12. Austria Flashcards

1
Q

Where are Austria’s vineyards located?

A

In the east bordering Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia where the Alps flatten

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2
Q

What is Austria’s general climate?

A

Cool continental

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3
Q

What are the four climatic influences north, east, south and west?

A

1) North (Weinviertel) - Cool northerly winds
2) East (Burgenland)- Pannonian warmth
3) South (Steiermark) - Adriatic warmth
4) West (Krem, Kamp, Wach) - Cooler Alpine breezes

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4
Q

What is a common weather hazard across Austria?

A

Spring frost

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5
Q

What are the two main soil types?

A

1) Thin soil over granite or gneiss
2) Richer soils i.e. loess (silt, loam)

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6
Q

What is gneiss?

A

Crystalline bedrock (known locally as urgestein)

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7
Q

Why is Riesling planted on thinner soils?

A

It requires less water than Gruner Veltliner

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8
Q

What was the traditional vine training method in Austria?

A

Lenz Moser - cordon trained to 1.2-1.4m (higher and wider than many to avoid shading), which is good for volume as it’s easily maintained and mechanised

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9
Q

What is the common form of training and trellising for high quality production today?

A

1) Guyot
2) VSP

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10
Q

What three regions require hand-harvesting due to their steepness?

A

1) Kamptal
2) Kremstal
3) Wachau

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11
Q

Why is disease pressure low?

A

Due to moderate precipitation: 450-850mm

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12
Q

What are Austria’s maximum yields?

A

67.5hL/ha

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13
Q

What are the three leading white plantings?

A

1) Gruner Veltliner
2) Welschriesling
3) Riesling

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14
Q

What are the two leading black plantings?

A

1) Zweigelt
2) Blaufrankisch

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15
Q

What soil(s) is Gruner Veltliner suited to and why?

A

1) Suited to loess soils or clay where present
2) Has a greater water requirement than Riesling

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16
Q

What is characteristic of Gruner Veltliner in the vineyard?

A

Can be vigorous on fertile soils so careful canopy management is required to ensure quality

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17
Q

Of which two varieties is Zweigelt a cross?

A

Sankt Laurent and Blaufrankisch

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18
Q

Describe Zweigelt in the vineyard (2)

A

1) Vigorous
2) High yielding

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19
Q

When does Zweigelt ripen?

A

Earlier and more easily (not susceptible to rot or frost) than Blaufrankisch

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20
Q

What does Zweigelt suffer from?

A

Potassium deficiency where grapes wither before they ripen

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21
Q

What style is Steiermark Welschriesling generally?

A

Neutral, unoaked and dry of good quality

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22
Q

What premium styles, where and why can Welschriesling be made?

A

1) BA/TBA
2) Humid Neusiedlersee, Burgenland
3) Thick skins

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23
Q

When does Blaufrankisch bud?

A

Early - spring frost poses a risk

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24
Q

When does Blaufrankisch ripen?

A

Late

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25
Q

Describe Blaufrankisch in the vineyard (2)

A

1) Thick skins - important in humid Burgenland to avoid rot
2) High yielding

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26
Q

What are two prime Blaufrankisch DACs?

A

1) Leithaberg DAC
2) Mittelburgenland DAC

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27
Q

Where is most Riesling found?

A

Niederosterreich, namely Kremstal and Kamptal

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28
Q

Describe white winemaking in five steps

A

1) Minimal skin contact
2) Neutral vessel
3) Temperature controlled
4) No MLC
5) Fine lees up to six months

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29
Q

Why is MLC uncommon in Austria’s whites? (2)

A

1) To preserve varietal character
2) Difficult to achieve at low pH

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30
Q

Describe red winemaking in three steps

A

1) Open top fermentation with punch down or pump over
2) Stainless steel or old, large oak
3) Ambient yeasts are common

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31
Q

Why might acacia be used for both red and white?

A

Allows oxygenation without imparting flavour

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32
Q

DAC stands for what?

