Austria Flashcards
What is Gemischter Satz? Where is it still popular?
- A traditional field blend
- Carnuntum and Wien
What subregions of Niederösterreich have a DAC status?
- Weinviertal
- Traisental
- Kamptal
- Kremstal
Is Welschriesling related to Riesling?
No and it is inferior
What region of Austria shares many viticultural and climatic traits with Hungary?
Burgenland
Describe the climate of the Burgenland.
-Hot Pannonian (Continental) Climate - Tempered by the cooling influence of the Neusiedlersee Lake
What grape are the DAC wines of Weinviertal? What are the min ABVs for both Normal and Reserve? What is required of the wines?
- Grüner Veltliner
- Min ABV 12%
- Approved by tasting panel - must show a distinct peppery note
- No obvious wood or botrytis notes
- RESERVE
- Debuted w/the 2009 vintage
- Fuller-bodied wines
- Min ABV - 13%
- May reveal hints of wood or botrytis
- Supported by richer character in the wine
What region contains Austria’s best vineyards?
Wachau
Describe the Wachau’s location.
A narrow band of steep slopes
- Along the Danube’s bank
- Located between the Melk and Krems Rivers
Where are the Wachau’s best vineyards located?
Terraced along the northern banks of the Danube
What is gföhler?
The local name for the soil in the Wachau.
It is a combination of Loess and gföhler (gneiss)
What is the min ABV of Austrian Prädikatswein?
5%
What is peculiar about Austrian Kabinett?
-Rather than the beginning rung of Prädikatswein it is a subset of Qualitätswein
What is the scale for must weights used in Austria? What is the ratio for sugar to must weight?
Klosterneuberger Mostwaage Scale
1ºKMW = 1% Sugar content of the must
What are the min must weights for Austrian wine?
- Generic Wine - 10.6ºKMW
- Landwein - 14ºKMW
- Qualitätswein - 15ºKMW
- Kabinett - 17ºKMW
- Spätlese - 19ºKMW
- Auslese - 21ºKMW
- Beerenauslese - 25ºKMW
- Strohwein - 25ºKMW
- Eiswein - 27ºKMW
- Ausbruch - 27ºKMW
- Trockenbeerenauslese - 30ºKMW
What village is Achleiten in?
- A vineyard located in the village of Weissenkirchen (Wachau)
- Home to the region’s most pedigreed vines
- Produced by some of Wachau’s finest producers
- FX Pichler
- Prager
- Emmerich Knoll
What is the Vinea Wachau?
-Founded in 1983
-Members control more than 85% of the Wachau’s vineyard acreage
-An org. or estates sworn to uphold the tenets of natural winemaking
-As spelled out in the Codex
›No additives (including chaptalization)
›No aromatization (including the use of new barrique)
›No fractionization (techniques such as de-alc’ing)
-All wines released by members must be bottled in the Wachau and vinified from grapes grown there
When does the first Trockenbeerenauslese in Austria date to?
- 1526
- Predating German Spätlese by over 200 years
What is the largest wine growing region in Austria?
-Niederösterreich (Lower Austria)
Contains twice the planted vineyard area of the next leading weinebaugiete - Burgenland
What is the Pannonian Plain?
- Located in the southern Niederösterreich
- A former seabed of loess soils stretching from eastern Austria through Hungary and many countries of former eastern bloc
- Continental climate - hot, dry summers/severe winters
What are Austria’s 3 major winemaking regions (Weinbaugebiete)?
- Niederösterreich
- Burgenland
- Styrie (Steiermark; contains less than 10% of the country’s vineyards)
What are the 3 quality levels of Austrian wine? What are their max yields?
- Wein
- Landwein
- Qualitätswein
-All share the same max yield of 9,000kg/ha (67.5hl/ha)
What was Wagram known as prior to 2007?
Donauland
What are the 8 subzones of Niederösterreich? Which are long the Danube? Which are not?
- Along the Danube
- Carnuntum
- Traisental
- Wagram
- Kremstal
- Kamptal
- Wachau
- Not along the Danube
- Weinviertal
- Thermenregion
What was Austria’s first DAC (and also Niederösterreich’s largest subzone)?
Weinviertal (2002)
What wine quality tier in Austria require a tasting panel and chemical analysis?
