Austria Flashcards
1
Q
In what year was the Diethylene glycol scandal? Who was responsible?
A
1985
Otto Nadrasky
2
Q
What was created as a result of the 1985 scandal?
A
The Austrian Wine Act of 1986
3
Q
Major importers of Austrian wine
A
Terry Theise
Circo Vino
4
Q
Weinland States
A
Lower Austria (Niederosterreich)
Burgenland
Vienna
5
Q
Steirerland States
A
Styria (Stediermark)
6
Q
Bergland States
A
Carinthia (Karnten)
Upper Austria (Oberostterich)
Tyrol (Tirol)
Voralberg
Salzberg
7
Q
Alt Reben
A
Old Vines
8
Q
Blau
A
Blue
9
Q
Grau
A
Grey
10
Q
Grosslage
A
Large collective vineyard site
11
Q
Haursekt
A
Grower’s sparkling wine
12
Q
Ried
A
Single Vineyard
13
Q
Sturm
A
Partially fermented grape must
14
Q
Vulkan
A
Volcano
15
Q
What was the first DAC approved and when?
A
Weinviertel
2002
16
Q
Austrian Wine Law
Three levels of quality
A
Wein
Landwein
Qualitätswein
17
Q
Two categories for Wein
A
Wein is without geographical designation (formerly Tafelwein)
Wein - can include grapes from anywhere in the EU
Osterreich - must be sourced from Austria only
18
Q
Landwein
A
Equivalent to EU’s Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)
Must be produced from grape varieties that are approved for Qualitatswein
100% of the grapes must come solely from one of the three winegrowing areas: Steirerland, Burgenland, Weinland
Must exhibit traits that are representative of the area
19
Q
Qualitatswein
A
- Makes up 84% of Austrian production
- Corresponds with the EU’s Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
- Must be harvested in a single winegrowing region and produced in a facility within or bordering region
- 40 approved varieties
- Wines must show typicity of region
- Meet minimum 15 degrees KWM must weight
- Adhere to max. 65.7 hectoliters per hectare
- Min. 9% ABV (5% for Pradikatswein)
- Must be inspected and approved by a government tasting official and given a Federal Inspection Number
- Banderole capsule
20
Q
Overarching Designations for Qualitatswein
A
Kabinett
DAC Wines
Pradikatswein
Austrian Sekt
21
Q
Pradikatswein rules
A
- Category of Qualitatswein defined by must weight at harvest
- Final sweetness can only be achieved through interrupted fermentation
- Chaptalization and the addition of unfermented grape must are forbidded
22
Q
Pradikatswein Styles
A
Spatlese
Auslese
Beerenauslese
Eiswein
Strohwein/Schliffwein
Trockenbeerernauslese
23
Q
Pradikatswein Must Weights and Desicription
A
24
Q
Who helped establish Austrian Sekt?
A
- Former Ruinart cellar master Robert Alwin Schlumberger in 1842
- Established first Austriran sparkling wine brand in 1859 - Goldeck
- Named after Goldeggen Vineyard
25
Other important Sekt figures
Johan Kattus - Hochriegl - 1890
Karl Infuhr - Charmat method - 1949
26
Austrian Sekt Committee
Formed in 2013
Gesuchtzter Ursprung Geprufte Qualitat (Protected Origin, Proven Quality)
27
PDO Sekt Levels
Klassik
Reserve
Grosse Reserve
28
Austrian Sekt
* No PDO
* Produced from the 40 allowed varietals in Qualitatswein
* "Austrian Sekt" allowed on label if grapes or base wines come from Austria
* "Produced in Austria" allowed on label if production is in Austria
29
Klassik Sekt
* All sparkling methods, dosage levels, styles and colors permitted
* Minimum 9 months on lees, 3 in bottle
* Vintage allowed on label
* Max. 12.5% Alcohol
30
Reserve Sekt
* Hand-harvested
* Only traditional method and white and rose wines permitted; only red grapes can be used for rose (no blending)
* Min. 18 months lees, 6 months in bottle
* 60% juice extraction required at pressing
* Max. dosage 12 g/L
31
Grande Reserve Sekt
* Hand-Harvested
* Same methods, dosage levels, colors and style allowed for Reserve
* Min. 30 months lees, 6 months bottle
* Vineyard source and grower allowed on label
* 50% juice extraction required at pressing
* No alcohol limits
32
Austrian Sekt Quality and Sweetness Pyramid
33
Lower Austria - Districts
* Wachau
* Kremstal
* Kamptal
* Wagram
* Weinviertel
* Thermenregion (NOT DAC)
* Traisental
* Carnuntum
34
What was the first Austrian DAC?
