23. Austria Flashcards
Describe the geography and climate of Austria.
- The Alps cover western Austria so vineyards are on the eastern side
- cool, continental climate
- short summers
- harsh winters
- north: cooling winds
- south/Hungary: warming winds
-less annual variation with weather
What is the most widely planted grape variety in Austria? Describe this wine.
Gruner Veltliner
- fresh, unexciting wines when yields are high
- full body
- concentrated
- high acidity
- youth: citrus, stone fruit, white pepper
- age: honey, toast
Describe winemaking techniques.
- ferment and store in stainless steel
- old oak casks
- new oak barriques
What is the second most widely planted grape variety in Austria?
Welschriesling -dry -fresh, simple -citrus, green apple -high acidity -prone to noble rot (not the same as Riesling)
Describe Austrian Riesling. Where is it typically found?
Wachau, Kamptal, Kremstal
- dry
- medium-to-full bodied
- ripe, peachy primary rfuit
What are other popular white grape varieties in Austria?
Chardonnay, Muller Thurgau, Sauvignon Blanc (Steiermark)
What is the most widely planted black grape variety in Austria? Describe the wines.
Zweigelt
-Blaufrankisch x St Laurent
- deeply colored wines
- soft tannins
- bramble fruit
- blending with Pinot Noir, Cab, Merlot
What is the most highly regarded of the black varieties in Austria? Describe the wines.
Blaufrankish
- medium tannins
- high acidity
- peppery, sour cherry
- blending with Pinot Noir, Cab, Merlot
Name the third black grape variety of Austria. Describe the wines.
St Laurent
- similar to Pinot Noir
- oak aging common
- blending with Pinot Noir, Cab, Merlot
What are PGI wines labelled in Austria? What about wines without a PGI?
Landwein
Wein
What are the four federal states of PDO wines in Austria?
Niederösterreich (Lower Austria)*
Burgenland*
Steiermark (Styria)
Wien (Vienna)
*majority of the production
How many federal states of PDO wines are there? How many smaller sub-areas?
4 states, 16 smaller areas
Describe Qualitatswein. Where can it be made? How many permitted grape varieties? What are the limitations on style?
- 4 federal states and 7 of the smaller areas permitted
- 35 permitted grape varieties
- any style
How are sweet wines labelled?
Pradikat level
- Ausbruch (BA, TBA)
- Strohwein/Schilfwein: bunches of grapes are laid out on beds of straw or reeds
What is DAC?
Districts Austriae Controllatus
- 9 of the smaller wine regions have elected to become a DAC
- producers must agree on permitted grape variet(y)(ies) and a style/set of regulations to label their wines with that DAC
Describe Niederösterreich. What is the most renowned subregion? What type/varieties of wine are made here? What are the best vineyards like? What are other important subregions?
- largest region
- vineyards on the banks of the Danube
- Wachau: high quality dry Riesling and Gruner
- not a DAC
- steep, often terraced, south-facing vineyards
- Kamptal DAC and Kremstal DAC
- similar style and quality
- Riesling and Gruner
What was the first DAC? What is the only permitted variety here? What two styles are permitted?
Weinviertel DAC
- largest vine-growing region
- only Gruner is permitted
- Klassik: light, fresh, fruty
- Reserve: higher min alcohol, oak maturation allowed
Where is Burgenland? What types of wine is it known for? What white grapes are grown here?
-east of Austria
-along the border of Hungary
Known for:
top quality sweet and red wines
White: Pinot Blanc, Welschriesling, Gruner, Chardonnay
What is the most important geographical element for sweet winemaking in Burgenland? What grape is most commonly used for sweet wines?
Neusiedlersee
- vast, shallow lake in the north
- autumn mists
- ideal conditions for noble rot
-Welschriesling
Where do the best red wines in Austria come from?
- higher ground
- away from the lake
- in the hills further south
Zweigelt
Blaufrankish, t Laurent, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cab
How many DACs are there for Blaufrankish? Name one.
3
Mittelburgenland
Name a DAC for Zweigelt.
Neusiedlersee DAC