Qualitätswein
What is required for Qualitätswein bottles?
- State control number (prüfnummer)
- Red & white banderole on the bottle’s capsule
What is the Kamptal’s most important town of production?
-Langenlois
What tributary of the Danube is the Kremstal on?
Krems River
What is the synonym for Blaufränkisch in Germany? Hungary?
Germany - Lemberger
Hungary - Kékfrankos
Where is Roter Veltliner considered a local specialty? What is it?
- A specialty of Wagram
- Unrelated to Grüner
- Red grape - produced as a white wine
Where is the Klosterneuberg Institute located?
Wagram
What is the main grape of Wagram?
Grüner Veltliner
What is Steiermark’s most cultivated grape? Second?
- Welschriesling
- Weissburgunder
What is the Österreichischen Traditionsweinguter?
- An association of producers founded in 1992
- Created the “Erste Lage” status - which is not legally recognized
- The organization is closely aligning itself w/the DAC concept
- Only GV & RS may carry the Austrian “Erste Lage” logo
What is the most cultivated white variety in Austria? What portion of the vineyards are planted to it?
Grüner Veltliner
- Indigenous
- Nearly 30% of the total vineyard acreage
What is Strohwein?
- A dried grape wine
- Of at least Beerenauslese ripeness
What is Ausbruch?
A sweet-specialty of Rust in Neusiedlersee-Hügelland
What does Federspiel mean? What are the reqs?
- Named for falconer’s tool
- Min 17ºKMW
- ABV - 11.5% - 12.5%
What region produces the best red and sweet wines in Austria?
Burgenland
What are the reqs for Smaragd? What was it named for?
- An emerald lizard that basks in the sun on the terraces
- Min ABV - 12.5%
- Min Must Weight - 19ºKMW ~ 95ºOechsle or Spätlese ripeness
- Wines must be dry
- They can show signs of botrytis
What two Burgenland subzones are divided by Lake Neusiedlersee?
- Neusiedlersee
- Neusiedlersee-Hügelland
What are Burgenland’s subzones?
- Neusiedlersee
- Neusiedlersee-Hügelland
- Mittelburgenland (South)
- Südburgenland (South)
What are the DACs of the Burgenland?
- Mittelburgenland
- Leithaberg (Neusiedlersee-Hügelland)
- Eisenberg
- Neusiedlersee
What are the red DACs of Austria?
- Mittelburgenland (Blaufränkisch)
- Leithaberg (Blaufränkisch)
- Eisenberg (Blaufränkisch)
- Neusiedlersee (Zweigelt)
Which 3 DACs of Niederösterreich are very similar? Describe the regulations.
- Traisental, Kamptal, and Kremstal DACs
- May be Grüner or Riesling
- Grüner may show a more delicate spice
- Standard or “Reserve”
- Min ABV - 12% & 13%
- Standard may have no obvious notes of wood or botrytis
What tributary of the Danube is the Kamptal located on?
Kamp River (Neighbor to Kremstal)
How many “Erste Lage” sites are there? When were they promoted? What regions are they in?
- 2010
- 52 sites
- Kremstal, Kamptal, Wagram & Traisental
What varieties may carry the Austrian “Erste Lage” logo?
Gruner Veltliner and Riesling
Describe the wines of the Mittelburgenland DAC regulations.
- Red from Blaufränkisch
- Normal
- Not sold until 3/1 of the year following harvest
- Min ABV - 12.5%
- RESERVE
- Not sold until 3/1 of the 2nd year following harvest
- Min ABV - 13%
- Large cask or used; in the event of barrique aging (Although many producers experiment w/barriques)
Where is the Leithaberg DAC located? What varieties are permitted?
•Neusiedlersee-Hügelland
- White - may be single variety or blends
- Grüner Veltliner
- Chardonnay
- Neuburger
- Weissburgunder
- Red
- Min 85% Blaufränkisch
What are the 6 most important white grapes in Austria?
- Grüner Veltliner
- Welschriesling
- Müller Thurgau
- Weißburgunder
- Riesling
- Chardonnay
How many grapes are permitted for Austrian Qualitätswein and Landwein?
The same 35 grapes
What is allowed on the label for “wein” category wines?
