Austria

Question 1

Between which latitudes are located Austrian vineyards?

Answer 1

47°N & 49°N

Question 2

What is the climate in Austrian wine regions?

Answer 2

Cool continental with short summers & very harsh winters with northerly cold winds and easterly warm winds at play.

Question 3

What is the most widely planted grape variety in Austria?
What are notable characteristics of this grape?

Answer 3

Grüner Veltliner: White grape, which yields need to be controlled to produce medium to full-bodied concentrated wines with high acidity. Flavors can range from green fruit, citrus, stone fruit & white pepper (honey and toast with age), rarely aged in barriques.

Question 4

What is the second most planted grape in Austria?

Answer 4

Welschriesling (Producing fresh, simple whites with green fruit and high acidity OR top quality botrytised wines)

Question 5

What other notable white grapes are planted in Austria?

Answer 5

-Riesling (in Wachau, Kamptal, Kremstal)
-Chardonnay,
-Müller-Thurgau,
-Sauvignon Banc (in Steiermark)

Question 6

What are 3 specialty black grapes of Austria?

Answer 6

-Zweigelt (A cross between BF x SL)
-Blaufränkisch (BF)
-Sankt Laurent (SL)

Question 7

Describe a typical Zweigelt-based wine.

Answer 7

Deeply colored red with soft tannins, bramble fruit and possible subtle oak

Question 8

Describe a typical Blaufränkisch-based wine.

Answer 8

Red wine with medium tannins, high acidity, peppery, sour cherry flavour and possible subtle oak

Question 9

Describe a typical Sankt Laurent-based wine.

Answer 9

Similar to Pinot Noir in character with oak ageing

Question 10

What other black grapes are grown in Austria?

Answer 10

-Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot

Question 11

What are the 4 federal states for PDO in Austria?

Answer 11

-Neiderösterreich (lower Austria)
-Burgenland
-Steiermark (Styria)
-Wein (Vienna)

Question 12

What is DAC in Austria?

Answer 12

Districtus Austriae Controllatus
Smaller wine regions with distinct styles

Question 13

What are some notable Grüner Veltliner and Riesling producing regions within Niederösterreich?

Answer 13

-Weinviertel (largest)
-Wachau, Kremstal, Kamptal (often on steep, south-facing terraced hills overlooking the rivers)

Question 14

What are 3 categories of wines for which Burgenland is known?

Answer 14

• Botrytised Welschriesling-based sweet wines from the Neusiedlersee
• Red wines (from Zweigelt, BF & SL)
• Dry whites from Pin. Blanc, Welschriesling, GV & Chard.