23 - Austria Flashcards
What types of wines is Austria renowned for?
Best known for quality of dry whites from Gruner Vetliner and Riesling.
Reds from Zweigelt and Blaufrankisch
Botrytised dessert wines from Welschriesling.
Where are the wine producing regions of Austria and why?
In the east, because the Alps cover the West.
What is the climate of the Austrian vineyards
Cool Continental with short summers and very harsh winters.
What moderating factors influence the vineyards?
What is notable about the annual weather patterns in Austria?
Northerly regions experience cooling from northerly winds.
Southern regions on the Hungarian border are warmed by easterly winds.
Much less variation in annual weather patterns than in Northern Europe.
What is the mostly widely planted white grape in Austria?
Describe it’s style
Gruner Vetliner.
Fresh, but unexciting if yields get too high.
Best: F body, Conc. wine,
Natural H acid.
Citrus & Stone Fruit,
Hint of white pepper sometimes.
Age: Honey and Toast
What storage/maturation options are used for Gruner Vetliner?
Majority ferm and store in S/S.
Some use old oak casks.
Some may mature a portion of best wines in new oak barriques.
What is the 2nd most planted white variety in Austria?
What are the character of it’s dry wines?
Welschriesling.
Fresh, simple, H acid, Citrus and green apple.
Where are the best Riesling wines in Austria found.
Describe their style?
Wachau, Kamptal, Kremstal
Dry, M-F body, ripe peachy primary fruit. Best can mature in bottle.
Besides Gruner, Welschriesling, and Riesling what other 3 white grapes are planted in Austria, with one gaining particular support in the southern region of __________?
Chardonnay
Muller Thergau
Sauvignon Blanc - Steiermark.
What is the most widely planted back variety in Austria?
What is it a crossing of?
Zweigelt.
Blaufrankisch and St. Laurent.
What is the most highly regarded black grape in Austria?
Blaufrankisch
What kind of wine does Blaufrankisch produce?
Medium Tannin, High Acid and peppery, sour cherry flavour.
What kind of wine does St. Laurent produce?
Similar in character to Pinot Noir.
Is oak ageing common for Austrian reds?
Yes
What international varieties do a number producers blend Austrian red varietals with?
Pinot Noir.
Cab Sauv
Merlot.
What are the four federal states of Austria for PDO wines?
Which 2 account for the vast majority of production?
Niederosterreich (Lower Austria)
Burgenland
Steiermark (Styria)
Wien (Vienna)
The first 2
What is the largest region of Austria for production and export?
Niederosterreich
How many sub regions does Niederosterriech have?
Which is the most renowned? What is it renowned for?
8
Wachau - High quality dry wines from Gruner or Riesling.
Where are the vineyards in Niederosterrich located?
On the banks of the Danube in the south and further north towards the Slovak border.
Describe the topography of Wachau
Steep, often terraced south facing vineyards next to the Danube help Riesling develop highly concentrated flavours.
Is Wachau a DAC?
No
Name 2 Austrian DAC’s just North of Wachau?
What style of wines are produced there?
Kamptal DAC
Kremstal DAC
Similar style dry whites to Wachau from Gruner or Riesling.
What is the only grape allowed in Weinviertel DAC?
Gruner
What are the 2 levels to the Weinviertel DAC?
How do they differ?
Klassik - Light, fresh, fruity style with no discernible oak flavour.
Reserve - Higher Min. Alc and are allowed to be matured in oak.
Where is Burgenland located?
What is is famous for?
To the east of Austria, along the border with Hungary.
Top quality sweet and red wines.
Besides sweet and red, what other types of wine are made in Burgenland and from what grapes?
Dry white, from Pinot Blanc, Welschriesling, Gruner and Chardonnay.
What geographical feature is key to sweet wine production in this area?
Name one of the most widely used grapes for sweet wines in this region?
Neusiedlersee, a vast shallow lake and it’s surrounding wetland regions supply almost guaranteed autumn frosts for botrytis.
Welschriesling.
Where do the best red wines in Austria come from?
The higher grounds away from the lake and in the hills further south of the Neusiedlersee.
What grape is Neusiedlersee a DAC for?
Zweigelt
How many DAC’s for Blaufrankisch are there?
What is the biggest?
3
Mittelburgenland DAC.