A

Districtus Austriae Controllatus

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33
Q

What are Austria’s PDO and PGI terms?

A

PDO - Qualitatswein
PGI - Landwein

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34
Q

What are the two sub-categories of Qualitatswein?

A

1) Klassik - declared vintage and varietal characteristics
2) Reserve - dry, minimum 13%; harvested and released later than Klassik

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35
Q

Austrian wine shares Germany’s Pradikat system except which one level is not included?

A

Kabinett

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36
Q

What is Ausbruch?

A

TBA from Rust in Lake Neusiederlersee

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37
Q

How many DACs are there?

A

17

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38
Q

What is a criticism of the DAC system?

A

New-wave wines of high quality may be ineligible due to not being considered typical

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39
Q

What are the two important trade associations?

A

1) Osterreichische Traditionsweinguter (Kamptal, Kremstal, Wagram, Vienna)
2) Vinea Wachau

40
Q

What is Osterreichische Traditionsweinguter?

A

An unofficial producer group classifying vineyards based on soil and climate as in Burgundy

41
Q

What can appear on the label of dry Erste Lage wines?

A

The ‘10TW’ logo as long as the two most traditional varieties from the region are used

42
Q

What are the four significant federal states for viticulture?

A

1) Niederosterreich
2) Burgenland
3) Wien
4) Steiermark

43
Q

What is the largest federal state for viticulture?

A

Niederosterreich

44
Q

Niederosstereich features which four important DACs?

A

1) Weinviertel
2) Kamptal
3) Kremstal
4) Wachau

45
Q

What two other regions are within Niederosterreich, but aren’t DACs?

A

1) Wagram
2) Thermenregion

46
Q

Along which river are most of Niederosterreich’s vineyard regions?

A

Danube

47
Q

How and why are Wachau vineyards planted? (3)

A

1) On steep terraces of stone that radiate heat
2) South-facing for maximum sunlight
3) Along the Danube - reflects sun

48
Q

What soil is Riesling planted on in Wachau?

A

Gneiss

49
Q

What soil is GV planted on in Wachau?

A

Loess

50
Q

Is irrigation required in Wachau?

A

Often yes

51
Q

Name a significant Wachau producer and a co-op

A

1) F.X. Pichler
2) Domaine Wachau

52
Q

What are Vinea Wachau’s three quality/style classifications?

A

1) Steinfelder
2) Federspiel
3) Smaragd

53
Q

Describe Steinfeder

A

Fruity, dry, maximum 11.5%

54
Q

Describe Federspiel

A

More concentration than Steinfeder; 11.5-12.5%

55
Q

Describe Smaragd

A

Even more concentrated and riper than Federspiel; minimum 12.5%

56
Q

Wachau, Kremstal and Kamptal DAC wines must be of which two varieties?

A

1) Riesling
2) Gruner Veltliner

57
Q

What variety is plated in Kremstal that isn’t found in Wachau and why?

A

1) Zweigelt
2) Kremstal is further south and slightly warmer

58
Q

Name a Kremstal producer and a co-op

A

1) Salomon Undhof
2) Stadt Krems

59
Q

How are Kamptal’s and Kremstal’s red wines labelled?

A

Niederosterreich

60
Q

What two geological factors influence Kamptal?

A

1) Warm Pannonian breezes
2) Cooling Bohemian Massif air

61
Q

Name two Kamptal producers

A

1) Brundlymayer
2) Hirsch

62
Q

Kamptal and Kremstal reds are labelled how?

A

Niederosterreich

63
Q

Why is Gruner Veltliner widely planted in Wagram?

A

The region is based on loess soil

64
Q

Does Wagram have any DACs?

A

No

65
Q

Besides Gruner Veltliner, what local variety is planted in Wagram?

A

Roter Veltliner - full-bodied and nutty

66
Q

Describe Wienviertel (4)

A

1) Austria’s largest appellation
2) GV dominates plantings
3) Dry - 600mm rain
4) Cooling breezes from the north enhance peppery characters

67
Q

Wienviertel DAC states wines must be what variety?

