Austria

Question 1

Which countries border Austria?

Answer 1

Switzerland (and Liechtenstein) on its western edge, the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, and Slovenia to the south. Germany northwest and Italy southwest

Question 2

When was the first record of Trockenbeerenauslese in Austria?

Answer 2

1526

Question 3

What was the major scandal in Austria and when did it happen?

Answer 3

Diethylene glycol—a colorless, odorless, poisonous chemical—gave a light wine some added texture. The “antifreeze” scandal of 1985. 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.

Question 4

Who influenced the development of the vine in Austria?

Answer 4

Charlemagne and the Cistercian monks

Question 5

What are Austrias nine federal states?

Answer 5

Lower Austria (Niederösterreich in German), Burgenland, and Vienna (Wien) = Weinland.
Steirerland, includes the federal state of Styria (Steiermark)
Carinthia (Kärnten), Upper Austria (Oberösterreich), Tyrol (Tirol), Vorarlberg, and Salzburg.

Question 6

Which mountain ranges and forest are in Austria?

Answer 6

Alps in the west which run east descending into eastern Austria to surface again as the Carpathian Mountain Range
Bohemian forest in the north

Question 7

What river flows through Austria?

Answer 7

Danube River

Question 8

Which two important lakes are in Austria?

Answer 8

Lake Constance sits on the German-Swiss border in the west, and Lake Neusiedl (Neusiedlersee) borders Hungary in the east

Question 9

Styria’s climate?

Answer 9

Styria has a Mediterranean influence from the Adriatic in the south, causing longer, warmer days than experienced by its northern counterparts. The nights, though, feel more alpine and cool in the steeply planted vineyards.

Question 10

Bergland’s climate?

Answer 10

Bergland, which comprises the western regions of the Alps, experiences an Atlantic influence, with twice as much rain as in Lower Austria.

Question 11

What is KMW?

Answer 11

Klosterneuburg Must Weight Scale (KMW) is a measurement of 1 gram of sugar per 100 grams of grape must (1 degree KMW is approximately 5 degrees Oechsle)

Question 12

When did Austria become a DAC?

Answer 12

2002

Question 13

What does DAC stand for?

Answer 13

Districtus Austriae Controllatus

Question 14

How many DAC’s does Austria have?

Answer 14

Austria has 18 DACs, with 15 throughout Weinland, and 3 in Steirerland.

Question 15

How many levels of quality does Austria have and what are they?

Answer 15

Three.
Wein, Landwein, and Qualitätswein.

Question 16

What is the difference between Wein and Österreich (the German name for Austria, also labeled as österreichischer Wein)?

Answer 16

Wein, can include grapes from anywhere in the EU, Österreich,must be sourced from Austria only

Question 17

Describe Landwein?

Answer 17

Is equivalent to the EU’s Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), must be produced from grape varieties that are approved for Qualitätswein, and 100% of the grapes must come solely from one of the three winegrowing areas: Weinland, Steirerland, or Bergland. These wines must exhibit traits that are representative of the area.

Question 18

Describe Qualitätswein?

Answer 18

Qualitätswein (80% of Austria’s total production) 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: 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.

Question 19

How do Qualitätswein varieties get approved?

Answer 19

Must be inspected and approved by a government tasting official and given a Federal Inspection Number. This number, along with the banderole capsule, verifies strict measures of quality.

Question 20

How many varieties are approved for Qualitätswein and their laws?

Answer 20

There are 40 approved varieties, and wines must show typicity of region, meet the minimum must weight requirement of 15 degrees KMW, adhere to maximum yields of 65.7 hectoliters per hectare, and have a minimum 9% ABV (5% for Prädikatswein)

Question 21

What are four overarching designations that can be labeled as Qualitätswein?

Answer 21

Kabinett, DAC wines, Prädikatswein (which has its own style categories), and Sekt Austria g.U.

Question 22

What are the two most significant styles for DAC?

Answer 22

-Klassik is an unofficial term that refers to dry, unchaptalized, medium-bodied styles that are often crisp, fruity, unoaked, and moderate in alcohol.
-Reserve is an official term given to fuller styles; it requires higher must weight and minimum alcohol (13%). DAC Reserve wines often exhibit more extract on the palate and frequently experience oak aging.