- Vintage
- Variety
- May not be more exclusive than Österreich
What white grape performs especially well in Südsteiermark?
Sauvignon Blanc
What grapes are used to produce modern Ausbruch from Ruster?
- Chardonnay
- Muskatellar
- Pinot Blanc
- Neuburger
- Welschriesling
- Traminer
- Pinot Gris
What is Blauer Wildbacher?
- An ancient red grape
- Comprised over 95% of the red grape acreage in Weststeiermark
- Often vinified as Schicher (a racy style of local rosé)
What are the subregions to Steiermark (Styria)?
- Südsteiermark
- Weststeiermark
- Süduststeiermark
What are the main grapes of Thermenregion?
- Rare white grapes
- Rotgipfler
- Zierfandler
- Produced varietally or blended Spätrot-Rotgipfler
What are the synonyms for Chardonnay in Austria?
- Morillon
- Feinburgunder
Where was Alois Kracher located? What was he known for?
- Illmitz (Neusiedlersee)
- Eiswein, BA & TBA are legendary
- Especially TBA Scheurebe, considered one of the finest expressions
What is the leading red grape in Austria?
Zweigelt
- Blaufränkisch x St. Laurent
- Developed in 1922
What are the 4 most important red grapes in Austria?
- Zweigelt
- Blaufränkisch
- Blauer Portugieser
- Blauburger
What are the levels of classification the producers have developed in the Wachau?
- Steinfeder
- Federspiel
- Smaragd
What does Steinfeder mean? What are the reqs?
- Named for the local grass in the vineyard
- Min must - 15ºKMW
- Max ABV 11.5%
What are the 2 additional categories in the Austrian Prädikatswein that is not found in the German?
- Strohwein
- Ausbruch
Are winemakers allowed to chaptalize or add Süssreserve to Qualitätsweins?
No
What are the Blaufränkisch based DACs of Austria?
- Mittelburgenland
- Leithaberg
- Eisenberg
What is the sole Zweigelt DAC of Austria? When was it promoted?
- Neusiedlersee
- 2012
What is Schicher?
-A racy style of local rosé in Weststeiermark
When did “Wein” replace “Tafelwein”?
In time for the 2009 vintage
What portion of Austrian wine is Qualitätswein?
two-thirds
How many hectares is Wien (Vienna)?
700ha
Where is Rust located?
-Neusiedlersee-Hügelland
Describe the production process of Ausbruch.
- Richly concentrated, botrytis-affected must is added to less concentrated must
- Traditionally Furmint grapes were used
- From fruit harvested in the same vineyard
- The two are cofermented
- Then aged in barrel before release
What 3 broad geographic regions (Weinbauregionen) may be labeled “landwein”?
- Weinland (Niederösterreich, Wien, Burgenland)
- Steierland (Steiermark)
- Bergland
Where are most of Austria’s lusciously sweet wines produced?
Around the lake of Neusiedlersee in the Burgenland (but a vast majority of Austria’s wines are fermented to dry)
What is Spätrot-Rotgipfler?
A blend of Rotgipfler and Zierfandler, produced in Thermenregion
What is the “Erste Lage” logo?
1ötw
What is the main grape of Carnuntum?
Zweigelt
What two categories can Qualitätswein be divided into?
- Prädikatswein
- Districtus Austriae Controllatus (DAC)
What is Heuriger? Sturm?
Heuriger
-A primeur wine consumed in its infancy in taverns of the same name
Sturm
- Even fresher than Heuriger
- Half-fermented, sparkling grape juice
- Usually accompanies harvest-time meals
What is Blauburger a cross of?
Blaufrankisch x Blauer Portugieser
What percentage of Austria’s acreage is white varieties?
-65% (2012)
What are the 9 DACs that have been developed?
- Weinviertel (2002)
- Mittelburgenland (2005)
- Traisental (2006)
- Kremstal (2008)
- Kamptal (2008)
- Leithaberg (2009)
- Eisenberg (2010)
- Neusiedlersee (2012)
- Wien Gemischter Satz (2013)
What is the only European city to have its own wine appellation within city limits?
Vienna
Which subregions of Niederösterreich do not have a DAC status?