Weinviertel
35
Weinviertel DAC
* Fresher, lighter wine in cooler climate
* MUST be produced from Gruner Veltliner
* Min. Alcohol 12%
* Approved by a tasting panel, distinct **peppery note**, no obvious wood or botrytis
* Reserve - 2009 - fuller-bodied, **Min. Alcohol - 13, may show wood/botrytis**
36
Wienviertel Producers
Weingut R&A Pfaffl
37
Carnuntum DAC
* Located South of Vienna
* Climate similar to sunny Burgenland, production **leans toward red wine**
* Gemischter Satz - Traditional field blends that are still popular in Carnuntum
* Soil: Stony loam and loess
* Reds from **Zweigelt**
38
Carnuntum Producers
Muhr-can der Niepoort
Gerard Markowitsch
Glatzer
39
Traisental DAC
2006
* DAC wines - Gruner Veltliner / Riesling
* Classic / Reserve 12% or 13%
* Classic examples have no wood/botrytis
* Varietal wines show a more delicate spice than the white pepper in Weinviertal
* Soil: Limestone and Gravel
40
2012 Traditionweinguter Osterreich Erste Lage (By Village)
Traisental
* Gertzdorf
* Berg
* Inzersdorf-Getzersdorf
* Rothenbart
* Swirch
* Reichersdorf
* Alte Setzen
41
Traisental Producers
Markus Huber
Ludwig Neumayer
42
Wagram DAC
* East of Wachau, Kremstal and Kamptal
* Known as Donauland prior to 2007
* Region follows the course of the Danube as it passes out of Vienna
* **Gruner Veltliner** is the main grape of the region, but **Roter Veltliner**, an unrelated **red grape** produced as a **white wine** is a local specialty of **Wagram**
* DAC status in **2022**
* **Klosterneuburg** Institute lies within eastern Wagram
* Soil: Loess
43
2012 Traditionsweinguter Osttereich Erste Lage (By Village)
Wagram
* Fels am Wagram
* Brunnthal
* Scheiben
* Feuersbrunn
* Rosenberg
* Spiegel
* Kirchberg
* Schlossberg
* Grossweikersdorf
* Mordthal
44
Wagram Producers
Stift Klosterneuberg
Bernhard Ott
Leth
Wimmer-Czerny
45
Kremstal DAC
2007
* Located in western Niederosterreich, along the **Krems River**, a tributary of the Danube
* DAC wines may be produced from **Gruner Veltliner / Riesling** and may be labeled Classic or Reserve
* Min. Alcohol Classic/Reserve 12%/13%
* Classic examples show no signs of botrytis or wood
* More delicate spice rather than the white pepper of Weinviertal
* Soil: East of the Krems - deep loess terraces. West - shallower soils and primary rock
46
2012 Traditionsweinguter Osttereich Erste Lage (By Village)
Kremstal
There are 31 of these. Find out the important ones.
