Austria Flashcards
Austria is divided into 3 large “lands” for growing regions. Name them.
Weinland
Steirerland
Bergland
Of the 3 Austrian growing regions, where are the Niederosterreich, Burgenland, Vienna, and Styria located?
Styria is in Steirerland. The other 3 are in Weinland.
Bergland is the mountainous West, and has a very small amount of vines.
As the Alps fade into Eastern Austria and eventually Hungary, what is the flatter area here in the Northeast of the country generally known as?
Lower Austria or Niederosterreich
What country is South of Austria? How about SE? And East? NE? North? NW? West?
S-Italy
SE-Slovenia
E-Hungary
NE-Slovakia
N-Czech Republic
NW-Germany
W-Switzerland
The Niederosterreich accounts for how much of Austrian production?
What river plays a pivotal role in viticulture here?
over 50%
Danube river
What is the climate like in Niederosterreich? How does it vary across the region?
Continental
The SE portions of Thermenregion and Carnuntum see warm winds from the Pannonian plain and are hotter areas overall.
The Western areas get cold winds from the North.
What event would shape the modern Austrian wine industry?
What did it mirror before? What happened after?
The DEG scandal of 1985. Producers got caught adding small trace amounts of diethylene glycol to wines as a sweetener.
Mirroring the German pradikat system before, Austrian wine laws would undergo sweeping reforms during the 90s and become much more like Burgundy.
What organization would guide the Austrian wine industry following the DEG scandal, and what was the end result in 2002?
The AWMB, Austrian Wine Marketing Board
Acceptance into the EU in 1995 was followed by the approval of the DAC system in 2002. Districtus Austriae Controllatus.
What wine college would help shape Austrian viticulture beginning in 1860?
Klosterneuburg Monastery
Who came up with the idea of Hochkultur and what is it?
Lenz Moser
training vines higher up on wires. it came about in the 20’s after cold winters killed vines not trained this way. by the 1980’s all vines in Austria were trained this way.
What is the KMW?
Klosterneuburg Must Weight scale.
1g sugar per 100g must.
Equals 5 Oechsle
What are the three levels of quality in the general wine classification of Austria? (table, igt, pdo)
Wein
-wein (anywhere in EU)
-osterreich (anywhere in Austria)
Landwein (IGT)
Qualitatswein (PDO)
If a bottle qualifies as Landwein in Austria, what 2 stipulations are there?
The grape(s) must be permitted at the Qualitatswein level and
they must be from 1 of the 3 Austrian growing regions.
How many varieties are approved for Austrian Qualitatswein?
What is the minimum must weight?
What is the minimum ABV?
40 varieties
15 KMW
9% (5% for pradikat)
Under Austrian Qualitatswein, what 4 categories exist?
Kabinett, DAC, Pradikatswein, Sekt
If a wine is labeled as Austrian Qualitatswein Kabinett, what 4 rules are there?
min must weight goes up, 17 KMW
max r.s. is 9g/L
no chaptalization allowed
max ABV is 13%
A DAC labeled wine can use the term ‘reserve’. what does it mean?
reserve is official, fuller style, min ABV 13%, oak evidence
A DAC labeled wine can use the term ‘klassik’. what does it mean?
klassik is unofficial. just means dry wine, not chaptalized, medium body, crisp and unoaked
What are the KMW values for Austrian Pradikatswein?
Spatlese
Auslese
Beerenauslese
Eiswein
Stroh or Schilfwein
Trockenbeerenauslese
19
21
25
25
25
30
What is a schilfwein? strohwein?
grapes are hung up or dried on reeds (schilf) or straw (stroh) mats for a minimum 3 months.
Who got the Austrian Sekt industry rolling and in what year?
Robert Alwin Schlumberger after working as Ruinart’s cellarmaster, returned to Vienna in 1842 and planted vines South of Vienna on chalky white soil.
This was the Goldeggen vineyard, and Goldeck was the brand, in 1859.
