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

What are Austrias nine federal states?

Answer 2

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 3

Which mountain ranges and forest are in Austria?

Answer 3

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 4

Soils in Lower Austria?

Answer 4

Granite and sedimentary silty windblown loess

Question 5

Soils in Burgenland?

Answer 5

Danubian deposits of calcareous sandy gravels, also pockets of silty loam and non-calcareous clays throughout Central Burgenland

Question 6

Soils in the Syrian Basin?

Answer 6

The soils are influenced by several distinct mountain ranges. It includes silt, marl, sand, gravel, sandstone, conglomerates, gneiss, amphibolite, and limestone, with a small amount of volcanic basalts.

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

Lower Austria’s climate?

Answer 9

Lower Austria experiences considerable shifts in temperature during the growing season. Near harvest, warm winds come in from the Pannonian Plain in the east across Wagram, settling into the valleys by day, followed by cooler winds from the northern forests at night, yielding fresh and opulent wine styles. Driest of all the regions

Question 10

Burgenland’s climate?

Answer 10

Burgenland is significantly affected by the warm Pannonian climate. The growing season can get quite hot, allowing for robust red wines.

Question 11

Styria’s climate?

Answer 11

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 12

Bergland’s climate?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

What is KMW?

Answer 13

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 14

When did Austria become a DAC?

Answer 14

2002

Question 15

What does DAC stand for?

Answer 15

Districtus Austriae Controllatus

Question 16

How many DAC’s does Austria have?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

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

Answer 17

Three.
Wein, Landwein, and Qualitätswein.

Question 18

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

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Describe Landwein?

Answer 19

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 20

Describe Qualitätswein?

Answer 20

Qualitätswein makes up 84% of production, corresponds with the EU’s Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). To qualify, grapes must be harvested in a single wine growing region and produced in a facility within or bordering that region

Question 21

How do Qualitätswein varieties get approved?

Answer 21

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 22

How many varieties are approved for Qualitätswein and their laws?

Answer 22

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 23

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

Answer 23

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

Question 24

What are the two most significant styles for DAC?

Answer 24

-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 25

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

Answer 25

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 26

Spätlese KMW and a description of the grapes?

Answer 26

19*
perfectly ripe grapes

Question 27

Auslese KMW and a description of the grapes?

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Beerenauslese KMW and a description of the grapes?

Answer 28

25*
over ripe botrytized grapes

Question 29

Eiswein KMW and a description of the grapes?

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Strohwein, Schilfwein KMW and a description of the grapes?

Answer 30

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

Question 31

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

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Name some important Austrian Sekt producers?

Answer 32

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

Question 33

What does “hauersekt” on a label mean?

Answer 33

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

Question 34

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

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Laws for Austrian Sekt grapes?

Answer 35

-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 36

Laws for Sekt Austria PDO?

Answer 36

-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

Question 37

Laws for Sekt Austria Reserve PDO?

Answer 37

-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 38

Laws for Sekt Austria Grosse Reserve PDO?

Answer 38

-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 39

Designation/Dosage levels for Austrian Sekt?

Answer 39

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

Question 40

Major white grape varieties in Austria?

Answer 40

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

Question 41

Non major white grape varieties in Austria?

Answer 41

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

Question 42

Major red grape varieties in Austria?

Answer 42

Zweigelt
Blaufränkisch
Blauer Portugieser
Blauburger
St. Laurent (Sankt Laurent)

Question 43

Non major red grapes in Austria?

Answer 43

Merlot, Blauburgunder, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Blauer Wildbacher.

Question 44

Name the eight distinct regions inside Lower Austria?

Answer 44

Wachau, Kremstal, Kamptal, Wagram, Weinviertel, Thermenregion, Traisental, and Carnuntum.

Question 45

Explain the three climatic areas of Lower Austria?

Answer 45

-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 46

Describe the Loess soils in Lower Austria?

Answer 46

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 47

Describe the Granite soils in Lower Austria?

Answer 47

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 48

What did Domäine Wachau used to be called ?

Answer 48

Coop Dürnstein

Question 49

Describe the Gebietsweine tier for Wachau?

Answer 49

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 50

Describe the mid tier Orswein for Wachau?

Answer 50

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 51

Describe the top tier Reidenwein for Wachau?

Answer 51

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