47
Kremstal Producers
Stadt Krems
Nigl
Salomon Undhof
48
Kamptal DAC
2008
* Located in Western Niederosterrich, along the **Kamp River**, a tributary of the Danube
* **Langenlois**, one of Austria's most important wine towns is here
* DAC wines may be produced from **Gruner Veltliner / Riesling** and may be labeled Classic/Reserve
* Minimum Alc. Classic/Reserve 12%/13%
* Classic examples no wood or botrytis
* Gruner shows more delicate spice compared to white pepper of Wienviertal
49
Kamptal Soil
* Variable soils - include loess, clay, loam
* Loess and clay-loam are near the Danube Rievr
* Higher, steeper vineyards have thin topsoil and more primary rock, like **Gfohl gneiss** and mica schist
* In the **Helligenstein vineyard**, there is a rare outcropping of weathered ssandstone, mixed with volcanic rock
50
Important Vineyards
Kamptal
**Helligenstein**
Lamm
Dechant
51
Kamptal Producers
Schloss Gobelsberg
Brundlmayer
Brandl
Hirsch
Hiedler
52
Wachau DAC
General
* Home to many of the best vineyards in Austria
* Niederosterreich's westernmost region
* Narrow band of steep slopes between **Melk** and **Krems** along the banks of the Danube, which moderates the otherwise **severe continental climate**
* The river and cool northern winds chill the summer nights significantly, enabling the wines to retain high natural acidity
* Much of the Wachau's best vineyard land encompasses terraced slopes on the north bank of the river, in the style of the Mosel
* Unique climate, soil, and aspect of the Wachau yield Austria's most extracted, ageworthy white wines; Gruner Veltiner and Riesling both excel here
53
Wachau Law
General
Classifications
* Instead of the typical Pradikatswein hierarchy, producers in the Wachau have developed their own categories of classification
* All wines must be dry
* Steinfeder - Min. 15º KMW, 11.5% ABV - Local Grass
* Federspiel - Min. 17º KMW, 11.5-12.5% ABV - Falconers Tool
* Smaragd - Min. 19º KMW, 12.5% ABV - Emerald Lizard
54
Steinfeder
55
Federspiel
* Named after a falconer's tool
* Minimum must weight of 17° KMW
* Final alcohol range of 11.5-12.5%
56
Smaragd
* Named after an emerald lizard who basks on the terraces
* Minimum must weight of 19 KMW° (equivalent of 95° Ochsle, or Spatlese ripeness)
* **Minimum alcohol of 12.5%**
* Can reach high alcohol levels, and show a high degree of extract
* Inevitably they show tone of botrytis
57
Wachau Soil Types
* The vineyards of the Wachau line terraces along the Danube (Donau) River.
* Lower east-facing vineyards typically contain sandy loess soils
* Steeper higher vineyards (450 meters and above) are characterized by shallow soils and a higher proportion of the underlying **Gfohl** **gneiss** and primary rock
* The soil structure is a combination of loess and gfohler, or gneiss, with a proportion of alluvial sand in the lower vineyard sites near the river's edge
58
Wachau Major Villages With Major Vineyards
Wachau
* Spitz
* **Weinskirchen**
* Wosendorf
* Joching
* Durnstein
* Unterloiben/Oberloiben
* Mautern
59
Wachau
**Spitz** Vineyards
* Axpoint
* Singerriedel
* Offenberg
* Setzberg
* Bruck
60
Wachau
Weinskirchen
Vineyards
* **Achletein**
* Home of some of the region's most prestigous vineyards
* Klaus
* Hinter der Berg
* Hiter Seiber
61
Wachau
Wosendorf
Vineyards
* Kollmutz
* **Hochrain**
62
Wachau
Joching
Vineyards
* Stein am Rain
* Pichlpoint
* Kollmitz
* Postaller
63
Wachau
Durnstein
Vineyards
* Hollerin
* Kellerberg
* Hoheneck
* Superin
64
Wachau
Unterloiben/Oberloiben
Vineyards
* Loibenberg
* Schutt
* Muhlpoint
* Klostersatz
65
Wachau
Mautern
Vineyards
* Sillberbichl
66
Wachau Producers
* Emmerich Knoll (Unterloibern) (est. 1825)
* Franz Hirtzberger (Spitz)
* Rudi Pichler (Wosendorf)
* FX Pichler (Oberloiben)
* Prager (Weinsenkirchen)
* Veyder-Malberg (Spitz)
* Alzinger (Unterloiben)
* Domaine Wachau (Durnstein)
* Nikolaihof (Mautern)
* Jager (Weinsenkirchen)
* Marcus Huber (Traisental)
67
Thermenregion
General
Producers
* Located south of Vienna
* Far from the Danube = Hot Pannonian summers
* Rare white grapes **Rotgipfler and Zierfandler** here, produced varietally or as the blend **Spatrot-Rotgipfler**
* Clay, sandy loam, brown earth
* Johanneshos Reinisch
68
Wein (Vienna)
General
* Lies on the Danube River and is surrounded on three sides by the Niederostereich subzones of Thermenregion, Carnuntum, Weinviertel and Wagram
