Austria Flashcards
What is the climate in Austria? How is it characterised?
Cool Continental Short Summers and harsh Winters. High diurnal range, with long Autumn ripening
What is the climate consideration in Austria’s Northerly regions?
Cooling northerly winds
What is the climate consideration growing close to the Hungarian border?
Warmed by Easterly winds
What are the 3 main white grapes grown in Austria?
White grapes account for ___% of plantings in Austria.
- Gruner Veltliner
- Welchriesling
- Muller-Thurgau
- 67%
What are the 3 main black grapes grown in Austria?
- Zweigelt
- Blaufrankisch
- Blauer Portugieser
Within Austria wine law, what is a ‘DAC’ and what does it stand for?
What is their focus / goal?
Districtus Austriae Controllatus
- A newer indication of origin withing the Qualitatswein system.
- Dry wines are the focus.
- Designed to align Austrian regions with wine profiles in the mind of the consumer, in the tradition of the French and Italian systems.
What 3 things must growers agree on before applying for DAC?
Grape variety
Set of regulations
Style of the wine
What is Ausbruch and when did it originate?
Which city / region is a specialty of?
What wine is it similar to in terms of production?
What varietals are often used, both traditional (1) and modern (7)?
- A sweet Austrian wine that dates back to the 17th Century.
- Rust in Burgenland
- Similar to Tokaji, made from botrytis-affected grapes.
- Traditional: Furmint
Modern: Chardonnay, Muskateller, Pinot Blanc, Neuburger, Welschriesling, Traminer and Pinot Gris.
What is ‘Strohwein’ or ‘Schilfwein’?
A dried grape wine of at least Beerenauslese ripeness. Grapes are dried on straw mats over the winter.
What is PGI wine called in Austria?
Wein
Which part of Austria are wine-growing areas located?
What is located in Austria’s other section?
To the East
To the West is the Alps
Which 2 federal states account for the majority of wine production?
Niederosterreich (Lower Austria) Burgenland
Name the sub region of Niederosterreich renowned for high quality dry wines made from either Gruner Veltliner or Riesling
Wachau
Where are most of the vineyards located in Niederosterreich?
On the banks of the Danube and further North towards the Slovak border
Name the sub region in Niederosterreich which is Austria’s largest vine growing area and the first Austrian DAC
Weinviertel DAC
What is the only grape variety permitted in Weinviertal DAC?
Gruner Veltliner
If you were asked for an upmarket Gruner Veltliner, which prestigious sub region would you recommend?
Wachau, the most renowned for high quality dry wines.
What are the 2 styles of wine made in Weinviertal DAC and how do they differ?
Klassik : Light, fresh, fruity; min. 12%abv, must be approved by a tasting panel and show a distinct peppery note, with no signs of botrytis/wood.
Reserve: Fuller-bodied, 13% min abv, may show notes of botrytis/wood.
What is the Federal State of Burgenland renowned for?
Top quality sweet wines and red wines
What is the name of the vast shallow lake in the North of Burgenland that is key for sweet wine production?
Neusiedlersee
Why is the lake Neusiedlersee so important to sweet wine production?
Because the vineyards are located on the low lying ground near the lake to benefit from the Autumn mists that come from the lake and wetland regions on its margins. These are ideal conditions for botrytis.
What is the ‘typical’ character of Austrian Gruner Veltliner?
When young? When aged?
Capable of producing full-bodied, concentrated wines with naturally high acidity.
Young - Flavours of citrus and stone fruits sometimes with hints of white pepper
Aged - The wine develops layers of honey and toast
What is the ‘typical’ character of Austrian Riesling?
Dry and medium to full bodied with ripe, peachy, primary fruit
Name one area producing good Austrian Riesling
Wachau
What is the ‘typical’ character of Austrian Welschriesling?
Fresh and simple with citrus and green apple flavours and high acidity but renowned for making botrytis sweet wines
What is the ‘typical’ character of Austrian Zweigelt?
Deeply coloured red with soft tannins and bramble fruit
What is the ‘typical’ character of Austrian Blaufrankisch?