- Carnuntum
- Thermenregion
- Wagram
- Wachau
Which sub-regions of Niederösterreich are not along the Danube?
Weinviertal
Thermenregion
Which sub-regions of Niederösterreich are along the Danube?
Carnuntum Traisental Wagram Kremstal Kamptal Wachau
Where is the Dechant vineyard?
Langelois (Kamptal)
Where is the Heiligenstein vineyard?
Zöbing (Kamptal)
Where is the Lamm vineyard?
Kammern (Kamptal)
When was the viticultural research institute at Klosterneuburg built?
1860
What was the chemical used in the ‘antifreeze’ scandal of 1985?
Diethylene glycol- a colorless, ordorless, poisonous chemical
What is the name for a major winemaking region?
Weinbaugebiete
What are the four weinbaugebiete from north to south?
Niederosterreich, Wein (Vienna), Burgenland and Styria (Steiermark)
What are the three levels of quality defined by Austrian wine law?
Wein, Landwein and Qualitatswein
What is the maximum yield for all three quality levels of wine?
9,000 kg/ha
What are the two subdivisions of the Qualitatswein level?
Pradikatswein and Districtus Austriae Controllatus (DAC)
What are the differences between the German and Austrian Pradikat?
Austrian Pradikat does not include Kabinett (it is instead a subset of Qualitatswein) and includes the categories of strohwein and ausbruch
What are the levels of the Praditkatswein?
Spatlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Strohwein, Eiswein, Ausbruch, and Trockenbeerenauslese
What is the minimum must weight of Landwein?
14 KMW
What is the minimum must weight of Qualitatswein?
15 KMW
What is the minimum must weight of Kabinett?
17 KMW
What is the minimum must weight of Spatlese?
19 KMW
What is the minimum must weight of Auslese?
21 KMW
What is the minimum must weight of Beerenauslese?
25 KMW
What is the minimum must weight of Strohwein?
25 KMW
What is the minimum must weight of Eiswein?
27 KMW
What is the minimum must weight of Ausbruch?
27 KMW
What is the minimum must weight of TBA?
30 KMW
What is the climate of Niederosterreich?
Continental- hot, dry summers and severe winters
Where are most of Niederosterreich’s subzones? What are the exceptions?
Located along the Danube River or its tributaries; The exceptions are Weinviertel and Thermenregion
What are the grapes allowed for Traisental DAC?
Gruner Veltliner and Riesling
What are the soils of Traisental DAC?
Limestone and gravel
What are the allowed grapes of Kamptal DAC?
Gruner Veltliner and Riesling
Name 5 villages of Kamptal DAC.
Engabrunner, Kammern, Langenlois, Strass im Strassertal, Zöbing
Who are the top producers of Kamptal DAC?
Schloss Gobelsberg, Brundlmayer, Brandl, Hirsch and Hiedler
What are the authorized grapes of Kremstal DAC?
Gruner Veltliner and Riesling
Name the 11 villages of Kremstal DAC.
Angern, Furth, Gedersdorf, Hollenberg, Krems, Oberfucha/Furth, Palt, Rohrendorf, Senftenberg, Stein, and Stratzing
Who are the key producers of Kremstal DAC?
Stadt Krems and Nigl
What are the authorized grapes of Weinviertel DAC?
Gruner Veltliner
What are the principle grapes of the Wachau?
Gruner, Riesling, Zweigelt, Muller-Thurgau, and Neuburger
What are the major villages of the Wachau?
Spitz, Weissenkirchen, Wosendorf, Joching, Durnstein, Unterloiben, Oberloiben and Mautern
Who are the key producers of the Wachau?
Emmerich Knoll, Franz Hirtzberger, Rudi Pichler, FX Pichler and Prager
What are the principle grapes of Wagram?
Gruner, Zweigelt, Muller Thurgau
What are the major villages of Wagram?
Fels am Wagram, Feuersbrunn, Kirchberg and Grossweikersdorf
Who are the key producers of Wagram?
Stift Klosterneuberg, Bernhard Ott, Wimmer-Czerny and Leth
What are the principle grapes of Thermenregion?
Zweigelt, Blauer Portugieser, Neuburger, Gruner, St. Laurent, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Rotgipfler
What are the primary soils of Thermenregion?