Question 23

What is Mostwägerbescheiningung and what styles of wine by law is it used for?

Answer 23

A certificate required to verify the grapes’ quality. For Spätlese and Auslese, wines cannot be submitted to the tasting commission until January 1 following harvest. For all other styles (Beerenauslese, Eiswein, Strohwein, Schilfwein, and Trockenbeerenauslese), wines can be submitted beginning April 1 after harvest.
Used for Prädikatswein style wines

Question 24

Spätlese KMW and a description of the grapes?

Answer 24

19*
perfectly ripe grapes

Question 25

Auslese KMW and a description of the grapes?

Answer 25

21* selection of grapes, with spoiled/diseased grapes removed

Question 26

Beerenauslese KMW and a description of the grapes?

Answer 26

25* over ripe botrytized grapes

Question 27

Eiswein KMW and a description of the grapes?

Answer 27

25* grapes harvested and pressed when frozen and no cry extraction

Question 28

Strohwein, Schilfwein KMW and a description of the grapes?

Answer 28

25* fully ripe sugar rich grapes, hung or dried on reed (shilf) or straw (stroll) for a minimum of 3 months before vinification

Question 29

Trockenbeerenauslese KMW and a description of the grapes? (Ausbruch also permitted in Rust)

Answer 29

30* late harvested grapes generally affected by botrytis and extremely shriveled

Question 30

Name some important Austrian Sekt producers?

Answer 30

Robert Alwin Schlumberger 1859 Goldeck Johann Kattus, Hochriegl 1890 Karl Inführ, who introduced the Charmat method in 1949.

Question 31

What does "hauersekt" on a label mean?

Answer 31

“Grower’s sparkling wine,” on the label indicates that a wine was made with fruit that was estate grown and produced.

Question 32

What are the quality levels of Austrian Sekt from top to bottom?

Answer 32

Sekt Austria Grosse Reserve PDO Sekt Austria Reserve PDO Austria PDO Austrian Sekt

Question 33

Laws for Austrian Sekt grapes?

Answer 33

-No PDO -Produced from the 40 grape varieties permissible for Qualitätswein -“Austrian Sekt” allowed on label if grapes or base wine comes from Austria -“Produced in Austria” allowed on label if production takes place in Austria

Question 34

Laws for Sekt Austria PDO?

Answer 34

-All sparkling methods, dosage levels, styles, and colors permitted -Minimum nine months on the lees for traditional method or six months in the case of tank method -Grapes must be harvested within a single state -bottles must carry the official red and white seal on the capsule with the words Geschützter Ursprung, meaning PDO and certified quality and the quality level

Question 35

Laws for Sekt Austria Reserve PDO?

Answer 35

-Hand-harvested and whole-cluster pressed -Grapes must be grown and pressed within a single state that must appear on the label -Only traditional method -Minimum 18 months on the lees -Maximum Press Yield of 60% -Village source may be stated on the label -Maximum dosage 12 g/l

Question 36

Laws for Sekt Austria Grosse Reserve PDO?

Answer 36

-Hand-harvested and whole-cluster pressed -Grapes must be grown and pressed within a single village that must appear on the label -Same methods, dosage levels permitted as for Reserve -Minimum 36 months on the lees -Vineyard source allowed on the label -Maximum Press Yield of 50%

Question 37

Designation/Dosage levels for Austrian Sekt?

Answer 37

Brut zero 0-3 extra herb 0-6 herb 0-12 extra troken 12-17 troken 17-32 halbtroken 32-50 mild >50

Question 38

Major white grape varieties in Austria?

Answer 38

Grüner Veltliner Welschriesling Riesling (Weisser Riesling, Rheinriesling Weissburgunder (Klevner, Pinot Blanc Müller-Thurgau (Riesling and Chasselas de Courtillier) Chardonnay (Morillon) Sauvignon Blanc

Question 39

Non major white grape varieties in Austria?

Answer 39

Rotgipfler, Sämling 88 (Scheurebe), Neuburger, Traminer, Muskateller (Gelber Muskateller, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains).

Question 40

Major red grape varieties in Austria?