Reds with medium tannins, high acidity and a peppery, sour cherry flavour
What is the ‘typical’ character of Austrian St. Laurent?
Reds similar in character to Pinot Noir. Often oak aged.
List the 4 Natural factors of wine
Grapes
Climate
Weather
Soil / Aspect
Which 2 regions lie just north of Wachau?
Kamptal DAC and Kremstal DAC
What are the 4 federal states for PDO wines?
Niederösterreich (Lower Austria)
Burgenland
Steiermark (Styria)
Wien (Vienna)
What are the 2 additional levels to the Prädikat system in Austria?
Ausbruch
Strohwein / Schilfwein
Name the important river (and its 3 tributaries) that flows through Austria’s main wine-growing regions:
Danube River
Krems, Kamp and Traisen Rivers
What are the 3 categories of Wachau dry wine production and what are they based on?
Based on ripeness of grapes at harvest.
Steinfeder: 11.5% max alc. Lightest style, named for a local grass.
Federspiel: 11.5-12.5% alc. Named for a local falcon.
Smaragd: 12.5% min. alc. Named for an emerald green lizard that suns itself in the vineyards.
2 Austrian synonyms for Chardonnay are:
- Morillon
- Feinburger
Which 4 countries, from north to south, share a border with Austria’s wine-making regions?
- Czech Republic.
- Slovakia
- Hungary
- Slovenia
Which Italian region was part of Austria until the end of World War I and continues to use German as a second language today?
Alto-Adige
What event led to the fundamental reorganization of the Austrian wine industry in the 1980s?
The “antifreeze” scandal, where winemakers were adding the chemical Diethylene glycol to their wines in order to give it more texture.
What scale is used to measure must weight In Austria?
KMW, Klosterneuburger Mostwaage Scale
Kamptal DAC is located in which region?
Which 2 varietals account for over 90% of wine production?
- Niederosterreich
- Riesling / Gruner Veltliner
Eisenberg DAC is located in which region?
What is the permitted varietal here?
- Burgenland
- Blaufrankisch
The DAC level of classification is on par with which level of classification in France?
AOP
Which country to the east of Austria is linked with it by history, climate, and common grape varieties?
Hungary
Which geographical feature separates Austria and Germany?
The Alps
Order the following regions from coolest to warmest
(1 = coolest, 3 = warmest).
A. Kamptal
B. Weinviertel
C. Mittelburgenland
Weinviertal = 1
Kamptal = 2
Mittelburgenland = 3
Eisenberg, Neusiedlersee, and Leithaberg are regions found in which Weinbaugebiet?
Burgenland
Match the sub-region to its larger Weinbaugebiet.
A. Südsteiermark
B. Neusiedlersee
C. Kremstal
A. Styria
B. Burgenland
C. Niederosterreich
Blauburgunder is a synonym for which grape?
Pinot Noir
Thermenregion is located within which weinbaugebiete?
Which 2 rare white grapes are cultivated here?
It feels the full force of the ____ Summer.
- Niederosterreich
- Rotgipfler and Zierfandler.
- Pannonian
Sudsteiermark DAC is located within which weinbaugebiete?
Which grape variety is their specialty?
- Steiermark (Styria)
- Sauvignon Blanc
What are the 3 DACs of Styria / Steiermark?
- Sudsteiermark DAC
- Weststeiermark DAC
- Vulkanland Steiermark DAC
What does the Austrian term “Hauersekt”, which corresponds to the German “Winzersekt”, indicate when applied to a wine label?
This indicates the wine is made by the grape grower, much like Récoltant Manipulant.
What are the 3 categories of Austrian Sekt w/ Protected Designation of Origin?
Klassik
Reserve
Grosse Reserve
What are the different requirements for Austrian Sekt w/PDO (Klassik, Reserve, Grosse Reserve)?
Klassik: Grapes come from one of Austria’s federal states; min. 9 months on lees; Tank, transfer, and traditional method allowed, and all dosage levels/styles and colors may be produced.
Reserve: Traditional method only; Grapes must be grown and vinified in one of Austria’s federal states; min. 18 months on the lees; only Brut, Extra Brut, or Brut Nature.
