Master Sommelier Diploma, Stift Klosterneuburg, Austria, August 2018

We had 17 candidates, who have previously passed the Practical Exam, sitting for either their Theory or Tasting Exam or both.

Although we had some candidates who were successful in some parts we had no new Master Sommeliers.

See Gallery here.

The history of the Klosterneuburg Monastery begins in 1114 with the Augustine monks developing it into a leading wine estate and eventually the worlds first ever wine school. The monks developed four areas which have become their signature wines – the Klosterneuburg wines; Grüner Veltliner and Rieslings from the banks of the river Danube. Gumpoldskirchen whites from the Thermenregion made with Rotgipfler and Zierfandler. Wien wines such as the famous field blend Wiener Gemischter-Satz and finally the Tattendorf red wines made from the St Laurent variety.

Innovations such as the creation of the Zweigelt variety in the 1920’s by Professor Fritz Zweigelt, a crossing between Blaufränkisch and St Laurent happened here as well as the creation of the Lenz Moser trellising system. A wine school and winery are currently here as well as it is home to an order of 40 Augustinian Canons.

See Stift Klosterneuberger website here.