Clay, sandy loam and brown earth
Who is a key producer of Thermenregion?
Johanneshof Reinisch
What are the principle grapes of Carnuntum?
Zweigelt, Gruner, Blaufrankisch, Merlot, and Welschriesling
What are the primary soils of Carnuntum?
Stony loam and loess
Who are the key producers of Carnuntum?
Mahr-van der Niepoort, Gerhard Markowitsch and Glatzer
In 2010, which subregions of Niederosterreich had vineyards elevated to Erste Lage?
Kremsta, Kamptal, Wagram and Traisental
What is the westernmost subregion of Niederosterreich?
Wachau
What is the soil structure of Wachau?
A combination of loess and gfohler (gneiss) with a proportion of alluvial sand in the lower vineyard sites near the river’s edge
Instead of the using the typical Pradikatswein hierarchy, what do the producers of the Wachau use?
Steinfeder, Federspiel and Smaragd
What is the minimum must weight and maximum ABV for Steinfeder?
15 KMW and 11.5%
What is the minimum must weight and ABV range for Federspiel?
17 KMW and 11.5-12.5%
What is the minimum must weight and ABV minimum for Smaragd?
19 KMW and 12.5%
What is the Vinea Wachau?
An organization of estates sworn to uphold the tenets of natural winemaking as spelled out in the Codex Wachau.
What are the stipulations of the Codex Wachau?
No additives (including chaptalization), no aromatization (ncluding the use of new barrique) and no ‘fractionation’ (techniques such as de-alcholization)
When was the Vinea Wachau founded?
1983
What is Gemischter Satz? Where is it popular?
Traditional field blends popular in Carnuntum
What is the climate of Burgenland?
Hot continental, pannonian climate that is tempered by the cooling influence of the Neusiedlersee (a large, shallow lake)
What is the sole authorized grape for Mittelburgenland DAC?
Blaufranksich
What was the first DAC to allow both red and white wines?
Leithaberg
What is the sole authorized grape of Eisenberg DAC?
Blaufrankisch
Where is the town of Rust? What is it known for?
Neusiedlersee-Hugelland; Production of ausbruch
Describe the process of making an ausbruch wine.
Grapes are harvested at a minimum of 27 KMW. Richly concentrated botrytis-affected must is added to less concentrated must-from fruit harvested from the same vineyard- and then the two are fermented together and then aged in barrel before release.
What was the traditional grape used in Ruster Ausbruch?
Furmit
What is Styria also referred to as?
Stiermark
What are the three subregions of Styria?
Sudsteiermark, Weststeiermark and Sudoststeiermark
Who in Styria is making strides with Sauvignon Blanc?
Manfred Tement
What is the only capital city in Europe to have its own wine appellation?
Wein (Vienna)
What is the sole DAC of Wein?
Gemischter Satz
What are the grapes of Gemischter Satz DAC?
Wines must be a blend of at least 3 white varieties. No single variety may compose more than 50% of the blend, and 3 varieties must make up at least 10% each.
What is Sturm? Where is it commonly found?
A half-fermented, sparkling grape juice; Wein
Where is Weinviertel DAC?
Niederosterreich
Where is Carnuntum?
Niederosterreich
Where is Thermenregion?
Niederosterreich
Where is Wagram?
Niederosterreich
Where is Traisental DAC?
Niederosterreich
Where is Kremstal DAC?
Niederosterreich
Where is Kamptal DAC?
Niederosterreich
Where is Wachau?
Niederosterreich
Where is Mittelburgenland DAC?
Burgenland
Where is Sudburgenland?
Burgenland
Where is Eisenberg DAC?
In Sudburgenland in Burgenland
Where is Neusiedlersee DAC?
Burgenland
Where is Neusiedlersee-Hugelland?
Burgenland
Where is Leithaberg DAC?
In Neusiedlersee-Hugelland in Burgenland
What is Weinbauregionen?
A broad geographical area
What are the three weinbauregionen?
Weinland, Steierland, & Bergland
What does ‘ried’ imply on a label?
It indicates a top vineyard site. It is an old custom of replacing the village name with the word ried.
Where are Kremstal and Kamptal situated in regards to Wachau?
To the east
What river is Wein (Vienna) on?
Lies on the Danube River