Grosse Reserve: grapes must come from a single wine village; hand-harvesting is required; min. 30 months on the lees; may not be released until three years after harvest; wines must be Brut, Extra Brut, or Brut Nature.
Which weinbaugebiete is also known as “Lower Austria”?
Niederosterreich
The majority of wine in Austria is produced under the DAC designation.
True or False?
False
Riesling and Welschriesling are varieties that are genetically related to each other.
True or False?
False
What is the minimum alcohol by volume required for Kamptal Reserve Riesling?
13%
What is the only DAC in Burgenland that allows white wine?
Leithaberg DAC
Alois Kracher is a producer in what village / DAC / region?
- Illmitz / Neusiderslee / Burgenland
Weinland, Steierland and Bergland are geographic designations for what level of Austrian wine classification?
Landwein
Langenlois, Zobing, and Kammern are villages in what DAC of which region?
-Kamptal / Niederosterreich
In what village / sub-region / region is the Achleiten vineyard located?
Weissenkirchen / Wachau / Niederosterreich
What famous trio of producers make wine from the Achleiten vineyard in Wachau?
FX Pichler, Prager, and Emmerich Knoll
What are the minimum KMW levels Steinfeder / Federspiel / Smaragd Rieslings may be picked at?
Steinfeder: 15o
Federspiel: 17o
Smaragd: 19o
Identify the correct village / sub-region / region / grape varietal most likely found at the following vineyards:
A. Renner
B. Gaisberg
C. Kranachberg
A. Renner: Kammern / Kamptal DAC / Niederosterreich / Gruner Veltliner
B. Gaisberg: Kammern / Kamptal DAC / Niederosterreich / Riesling
C. Kranachberg: Gamlitz / Sudsteiermark DAC / Steiermark / Sauvignon Blanc
Which Burgenland DAC does NOT produce Blaufränkisch-based red wines?
Neusiedlersee DAC
Lake Neusiedlersee is bordered by which two European countries?
Austria / Hungary
Near what body of water would you find the village of Rust?
Lake Neusiedlersee
What are the 5 “No’s” of the Codex Wachau?
- NO Chaptalization
- NO Concentration (i.e. reverse-osmosis, cryoextraction.)
- NO barriques/oak chips
- NO Fractionation (removal of alcohol via spinning cones.)
- NO Manipulation of nature (pesticides, mechanical harvesting, etc…)
Ausbruch has to be harvested at what minimum ripeness level?
30o
Lamm is an Austrian Erste Lage vineyard in which village/DAC/region/ specializing in what grape variety?
-Kammern / Kamptal DAC / Niederosterreich / Gruner Veltliner
Schloss Gobelsburg, Bründlmayer, and Hirsch are producers in what region?
Kamptal DAC
Nigl, Salomon, and Christoph Hoch are producers in what region?
Kremstal DAC
What does the word “Ried” indicate on an Austrian wine label?
A top site / vineyard.
1 KMW is equivalent to approximately how many degrees Öchsle?
5
In Austria, which grape is likely to undergo carbonic maceration?
Zweigelt
Which countries border the Austrian region of Niederösterreich?
Czech Republic to the North.
Slovenia to the East.
Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC is located in which weinbaugebiete?
Wines must be made of at least ___ varieties, and no single variety may be more than ___ % of the total blend.
- Wien
- at least 3 varieties, 50%
Schilcher is a specialty of which DAC / weinbaugebiete?
What type of wine is it, and what grape is used?
- Weststeiermark / Steiermark
- Racy rosés from the Blauer Wildbacher grape.
Where is the Heiligenstein vineyard located (village / DAC / sub-region / grape variety?)
-Zöbing / Kamptal DAC / Niederosterreich / Riesling
Ausbruch has to be harvested at what minimum ripeness level?
30o KMW
Weingut Fritz Hirtzberger is a producer in which village / DAC / region?
-Spitz / Wachau / Niederosterreich.
Traisental DAC is located in which sub-region / specializes in which grapes?
Niederosterreich / Gruner Veltliner and Riesling.
