Austria Flashcards
How many ha under vine does Austria have approximately?
45000 ha
What happened in 1985?
-Large producers added diethylene to the wine (anti freeze agent) to increase volume&stimulate sweetness
-discovered in 1985
-from 30 million litres exported to under 5 million litres
What about production now?
-53 million litres
-value tripled since 1985
- consumers paying premium prices for high quality wine
What is the overall climate of Austria?
Cool continental
in Which parts is the climate influenced? explain why
-North (weinviertel) -> cold northerly winds
-South (Steiermark)- > Adriatic sea thus warmer
-East (Burgenland) -> near Hungary, Warmer Pannonian climate
-West (vineyards on danube)-> cool breezes from alps
Name weather hazards in Austria
-Spring frost
-Hail in Steiermark
-low rainfall = water stress, especially with thin, free draining soils
What are the 2 major soil types of Austria?
-thin soils over rock (granite or gneiss)
-richer soils -> loess
Which soil type does Riesling tend to grow better, and GV?
-thin soils for Riesling, requires less water
-Loess or clay for GV, due to greater requirement of water
Which training system is now commonly used?
-Single or Double guyot for better quality
-in past high cordon trained vines for mechanisation and high volume wines
Where is machine harvest common, and hand harvest?
-flatter areas: Burgenland, Weinviertel
-hand harvest= steeper slopes around Danube river such as in Wachau, Kremstal and Kampstal, also vines planted on hand built steep stone terraces
What about disease pressure? This had led to..
-Low due to moderate rainfall
-from 450 mm in Weinviertel to 850 mm in Steiermark
-14% organic vineyards and 9% sustainable
What grape varieties are most planted?
-White grapes, 2/3 of plantings
What about the skins of Gruner Veltliner?
-Thick skinned, when being left too long in contact with whine -> phenolic compounds or bitter taste
- chemical compound rotundone which gives peppery aroma also present in skin
Describe the style of gruner veltliner
-medium(+)- high acidity, not oaked
-simple/inexpensive= simple green&citrus fruit, early consumption, acceptable to good quality
-very good- outstanding: pronounced citrus&peach, complexity with ageing potential, sold for premium prices
Zweigelt is a crossing of..
Sankt Laurent x Blaufrankisch
What are the features of zweigelt?
-ripens early& more easily than Blaufrankisch, producing high yields
-vigorous = canopy management& leaf removal needed
-when potassium deficiency= withering of grapes before they ripen, leads to lossof crop
-not susceptible to frost or rot thus widely planted
Describe the style of Zweigelt
-med(+) acidity, med tannins
-red fruit dominated (cherry)
-inexpensive to mid-priced style of easy drinking, fruity and unoaked
-very good for premium prices: full-bodied, oaked with ageing potential
Which style does Welschriesling produce in Steiermark?
-fresh, neutral, unoaked and dry
-acceptable to good and inexpensive
-plantings decreasing due to decrease in consumption
Which style does Welschriesling produce in Burgenland?
-can produce sweet wines near humid Neusiedlersee due to humid conditions -> noble rot (also due to thin skin)
-Trockenbeerenauslese or BA: high acidity, pronounced tropical and dried fruit, can bottle age
-very good to outstanding, premium prices
What are the features of Blaufrankisch?
-early-budding = prone to spring frost
-late-ripening = needs warm climate to ripen (Burgenland)
-thick-skin= less prone to fungal disease, suitable to humid area such as Neusiedlersee
-high yields = managed, otherwise green aromas
Describe the style of Blaufrankisch
-med(+)-high tannins, high acidity, deep colour and black fruits
-good/mid-priced= simple, fruity, little/no oak
-very good/outstanding: pronounced black fruits, spicy from oak, high tannins, premium priced. Most age worthy and intense red wines
-Leithaberg Dac & Mittelburgenland DAC = good reputation for blaufrankisch
What style can Riesling produce ?
-Mainly planted in niederosterreich
-warmest sites&thin soils
-dry, full body, med alc, high acidity, ripe stone fruit and sometimes tropical
-can bottle age for 10-20 years
-nutty, honeyed,petrol
-very good - outstanding, premium prices
What are generally the winemaking options for white wine?
-aim is to preserve primary fruit and varietal characteristics
-skin contact to maximise aroma
-fermentation in neutral vessel, temperature controlled
-no malolactic conversion
-maturation: ss or old oak, fine lees for 6 months or more to add texture
-most wines are fermented to dryness
What are generally the winemaking options for red wine?
-fermentation in large open top vessels: punch down or pump over
-ambient yeast may be used
maturation: ss or old oak (300-600 l) to soften tannins without extraction of flavours of new oak
-premium wines: barriques with some proportion of new oak or acacia vats to allow some oxygen without extracting vanilla aromas
Which category is the protected designation of origin?