* **It is the only capital city in Europe to have its own wine appellation within the city limits**
* **Gemischter Satz** is commonly produced
* **Heuringer** is produced as well, a **nouveau** wine consumed in its infancy in taverns of the same name
* **Sturm -** half-fermented, sparkling grape juice -- usually accompanies harvest time meals
69
Wein
Subregions
Producers
Gemischter Satz DAC
2013
70
Gemischter Satz DAC
2013
* DAC wines are white and produced from a blend of **at least 3 varieties**
* No single variety may compose **more than 50%** of the blend
* 3 varieties must make up **at least 10% each**
Producer: Weingut Wieninger
71
Burgenland
General
* The other half of Weinland Osterreich, produces **Austria's best red and sweet white wines**
* White wines are almost all on the decline in the region
* With Niederosterreich, contains 90% of the country's vines
* As of 2016, Neusiedlersee-Hugelland and Sudburgenland are no longer considered wine regions
72
Burgenland
Climate / Geography
* Borders Hungary
* Hot continental Pannonian climate in Buregenland is tempered by the cooling influenc eof the Neusiedlersee
73
Burgenland
Subregions / DACs
* Neusiedlersee DAC (2011)
* Leithaberg DAC (2009 - white, 2008 - red)
* Rosalia DAC (2018)
* Mittelburgenland DAC (2005)
* Eisenberg DAC
74
Neusiedlersee DAC
General
* The village of **Illmitz** is located here = **Alois** **Kracher** = legendary Eiswein, BA and TBA bottlings
* Received DAC status for Classic and Reserve **red** wines based on Zwiegelt
* NO DAC for sweet wines
75
Ausbruch
* Western shore of Neusiedlersee is the city of **Rust**, famous for the production of Ausbruch
* Similar production to **Tokaji**, richly concentrated botrytis-affected must is added to less concentrated must -- from fruit harvested in the same vineyard -- and the two are fermented together, then aged in barrel before release
* **Min. 30º KMW (approx. 156º Ochsle)**
* **Furmint** grapes were traditionally used, but modern Ruster Ausbruch is more often produced from Chardonnay, Muskateller, Pinot Blanc, Neuburger, Welschriesling, Traminer and Pinot Gris
76
Leithaberg DAC
* First DAC to allow for **both** red and white wines
* White wines may be blends or single varietals produced from Gruner Veltliner, Chardonnay, Neuburger or Weissburgunder
* Red wines: **min. 85% Blaufrankisch**, with stipulations similar to those of Mittelburgenland on new wood (DAC - large casks or used wood if barrique aged)
* Leithaberg only permits **Reserve** bottling, not classic
* Soil: gneiss, mica-slate, limestone (Leithakalk)
77
Rosalia DAC
* At **Reserve** level, vineyards (**rieds**) may be indicated on label
* **Min. 13% ABV**
* DAC permits **dry Rose** wines made from one or several red Qualitatswein grapes
* **Varietal blending** not allowed
* Became DAC in 2018 but allowed to retroactively label for 2017
* Elevation: 750 meters above sea level
* Geographical features: Rosaliengabirge (Rosalia Range) Wulka River
* Soil: Loess
78
Mittelburgenland DAC
General
2005
* Produces red wines from Blaufrankisch, which may be sold from March 1 the year after harvest
* **100% Blaufrankisch**
* **Reserve -** additional year of aging and higher alcohol minimum - 13% as opposed to 12.5%
* Many producers in the region are experimenting with barriques, although DAC regulations stipulate large casks or used wood in the event of barrique-aging
* Soil: Deep Clay
79
Mittelburgenland DAC
Producers
* Moric
* J. Heinrich
* Iby
* Franz Weininger
80
Eisenberg DAC
2009, 2008 for Reserv**e**
* DAC Wines = **100% Blaufrankisch**
* Soil: Gravel and Slate
* Producers:
* Krutzler
* Uwe Schiefer
* Wachter-Wiesler
81
Styria
General
* A mountainous region to the south of Burgenland
* The region contains approximately 9% of the nation's vineyards
* Three DAC’s, gained in 2017, Schilcherland
* Welschriesling, a grape unrelated (and inferior) to the noble Riesling, is the region's most cultivated varietal, followed by Weissburgunder
82
Styria (Steiermark)
Subzones / DACs
* Vulkanland Steiermark DAC
* Sudsteiermark DAC
* Westeiermark DAC
83
Sudsteiermark DAC
General
* Erste Lage
* Kranachberg
* Ziereg
* Straden
* Sauvignon Blanc performs well here
* Producers
* **Weingut** **Temet** - leading producer
* Polz
* Sasttlerhof
84
Westeiermark DAC
* Formerly Schilcherland
* The ancient Blauer Wildbacher comprises 95% of the red grape acreage and is often vinified as Schilcher, a racy stlye of local rose
85