Who helped the Austrian Sekt market grow in the 1970’s?
Gerald Malat got the law changed, which did not allow wineries to make base wines for Sekt production.
What does Hauersekt mean?
What percent of Austrian production is Sekt?
It means Grower produced sparkling.
5%
What are the preferred grapes for Austrian Sekt?
What other grapes are also used?
Gruner and Welschriesling
Chard, Pinot, and Riesling
What are the 3 PDO’s that were approved for Austrian Sekt in 2022?
Sekt Austria
Sekt Austria Reserve
Sekt Austria Grosse Reserve
What is required for basic Austrian Sekt?
Basic Sekt is from any of the 40 grapes approved for production in Austria, from anywhere in the EU. Can indicate its from Austria, or produced in Austria.
No lees time or method required.
What is required to be Sekt Austria PDO (DAC)?
lees time is 9 months for traditional, 6 months if charmat
grapes come from a single state (lower Austria, burgenland, styria, etc)
What is required of Sekt Austria Reserve production?
traditional method required, 18 months lees.
Dosage max is Brut (12g/L)
State of origin on the label, could say the village.
What is required of Sekt Austria Grosse Reserve?
Single village required, and on the label, vineyard could be on the label.
36 months lees
(traditional method, brut max)
What do the traditional sparkling dosage terms look like in Austria?
Herb means Brut
Mild means Sweet
other wise its straightforward
What portion of the Austrian vineyard does Gruner account for?
33%
In what Austrian wines will I find Welschriesling?
Dessert wines and Sekt
In Styria is the top white grape, making simple still dry wines.
What is Chardonnay called in Styria?
Morillon
What is Zweigelt a crossing of? What was its original name?
Blaufrankisch and St Laurent
Rotburger
What is Blaufrankisch a crossing of?
Gouais Blanc and Zimmettraube
What is the top red grape in Austria?
The 2nd? (%)
Zweigelt 42%
Blaufrankisch 19%
What is the name for the large region that encompasses Wachau, Kremstal, etc?
Niederosterreich
What vast DAC covers NE Austria, about 100 km across?
In what year did it become a DAC?
Weinviertel DAC
2002, Austria’s 1st
What is Gruner’s preferred soil type in Austria?
And Riesling?
Gruner likes Loess. Lower on the slopes, chalky calcareous and mineral laden, the dirt holds just enough water to keep Gruner happy.
Riesling takes the Granite higher up, much like slate.
What co-op claims 33% of the Wachau vineyards?
Domaine Wachau
What year did Wachau become a DAC?
What are the three quality levels of the Wachau DAC?
2018
Gebietsweine-regional
Ortswein-village
Riedenwein-single vineyard
What is required at the Riedenwein level for Wachau DAC? How many Rieden are there?
Must be from a named vineyard (157)
Can only be Gruner or Riesling
No oak is allowed
How many villages are approved for Wachau DAC Ortswein?
23 villages
For Wachau DAC Gebietswein, are there any restrictions?
Not really. There are 17 grapes allowed, and you can make a Gemischter Satz blend.
What are the old Vinea Wachau classifications of 1983 that you can still use if you want to?
Steinfeder (max abv 11.5)
Federspiel (abv 11.5-12.5)
Smaragd (min abv 12.5)
Whats the UNESCO recognized feature of Wachau vineyards?
The 3 million square meters of hand built granite walls that help prevent erosion and retain heat and moisture.
How is the climate of Wachau?
Specifically, how does temperature vary and why?
Overall, the climate is continental and very dry, drier than the regions East.
The Westerly cold Alpine winds meet the Eastern warm Pannonian winds in Wachau. So as one travels from Loiben in the East to Spitz in the West, its gets colder.
Bruck, Schon, and Kalkofen are excellent Rieden in what area of Wachau?
The West, near Spitz
Rieden Achleiten and Klaus are near what town in Wachau?