-Qualitatswein
Which 2 categories fall within qualitatswein? elaborate
-Klassik: vintage declared, varietal character
-Reserve: dry, min 13% abv, harvested&released later than standard wine
Why was DAC established?
-appellation system to promote regional typicity
what requirements are set for DAC?
-Permitted grape varieties
-need to meet tasting criteria
-within DAC = gebietswein, ortswein (village), riedenwein (single vineyard)
What is the Osterreichische Traditionsweinguter?
- a group of producers who classify their vineyards based on soil types and climate
-81 vineyards erste lage: must be dry, can put 1OWT on label if they use one of the 2 traditional varieties
Which is the biggest grape growing region of Austria? Name the regions within it
-Niederosterreich, 2/3 plantings white:
-Weinviertel, wachau,kremstal,kampstal,wagram & pannonian plain in south east
What is the location of Wachau?
North bank of Danube river
What is the aspect of the best vineyards in Wachau?
-steep terraces, south facing sites for maximum sunlight interception
-stony terraces retain heat& release at night = very ripe fruit
What influences the climate of Wachau?
-Danube river= humidity, can cause noble rot which is not always desired by producers due to preference for dry wines
-low rainfall = irrigation neccessary
What are the soils in Wachau?
-Gneiss for Riesling and Loess for Gruner veltliner
what can wachau producers do since 2020?
-classify as DAC wine:
-regional/village wine can be of different grape varieties
-single vineyard: only gv or riesling, must be hand harvestes
What is the association of producers called in Wachau? What system do they use?
-Vinea Wachau
-classification based on single vineyards based on soil & climate
-3 classifications of dry white wine (less than 9 g/l residual sugar)
-indicator for style and quality
What are the 3 classifications of Vinea Wachau? Explain
-Steinfeder: fruity,dry, max 11.5% abv
-Federspiel: more concentrated, dry max 12.5% abv
-Smaragd: most concentrated, dry wine, ripe fruit, min. 12.5% alcohol
What quality level is mainly produced in Wachau?
-very good to outstanding for premium prices
What is the style in Wachau?
-ripe citrus and stonefruit due to stony terraces and good sunlight (smaragd = tropical)
-body: light (steinfeder)- full (smaragd)
-No new oak
-medium (+)- high acidity
-riesling do rarely exceed 14% abv, GV can in hot years
-smaragd: can improve with bottle ageing for decades
What is the location of Kremstal?
-Near town of Krems
-Borders Wachau to the west
-Danube river runs through
What influences the climate of Kremstal?
-warm Pannonian plates to the east = producing zweigelt (warmer than wachau)
Of which grape varieties must DAC wines be made in Kremstal?
-Riesling or Gruner Veltliner
-Red wines labelled as Niederosterreich
Describe the style of Riesling/Gruner veltliner in Kremstal
-dry, med(+)- high acidity, med-full body depending on site
-good to outstanding in quality
-mid to premium priced
Describe the style of Zweigelt in Kremstal
-fruity, easy drinking
-little or no oak, refreshing med(+)- high acidity
-med tannins & alcohol
-red and black fruits
-(very)good and often mid-priced
Where is Kamptal located?
-Above Kremstal
-named after river that flows through it: kamp
What is the climate of Kamptal?
-Similar to kremstal (similar temp&sunshine)
-warm breezes from Pannonian plains make it possible for black grape varieties
+ cooler air from Bohemian massif = large diurnal range = higher acidity
What is the style of Gruner Veltliner and Riesling from Kamptal?
-can classify for Kamptal DAC
-very good to outstanding quality for premium prices
-can bottle age
What is the style for red wine in Kamptal?
-good= Niederosterreich qualified, similar to Kremstal= fruity, easy drinking, mid-priced
-very good quality: aged in large oak for 12 months to add complexity
-pinot noir also increasingly being planted
What is an influence on the climate of Wagram?
-Warming influence from Pannonian plain
What is the soiltype of Wagram?
-Loess, making it suitable for Gruner Veltliner
Which grape variety other than GV is also planted in Wagram?
-Roter Veltliner =not related to GV
-white variety
-full-body, can develop nutty character with age
Where is Weinviertel located?
-In Niederosterreich, North location in region
-biggest appellation
What is the climate of Weinviertel?
-Relatively dry with 400-600 mm rainfall
-cooling breezes from North = higher diurnal range-> PEPPERY aroma can be retained, as well as the high acidities
What about reserve wines in Weinviertel?
-must be from Gruner Veltliner
-min 13% abv
-allows oak ageing and inclusion of some botrytis affected grapes to add richness and complexity, final wine = dry
What is the style of GV in Weinviertel?
-most peppery compared to other regions in Austria due to cooling influences
-citrus&green fruit, med(+) body, high acidity
-good-very good, inexpensive to premium priced
Where is Thermenregion located?
