time":"2025-09-15T08:34:54+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":800,"url":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Winzer-bei-der-Arbeit.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/magazin\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\/","url":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/magazin\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\/","name":"How winegrowing has a deeper impact on the landscape - NEUSIEDLERSEE DAC. Zweigelt und S\u00fc\u00dfwein mit Herkunft.","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/magazin\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/magazin\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/MG_8651-1024x683.jpg","datePublished":"2025-09-15T08:27:42+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-15T08:34:54+00:00","description":"Winemakers are guardians of biodiversity and active protectors of the climate. This becomes especially clear in the Neusiedlersee DAC region of origin.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/magazin\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/magazin\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/magazin\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/MG_8651-1024x683.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/MG_8651-1024x683.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/magazin\/winemakers-impact-on-landscape\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Startseite","item":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/home\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Magazin Beitr\u00e4ge","item":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/magazin\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How winegrowing has a deeper impact on the landscape"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/#website","url":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/","name":"NEUSIEDLERSEE DAC. Zweigelt und S\u00fc\u00dfwein mit Herkunft.","description":"Einzigartiger Zweigelt. Einzigartige S\u00fc\u00dfweine. Von der Sonnenseite \u00d6sterreichs. Zur Gaumenfreude aller.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/#organization","name":"NEUSIEDLERSEE DAC. Zweigelt und S\u00fc\u00dfwein mit Herkunft.","url":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Logo_Neusiedlersee-DAC-scribble_schwarz_1200_600.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Logo_Neusiedlersee-DAC-scribble_schwarz_1200_600.png","width":1200,"height":630,"caption":"NEUSIEDLERSEE DAC. Zweigelt und S\u00fc\u00dfwein mit Herkunft."},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazin\/4864","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazin"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/magazin"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazin\/4864\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4865,"href":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazin\/4864\/revisions\/4865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4864"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndac.471.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}