Weissenkirchen, kinda in the middle
How long has Ried Schutt been around in the Wachau? What towns is it near?
1379, one of the first named vineyards here.
Durnstein and Loiben
Where is Ried Kellerberg? Why is it well known?
Who produces that small parcel?
In Durnstein. Its home to one of the oldest parcels in Wachau, ‘Kuss Den Pfennig’.
Schmidl
What DAC is right next door to Wachau along the Danube?
How much of production is Gruner here?
What red grows in the Southerly villages here?
Kremstal
55%
Zweigelt
Comparatively, how is a gruner from Kremstal compared to one from Wachau?
Kremstal is warmer, the wines have a touch more fruit and spice, not as laser like as the Wachau gruners.
Climatically, how does Kremstal differ from Wachau?
Its closer to the Pannonian plain, so warmer. Its also a touch wetter here, and botrytis is a bit more common.
DAC level wines from Kremstal may be what 2 grapes?
Gruner or Riesling
What are the 3 levels of Kremstal DAC wine?
Basic with no vineyard is min 12% ABV
If a vineyard is stated, min ABV is 12.5%
Reserve goes up to 13%, and oak and botrytis come into the picture. max r.s. 9g/L
Kamptal DAC is located where in the Niederosterreich?
How much wine is made here?
It borders Kremstal on the North and East.
3rd most of Austrian DAC’s behind Weinviertel and Neusiedlersee
How do the wines of Kamptal compare to Kremstal and Wachau?
There’s less humidity being further from the Danube, and cooler being further North. Fresh crisp style.
Similar to the VDP of Germany, what organization works in Kamptal and Kremstal to identify distinctive vineyard sites of quality?
How many did they find?
Osterreichische Traditionsweinguter (OTW)
Founded in 1992, in 2010 they named 53 Erste Lage. As of 2019 there are 81.
What geographical formation is notable in Kamptal?
Hieligenstein, a big old massif of Permian Sandstone, near the towns of Zobing and Langenlois.
What towns are the center for production in Kamptal?
Langenlois
Also Gobelsburg, Zobing, Kammern, and Legenfeld
DAC Kamptal is approved for what 2 grapes?
Gruner and Riesling
What are the 3 quality tiers of Kamptal DAC?
Just like Wachau
Gebietswein
Ortswein
Riedenwein
*Note, Kremstal has these, although not as widely used. they say Lagenwein instead of Riedenwein
From which DAC are the following producers?
Schloss Gobelsburg
Solomon Undhof
Rudi Pichler
Kamptal
Kremstal
Wachau
From which DAC are the following producers?
Proidl
Veyder Malberg
Brundlmayer
Kremstal
Wachau
Kamptal
From which DAC are the following producers?
Nigl
Hirsch
Donabaum
Kremstal
Kamptal
Wachau
Where is Traisental DAC?
What grape leads production?
In Niederosterreich, South of the Danube and bordering Kremstal on its Southern border.
Gruner
Where is Wagram DAC?
What grape leads production?
What famous monastery is here?
East of Kamptal along the Northern bank of the Danube.
Gruner
Klosterneuburg Monastery
What is a Heurigen?
An inn of sorts, famous in Austria, where the proprietor only offers current vintage wines and local cuisine in a communal setting.
Where is Carnuntum DAC?
What is unique about the DAC?
South of Vienna. Still in Niederosterreich.
Its the only DAC in Austria where red grapes lead production (55%)
What organization guides quality in Carnuntum DAC? When was it organized?
Rubin Carnuntum Wine Producers (1992)
The Carnuntum DAC was approved in what year?
For what 5 grapes?
2019
Chardonnay, Gruner, Weissburgunder
Zweigelt and Blaufrankisch
The Arbesthal Hills, Leitha Mountains, and Hundesheimer Mountains are important areas in what DAC?
Carnuntum DAC
What Austrian region sits West of Carnuntum DAC?