Answer 40

Zweigelt (Blaufränkisch x St. Laurent crossing) Blaufränkisch (Gouais Blanc with Zimmettraube) Blauer Portugieser Blauburger (Blauer Portugieser x Blaufränkisch) St. Laurent (Sankt Laurent)

Question 41

Non major red grapes in Austria?

Answer 41

Merlot, Blauburgunder, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Blauer Wildbacher.

Question 42

Name the eight distinct DAC regions inside Lower Austria?

Answer 42

Wachau (2020), Kremstal (2007), Kamptal (2008), Wagram (2022), Weinviertel (2002), Thermenregion (2023), Traisental (2006), and Carnuntum (2019).

Question 43

Explain the three climatic areas of Lower Austria?

Answer 43

-North around Weinviertel, is broken down into a range of microclimates. -West of Vienna along the Danube (Wachau, Kremstal, Kamptal, Traisental, and Wagram), are greatly influenced by the river, the cool winds from the northern forests and the warm Pannonian Plain to the east. -Southeast of Vienna (Carnuntum and Thermenregion), a territory more directly impacted by heat from the plain.

Question 44

Describe the Loess soils in Lower Austria?

Answer 44

Deep, chalky masses of wind-swept calcareous-dolomitic loess make up over half of the vineyards in Lower Austria. These mineral-laden soils, blown in from the Alps, provide ample water retention, which is crucial for Grüner Veltliner.

Question 45

Describe the Granite soils in Lower Austria?

Answer 45

Granite deposits, dating back to the Neogene period (23 million to 2.6 million years ago), come from the Molasse Basin and consist of thin soils over primary rock (called urgestein and derived from the Bohemian Massif). Granite is found in the higher vineyards along the Danube—a prime area for the region’s best Riesling.

Question 46

What did Domäine Wachau used to be called ?

Answer 46

Coop Dürnstein

Question 47

Describe the Gebietsweine tier for Wachau?

Answer 47

All grapes, regardless of level, must be hand-harvested. Allowing 17 grapes including Gemischter Satz blends; they can be presented as monovarietal wines or blends and often represent a youthful, crisp style.

Question 48

Describe the mid tier Orswein for Wachau?

Answer 48

Must be produced in a recognized village (there are 23), with a more focused selection of permissible grapes including Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Weissburgunder, Neuburger, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muskateller, and Traminer.

Question 49

Describe the top tier Reidenwein for Wachau?

Answer 49

Single-vineyard wines, and can only be made from Grüner Veltliner and Riesling grown in 1 of 157 exceptional named vineyards.

Question 50

What are the names of the Benedictine monasteries in Krems?

Answer 50

Melk and Göttweig

Question 51

What is the Vinea Wachau Nobilis Districtus formed?

Answer 51

Formed in 1983 for a commitment to “quality, origin, and purity.”

Question 52

Name the three categories were created and trademarked in 1984 to replace the German system in place at the time and classify Vinea Wachau wines according to weight and natural alcohol level achieved.

Answer 52

Steinfeder, Federspiel, Smaragd

Question 53

What is Steinfeder?

Answer 53

The lightest style, named for the long wispy grasses that can be found near vineyards. Typically fermented in stainless steel, fruity and youthful, with a max of 11.5% ABV and must weight of at least 15* KMW.

Question 54

What is Federspiel?

Answer 54

Federspiel, a name that references bait used to lure falcons to the falconer’s glove, replaced Kabinett wines. These wines have more pronounced varietal character yet still possess a youthful, fruit-driven style, as they too are commonly fermented in stainless steel. Federspiel requires ABV levels between 11.5 and 12.5% and a min must weight of 17* KMW

Question 55

What is Smaragd?

Answer 55

Smaragd, named for the sun-bathing lizards often found on stones throughout the region, was not introduced until 1986 and replaced dry wines of Spätlese ripeness. These wines come from the warmest, best sites, and tend to be long lived, powerful, and concentrated: last to be harvested and may show signs of botrytis, with more honeyed and mushroom-like aromas, deeper golden hue in the glass. Wines must reach a min of 12.5% ABV (with a minimum must weight of 18.2 degrees KMW), many can achieve over 14% alcohol in warm years.