You can grow any rose successfully in zone 7. Depending on where you live (mid Atlantic vs mid west) you could need to spray with a fungicide for optimal performance. If you want to go "no spray", that will affect your choice of roses.

Our hardiness zone is similar, but we have a very dry climate here. A few of the Austins I grow that are successful here are: Princess Alexandra of Kent, Young Lycidas, Evelyn, Brother Cadfael, Jude the Obscure, Golden Celebration, Tamora, The Prince, Eglantyne (though blooms fry in our dry heat, but would probably do better in your more humid climate). I just got Munstead Wood, which receives a lot of positive comment on the Forum, as does The Lady of Shalott. I think you would be quite successful with many Austins, but as Cecily said, you'd probably have to spray a fungicide to avoid black spot and other fungal diseases.
I'm showing a photo of Brother Cadfael and Jude, which are very large roses. I promise Forum member to get some new photos this spring, since I've posted this photo several times. Diane

Here is Golden Celebration. Diane

Here is Jude the Obscure. Diane

If I were you, I'd spend long hours dreaming over the David Austin catalog (or web page--whichever is appropriate). In Zone 7, all his roses should grow fine, especially if you can supply some mid-afternoon/late afternoon shade for a number of them (assuming it gets very hot in your Zone 7). If you don't have the later in the day shade, then note when DA says a rose is good at withstanding heat or is delicate and appreciates some shade. Most of his descriptions won't say that, but note when they do. He also has a list in the back of the catalog (and somewhere on his website) of roses for hot areas or for partial shade and some other categories like that. Just remember that most roses want a minimum of 6 hours of sun--but afternoon sun is a lot hotter than morning sun.

Other than that, my main recommendation would be to note when DA describes a rose as being healthy, very healthy, and exceptionally healthy. That translates somewhat disease-resistant, above average on disease-resistance, and very, very disease-resistant. That is important if you don't want your roses totally wiped out by blackspot disease--or don't want to be spraying a fungicide every few weeks. If DA says nothing about the health of the rose, believe him--there is nothing good he can say about the disease-resistance of that rose--it is a disease-magnet, in other words.

Other than that, you decide what colors, heights, shapes, fragrances appeal most to you--and go for it.

If you'd like to start searching by checking out a few of my favorite DAs, here they are:
Lady of Shalott--disease-resistance/heat resistance
Mortimer Sackler--disease-resistance
Molineux--I have 3 of these shorter roses--love the blooms, very floriferous
The Pilgrim--lovely delicate yellow climber
William Shakespeare 2000--gorgeous blooms
Pretty Jessica--shorter, good in all ways

This spring I'm planting Scepter'd Isle, Munstead Woods, and The Wedgewood--all highly recommended from several different sources, including this forum.

Hope that helps. I'm in Zone 6 by the way--Austins seem to like this midwestern region as a whole.

Kate

I've got to second Tamora as being adaptable to the ups and downs of zone 7 climate. It will even take some shade if you have that. Stays compact unlike many of the Austins which can grow up to be real space eaters. Not a bad thing if you have plenty of room. Queen of Sweden is also doing nicely, and is pretty much disease resistant here.....Maryl
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Just to reinforce Cecily's point that if you live in the East, blackspot disease pressure is very high, and most Austin roses (most roses period) will need regular fungicide protection if they are to keep their leaves through the growing season. For example, the company describes 'Sophy's Rose' as "very healthy," but, in my garden, it defoliates rapidly unless it is sprayed.

It is a good idea to mention your state when seeking advice. While zone 7 per se does not limit your choices, there are some roses that are susceptible to diseases on the Pacific Coast and others that are susceptible to other diseases in the East and South. Heat tolerance is also a regional issue.

I have just discovered the DA catalog is very dangerous eye candy! I hate hijacking this thread but are there any more catalogs like this one? My rose love has just begun, thanks to my unknown specimen ( to the untrained eye)I have pampered for 3 years :-)