Thermenregion
What is Rotgipfler?
A white grape specialty of Thermenregion.
What is Zierfandler?
Another grape of Thermenregion, it turns pink right before harvest. Also called Spatrot.
What is the prominent growing area for wine in the Vienna DAC? What is the soil and aspect of it?
Nussberg Hill, fossil laden limestone hill facing South along the North bank of the Danube.
Also Bisamberg Hill
Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC requires how many grapes?
in what %?
is it a dry wine? abv?
a minimum of three
none can exceed 50%, nor can one be less than 10% if only 3 grapes are used.
trocken is not required. ABV will be above 12.5% if a ‘Ried’ is stated, below if not.
What are the 6 DAC’s of Burgenland?
Neusiedlersee
Leithaberg
Mittelburgenland
Eisenberg
Rosalia
Ruster Ausbruch
Whats the climate like in Burgenland?
Do red grapes or white grapes lead plantings here?
Hottest region in Austria. Lake Neusiedlersee contributes plenty of humidity, explaining all the tasty dessert wines made here.
Red 55%
A DAC red wine from Neusiedlersee will be what grape(s)?
If labeled reserve?
A blend based on Zweigelt
Reserve is min 60% Zweigelt
What 6 white grapes are approved for DAC Neusiedlersee?
Welschriesling, Weissburgunder, Chardonnay, Gruner, Muscat Ottonel, Muskateller
Where is Leithaberg DAC? Where are the best red wines coming from here? What grape(s) are they?
Western side of Neusiedlersee but up and away from the humidity.
Higher up slopes of Leithakalk, DAC requires 85% Blaufrankisch for reds.
What are the ageing requirements for Leithaberg DAC white and red wines?
reds get 2 years in oak, whites get 1 year
What is Ruster Ausbruch?
Why is it famous?
A sweet botrytized wine from the shores of Lake Neusiedlersee.
The city purchased its autonomy from the Habsburg Emperor in 1681 for 60000 gold coins and 500 barrels of its sweet wine.
DAC Rosalia permits what kinds of wines?
Reds and roses from Blaufrankisch or Zweigelt.
They’re the only ones with a codified rose.
DAC Mittelburgenland wine will be what grape?
Blaufrankisch
Eisenberg DAC is approved for what grape?
In what region of Austria is it?
Blaufrankisch
Southern Burgenland, where Mediterranean influence creeps in.
Styria accounts for what percent of Austrian production?
What organization is working to improve the wines of the area and when was it founded?
10%
STK Steirische Terroir und Klassikweinguter 2008
What are the 3 DAC of Styria?
Sudsteiermark DAC
Vulkanland DAC
Weststeiermark DAC
What is a Schilcher rose?
A specialty of Weststeiermark, made from the grape Blauer Wildbacher. Style is dry, still, but can be slightly or fully sparkling.
What is Vulkanland DAC known for?
Basalt soils (extinct volcanoes here) and Welschriesling and Weissburgunder.
What wine is made in Sudsteiermark DAC?
Half of Styrian vines and its best Rieden
Loire-esque Sauvvy B and Burgundian esque Chardonnay (morillon)
Production along the Slovenian border.
Where is Ried Lamm?
Hieligenstein, Kamptal
What is Spatrot?
A blend of Zierfandler and Rotgipfler produced in Thermenregion. Varying sweetness.
Who popularized Gemischter Satz?
Franz Weninger, the top producer
What is Opok?
A type of calcareous marl in Styria
Pfaffenberg, Hochacker, and Pelligen are notable Rieden in what DAC?
Kremstal
What do Heidi Schrock and Ernst Triembaumer produce?
Ruster Ausbruch
What are the parent grapes of Gruner?
Savagnin (Traminer) and St Georgen
Franz Hirtzberger, Alzinger, and Nikolaihof are all producers in what DAC?
Wachau
Ried Achleiten and Klaus are found in what DAC?
Wachau, central