Weinviertel Geology - Weinviertel DAC

Cooperation with the Federal Geological Institute to create the brochure “Geology & Weinviertel” was very fruitful. Mag. Thomas Hofmann and Dr. Reinhard Roetzel compiled a clear overview of the rock types and soil formations of the Weinviertel under the scientific direction of Dr. Maria Heinrich. Whether the steep loess faces, heavy press rock, sand and clay from the primeval Danube or the Kogelsteine near Grafenberg, this brochure offers insights to the fascinating world of geology. It is an exciting exploration of Weinviertel terroir for wine enthusiasts.

The richly illustrated brochure – german only – can be obtained through the Weinviertel Regional Wine Committee of from the Federal Geological Institute.

Geological Units of the Weinviertel:

Bohemian Massif

The Bohemian Massif is located in the far west. The ‘primary rock’ has become a common colloquial way of describing the area’s crystalline rocks including granite, gneiss and slate. Granite is predominant, particularly around the city of Retz and in the municipality of Maissau, where it juts out of the landscape here and there to form bizarre outcrops.

Molasse Zone

The majority of the western Weinviertel consists of loose sedimentary rock such as clay, silt, sand, gravel and limestone. The oldest of these were formed by deposits of fossil-rich sediments from the Molasse Sea at the edge of the Bohemian Massif. Over time they formed sandstone, which is still used as a raw material for buildings and sculptures. Formerly coastal sands remained soft, for instance in Retz, where they were carved into extensive cellars.

Waschberg Zone

The Waschberg is a narrow band of cliffs that forms the boundary between the western and eastern Weinviertel. It extends from Stockerau in the south across the Leiser (ridge) to Falkenstein in the north. 17 million years ago, tectonic movements forced the limestone cliffs to rise up out of the subsoil. The towering limestone cliffs near Falkenstein provide a visual clue to the landscape’s history.

Flyschzone

Vienna Basin

Geologically speaking, the eastern area of the Weinviertel is part of the Vienna Basin, which extends 200 km from the south of Niederösterreich to the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In addition to loess, loam and limestone, it is also home to a unique area of sedimentary deposits, consisting of gravel, sand and clay, which was created by the distortion and expansion of the subsoil at the point where the Alps meet the Carpathians.