Austria

Question 1

Where in Austria are all of the country’s winegrowing regions?

Answer 1

Eastern Austria

Question 2

What is the general, overall climate of Austria?

Answer 2

Continental

Question 3

Why do some regions in Austria have Mediterranean climates?

Answer 3

Warm air from the east.

Question 4

Fill in the blank.

Austria’s northermost winegrowing regions are in the foothills of the ____ Mountains.

Answer 4

Alps

Question 5

What river flows through Vienna and Niederösterreich?

Answer 5

Danube River

(Donau)

Question 6

The best vineyards in Niederösterreich are situated where?

Answer 6

Steep hillsides overlooking the Danube River and its tributaries.

Question 7

Select the correct answer.

Austria winemaking:

a. New oak is rarely used for white wine production.
b. New oak is always used for white wine production.
c. Austria only makes red wines using international grape varieties.

Answer 7

a. New oak is rarely used for white wine production.

Question 8

What are the 2 main styles of white wine production in Austria?

Answer 8

Very dry or very sweet white wines.

No current production of off-dry styles.

Question 9

What are the 2 main white grape varieties grown in Austria?

Answer 9

1. Grüner Veltliner
2. Riesling

Question 10

What are the 2 main red grape varieties grown in Austria?

Answer 10

1. Zweigelt
2. Blaufränkisch

Question 11

In Austria, wines without Geographical Indication are classified as:

Answer 11

Wein

Question 12

In Austria, wines with Geographical Indication are classified as:

Answer 12

Landwein

These are regional wines and are labeled with one of three broad geographic areas (Weinbauregionen): Weinland, Steirerland, or Bergland. They are rarely exported.

Question 13

Austrian wine law defines three levels of quality:

Answer 13

1. Wein
2. Landwein
3. Qualitätswein

Question 14

In Austria, Qualitätswein is subdivided into 2 categories:

Answer 14

1. Prädikatswein
2. Districtus Austriae Controllatus (DAC)

Question 15

In Austria, what does DAC stand for?

Answer 15

Districtus Austriae Controllatus

It’s similar to the AOC or DOC system.

Question 16

Select the correct answer.

Austria’s DAC system:

a. Permits only specific grape varieties and styles, and focuses on dry wines.
b. Permits all international grape varieites, and allows any style.
c. Permits only Sylvaner, and focuses on sweet wines.

Answer 16

a. Permits only specific grape varieties and styles, and focuses on dry wines.

Question 17

In Austria, Prädikatswein are common or rare?

Answer 17

Rare

Austria’s Prädikatswein hierarchy includes the additional categories of strohwein, a dried grape wine of at least Beerenauslese ripeness, and Ausbruch, a sweet specialty of Rust, a city on the western shore of Neusiedlersee.

Question 18

Wachau has its own classification system based on grape ripeness at harvest.

From the least ripe to most ripe they are:

Answer 18

1. Steinfeder
2. Federspiel
3. Smaragd

Question 19

Where does ‘Steinfeder’ come from?

Answer 19

Named for the feathery grass that grows in the area.

Question 20

Where does the term ‘Federspiel’ come from?

Answer 20

It’s an ancient term for a tool used in falconry.

Question 21

Where does the term ‘Smaragd’ come from?

Answer 21

Named for green lizards in the vineyards.

Question 22

In Austria, what is the word for Lower Austria?

Answer 22

Niederösterreich

Question 23

What are the 3 subregions of Niederösterreich?

Answer 23

1. Kamptal DAC
2. Kremstal DAC
3. Wachau DAC

Question 24

What is on nearly every capsule of Austrian wine, Qualitätswein level or higher?

Answer 24

The Banderole, or the flag of Austria

Question 25

Fill in the blank.

Burgenland is a winegrowing area and its most important DAC is ________.

Answer 25

Mittelburgenland DAC

Mittelburgenland DAC produces red wines from Blaufränkisch.

Question 26

Where is Steiermark (Styria) in Austria?

Answer 26

It is Austria’s southernmost winegrowing area.

Question 27

Kremstal DAC lies along which river?

Answer 27

Krems River (tributary to the Danube).

Question 28

Kremstal DAC makes what style of wines from which 2 grapes?

Answer 28

Dry whites from Grüner Veltliner and Riesling.

Question 29

Kamptal DAC lies along which river?

Answer 29

Kampt River (tributary to the Danube).

Question 30

Kamptal DAC makes what style of wines from which 2 grapes?

Answer 30

Dry whites from Grüner Veltliner and Riesling.

Question 31

Wachau DAC lies along which river?

Answer 31

Danube River

Question 32

Wachau DAC makes what style of wines from which 2 grapes?

Answer 32

Dry whites from Grüner Veltliner and Riesling.

Question 33

What is Vinea Wachau?

Answer 33

An organization of Wachau estates that are sworn to uphold the tenets of natural winemaking as spelled out in the Codex Wachau: no additives (including chaptalization), no aromatization (including the use of new barrique), and no “fractionation” (techniques such as de-alcoholization). All wines released by members must be bottled in the region and vinified from grapes grown in the Wachau.

For ease, you can remember that Vinea Wachau has another separate classification system based on ripeness/natural alcohol potential.

Question 34

Name 6 important Austrian wine producers.

Answer 34

1. Emmerich Knoll
2. Rudi Pichler
3. FX Pichler
4. Prager
5. Schloss Gobelsberg
6. Bründlmayer

Question 35

How would you briefly describe a Grüner Veltliner to a table?

Answer 35

Grüner Veltliner is an unoaked, crisp, dry white wine.

Question 36

What foods pair well with Grüner Veltliner?

Answer 36

• Fresh seafood
• Smoked fish
• Fresh vegetables
• Dishes with fresh herbs

It is a great contrast to fresh cheeses, schnitzel, and hard-to- pair foods like asparagus and artichokes.