Close to Vienna
What is the climate of Thermenregion?
-Warm air from Pannonian plain = black grapes can ripen
What style does Sankt Laurent produce in Thermenregion?
-med(-) body, med tannins, red cherry
-matured in oak for spicy flavours
-good-very good often mid-priced
-red production: also high quality pinot noir
Which white grape varieties are planted in Thermenregion? Briefly describe the style
-Neuburger (local grape, subtle spicy&floral notes)
-Rotgipfler (full body, peach) & Zierfandler (aromatic:peach,honey&spice) = blended = local speciality
Where is Burgenland located?
-Border of hungary
What is the climate of Burgenland?
-flattest and warmest of Austria
-warm air from Pannonian plain = reliable to ripen black grapes
What are the 2 main black grape varieties of Burgenland? in which styles?
-Blaufrankisch & Zweigelt
-from fruity and for early drinking to
-full bodied intense wine with new oak
What are the 2 main white varieties of Burgenland? Which styles?
-Gruner Veltliner: not as good as Niederosterreich (too warm)
-Welschriesling : botrytised wine of outstanding quality
Where is Neusiedlersee located?
-In Burgerland
-eastern shores of large shallow lake
What is the climate of Neusiedlersee?
-One of warmest of Austria
-Flat, warm, humid vineyards
-the lake can reach temperatures up to 30 degrees
What happens in Autumn in Neusiedlersee?
-air temperature drops but water of lake still warm = fogs overnight on vineyards closest to lake
results in high humidity: encourage botrytis + warm afternoon sunshine = fog burns away and grey rot is prevented
=consistent noble rot every vintage
Which grape variety in Neusiedlersee is well suited for botrytis?
-Welschriesling due to thin skin
-planted near to lake
Which DAC produces TBA wines in Neusiedlersee?
-Ruster Ausbruch DAC= tba wines only and need to meet the requirements
-from municipality of Rust
What is the style of TBA wine in Neusiedlersee?
-very sweet with balanced high acidity
-noble rot: marmalade, no oak
-hand harvested over many weeks = high production costs and can bottle age
-very good to outstanding & premium priced
Which red wine is produced in Neusiedlersee?
-Not near lake but further away on warm plains
-Zweigelt and Blaufrankisch
Which wine can Neusiedlersee DAC produce?
-Red wine, no sweet
Within Neusiedlersee DAC the categories are DAC klassik and Reserve, describe these categories
-DAC klassik: 100% zweigelt, red cherry fruit, no/little oak. med acidity and med to full body
good to very good, mid priced
-Reserve: 60% zweigelt, blended with blaufrankisch, Pinot Noir and Sankt Laurent, aged in oak
Where is Leithaberg located?
-West of Neusiedlersee, large number of winestyle
Which main winestyles from Leithaberg? Where?
-From west shores of Neusiedlersee = Ausbruch due to humidity&fog = sweet weins (TBA)
-West from lake = less humidity and warm = blaufrankisch (20% of plantings)
What is a cooling influence of Leithaberg
-Leithaberg hills = diurnal range = retention of high acidity
Which wines can be made in Leithaberg DAC? describe the styles
-Red: 85% blaufrankisch, oak aged, med(+) acidity, med(+) full bodied, very good - outstanding for premium prices
-white: blends/single: weiss, char, neuburger or GV, med to high acidity, depending on the blend, med(-) to (+) body, very good, mid-premium priced
Where is Mittelburgenland located?
South of Leithaberg
What is the climate of Mittelburgenland?
-warm climate due to pannonian plains
-good for red wine, mainly blaufrankisch
Explain the 3 DAC styles of Mittelburgenland
-DAC: aged in stainless steel or large oak, mid priced, good-very good
-DAC+ :vineyard designation, higher min. alc, aged in large oak or barriques
-DAC Reserve:higher min alc, longer maturation period, aged in large oak or barrels = fuller bodied, pronounced aromas
-all must have min 85% blaufrankisch
Where is Steiermark located?
-south eastern corner, border of Slovenia
What is the aspect of Steiermark?
-steep hills with terraces
What is the climate of Steiermark?
-cold winters = winter freeze
-also spring frost and hail = netting to prevent damage
What is the main wine style of Steiermark?
-Crisp dry white wines
-welschriesling, sb&weiss
-high acidity due to large diurnal range, intended for early consumption’
-good to very good and mid-priced
Where is Wien located?
-Around Vienna
What style of wine is made in Wien?
-dry white wine, produced to be consumed immediately in informal local premises
-DAC= Wiener Gemischter Satz= 20 white varieties permitted, dry, not oaked although can taste sweet
-med(+)- high acidity, light body, acceptable to very good and inexpensive, some high quality wines at premium prices
