Austria Flashcards
Who influenced the development of the vine Austria in the 13th century?
Charlemagne and the Cistercian Monks
by the 13th century the city of (blank) had become a major center for wine trade along the Danube River.
Vienna
A viticultural research institute at (where) built in 1860, focused attention on grape crossings and higher yields, and mechanization of the vineyards followed (who) development of the wire trellising system in the 1950s—a viticultural breakthrough with worldwide ramifications.
Klosterneuburg
Dr. Lenz Moser’s
When was the scandal that would decimate the country’s wine industry?
1985
What was the scandal of 1985?
Diethylene glycol—a colorless, odorless, poisonous chemical—gave a light wine some added texture. The “antifreeze” scandal of 1985 surfaced when one of the guilty parties tried to claim the chemical as a legitimate winery expense on his tax return. Customers cancelled orders worldwide. Bottles tested positive for the chemical in nearly every export market, and the press decried the matter, asserting that Austrians had diluted their wines with antifreeze. The association stuck and damaged the image of Austrian wines for years.
How did Austria respond to the antifreeze scandal?
Austria responded by drafting some of the strictest wine laws in Europe and quickly refocusing on quality. In a very short time, Austria has earned a renewed reputation as one of the classic winemaking nations of the world.
Where are the majority of Austria’s vineyards?
Austria’s vineyard area is mostly confined to the eastern portions of the country.
From north to south, the four major winemaking regions, or weinbaugebiete, are….
Niederösterreich
Wien (Vienna)
Burgenland
Styria (Steiermark)
Which two regions contain about 90% of the country’s vineyards?
Niederösterreich and Burgenland
What are the main white grapes of Austria?
Grüner Veltliner is the most cultivated white variety, followed by
Welschriesling
Müller Thurgau
Weißburgunder (pinot Blanc)
Riesling
Chardonnay (Morillon and Feinburgunder)
What are the main red grapes of Austria?
Zweigelt (Blaufränkisch x St. Laurent)
Blaufränkisch
Blauer Portugieser
Blauburger (Blauer Portugieser x Blaufränkisch)
What year was Zweigelt crossing created?
1922
Austrian wine law defines three levels of quality. What are they?
Qualitätswein
Landwein
Wein
What is the highest level of quality?
Qualitätswein, the highest caliber of quality and regional specificity in Austria, is sourced from a single Weinbaugebiet or one of the 17 smaller wine regions and may be produced from one or more of 40 permitted grapes.
What must happen in order for a wine to be accepted as Qualitatswein?
Qualitätswein, which accounts for about 80% of Austria’s total production, must pass a tasting panel and chemical analysis, indicated by a State Control Number (Prüfnummer) and the inclusion of the red and white banderole on the bottle’s capsule.
What are the qualifications for wein?
Wein—a generic category
may carry a vintage date and a variety on the label, but may not exhibit a more exclusive statement of origin than Österreich.
What are the qualifications for landwein?
Landwein production is restricted to the same 40 varieties permitted for Qualitätswein, but the wines are labeled with one of three broad geographic areas (Weinbauregionen): Weinland, Steierland, or Bergland.
Weinland covers the areas defined as Niederösterreich, Wien and Burgenland, Steierland corresponds to Steiermark, and Bergland
True or False: All three levels of quality share a maximum yield of 9,000 kg/ha (67.5 hl/ha) but minimum must weights increase with each level of quality.
All three levels of quality share a maximum yield of 9,000 kg/ha (67.5 hl/ha) but minimum must weights increase with each level of quality.
Qualitätswein may be further subdivided into the categories. What are they?
Prädikatswein and Districtus Austriae Controllatus (DAC)
What are the Austrian Pradikatswein characteristics?
A minimum alcohol content of 5% is required for wines labeled by prädikat.
What are the qualifications for Kabinett Qualitatswein?
Min. KMW - 17°
ABV - Max. 13%
No chaptalization or süssreserve.
Maximum 9 g/L RS
What are the qualifications of Spätlese Prädikatswein?
Min. KMW - 19°
% abv - Min. 5%
Wines may not be released until March 1 of the following year. No chaptalization or süssreserve.
What are the qualifications of Auslese Pradikatswein?
Min. KMW - 21°
% abv - Min. 5%
Wines may not be released until May 1 of the following year. No chaptalization or süssreserve.
What are the qualifications of Beerenauslese Pradikatswein?
Min. KMW - 25°
% abv - Min. 5%
Wines may not be released until May 1 of the following year. No chaptalization or süssreserve.