A

Gruner Veltliner

68
Q

Describe Reserve DAC Wienviertel wines (3)

A

1) Minimum 13%
2) May see some oak
3) May include botrytis but are still dry

69
Q

What is the largest region within Niederosterreich for black plantings? Why?

A

1) Thermenregion
2) Southern Pannonian warmth

70
Q

Thermenregion’s high quality reds are made from what two varieties?

A

1) Pinot Noir
2) Sankt Laurent

71
Q

What is Thermenregion’s most planted white variety?

A

Neuburger - spicy, floral

72
Q

What are Thermenregion’s two other white varieties?

A

1) Rotgipfler
2) Zierfandler

73
Q

Name the three regions of Burgenland

A

1) Neusiederlesee
2) Leithaberg
3) Mittelburgenland

74
Q

What is Austria’s warmest area?

A

Neusiederlesee

75
Q

Describe the location of Neusiederlesee

A

Around the lake of the same name, which reaches 30+ degrees in summer.

76
Q

Why is Neusiederlesee ideal for botrytis formation? (2)

A

1) The lake stays warm as air temperature drops in fall.
2) Fog falls, but afternoon sun prevents grey rot allowing for consistent botrytis formation

77
Q

What variety is used for botrytis wines in Neusiederlesee, and where?

A

Welschriesling planted around the lake’s edge due to its thin skins

78
Q

What is Neusiederlesee’s TBA DAC?

A

Ruster Ausbruch DAC

79
Q

Neusiederlesee reds are primarily Zweigelt, but can be blended with what three varieties (except for DAC Klassik)?

A

1) Blaufrankisch
2) Sankt Laurent
3) Pinot Noir

80
Q

Name a Neusiederlesee producer of TBA

A

Alois Kracher

81
Q

Leithaberg DAC reds must (2)

A

1) Be 85% Blaufrankisch
2) Be oak aged

82
Q

Leithaberg DAC whites must be what four varieties individually or as a blend?

A

1) Weissburgunder
2) GV
3) Chardonnay
4) Neuburger

83
Q

What wine style is common around the lake in Leithaberg?

A

Ausbruch/TBA

84
Q

What variety dominates in Mittelburgenland and why?

A

1) Blaufrankisch (85% DAC)
2) The region is exposed to the warm Pannonian plain

85
Q

What are the three Mittelburgenland classifications?

A

1) Mittelburgenland DAC
2) Mittelburgenland DAC + vineyard
3) Mittelburgenland DAC Reserve

86
Q

What separates Mittelburgenland DAC from Mittleburgenland + vineyard name and Mittelburgenland Reserve?

A

Named vineyard and reserve wines have higher ABV and more/longer oak maturation

87
Q

What are three weather hazards in Steiermark/Styria?

A

1) Winter freeze
2) Spring frost
3) Hail

88
Q

What three varieties are common in Steiermark/Styria?

A

High acid:

1) Sauvignon Blanc
2) Welschriesling
3) Weissburgunder

89
Q

What are Steiermark/Styria’s three DACs?

A

1) Vulkanland Steiermark
2) Sudsteiermark
3) Weststeiermark

90
Q

What is Wien’s DAC?

A

Wiener Gernischler Satz

91
Q

What is a requirement of Wiener Gernischler Satz DAC?

A

It must be a dry, unoaked blend of up to 20 permitted varieties

92
Q

What are Heurigen?

A

Small inns/taverns specialising in local food and wine

93
Q

Where is most Austrian wine sold?

A

Domestic hospitality but with an increase in value exports and volume to Germany

94
Q

Describe Gruner Veltliner as a berry (2)

A

1) Thick skins
2) Rotundone (pepper)

95
Q

What is the dominant business size in Austria?

A

Highly fragmented with thousands of small estates

96
Q

What is the trend for Austria’s exports by value?

A

Steep increase between 2015-2021