Austria General/History Flashcards
Where are vines grown in Austria?
Far east of the country around Vienna
When was the first record of Trockenbeerenauslese in Austria?
1526, predating Spätlese in Germany by over 200 years.
What happened in the 17th century to Austrian vineyard acreage?
- The 17th century war and taxes conspired to shrink production, and Austria would never again enjoy the breadth of vineyard acreage it amassed in the 1700s.
- Austrian vines, along with the rest of Europe’s vineyards, were challenged by the arrival of American fungal diseases (oidium, peronospera) and the root louse
Name two reasons Austria gained commercial success after World War II.
A viticultural research institute at Klosterneuburg, built in 1860, began to focus attention on grape crossings and higher yields, and mechanization of the vineyards followed Dr. Lenz Moser’s development of the wire trellising system in the 1950s—a viticultural breakthrough with worldwide ramifications.
After WWII, Austria was the world’s third largest producer.
What geographical feature separates Austria and Germany?
The Alps.
What was the “antifreeze” scandal of 1985?
Austrian bottles tested positive for Diethylene glycol—a colorless, odorless, poisonous chemical, which gave a light wine some added texture. The “antifreeze” scandal of 1985 surfaced when one of the guilty parties tried to claim the chemical as a legitimate winery expense on his tax return. The press asserted that Austrians had diluted their wines with antifreeze. The association stuck and damaged the image of Austrian wines for years. Austria responded by drafting some of the strictest wine laws in Europe and quickly refocusing on quality.
What is a weinbaugebiete?
What are weinbaugebiete of Austria?
Which two contain 90% of all country’s vineyards?
Major winemaking region in Austria. Similar to Anbaugebiete in Germany.
There are 4 major weinbaugebiete in Austria:
Niederösterreich
Wien (Vienna)
Burgenland
Styria (Steiermark)
What is the most planted variety in Austria. What percentage of Austria’s acreage?
Grüner Veltliner. (also known as “GrüVe”) 30% of the total vineyard acreage of Austria.
What are two synonyms for Chardonnay in Austria?
Morillon and Feinburgunder
What is the most planted red grape in Austria? What is the second, third, and fourth most planted red grapes?
Zweigelt, a Blaufränkisch x St. Laurent crossing developed in Austria in 1922, leads red grapes in plantings, followed by:
Blaufränkisch
Blauer Portugieser(Austria’s workhorse red grape)
Blauburger (Blauer Portugieser x Blaufränkisch)
What are three requirements for Qualitätswein?
- Sourced from a single Weinbaugebiete
- Must pass a tasting panel and chemical analysis, indicated by a State Control Number (Prüfnummer)
- inclusion of the red and white banderole on the bottle’s capsule
What is the maximum harvest yield for all Austrian wines with vintage and/or variety on the label
67.5 hl/ha
What are the 3 levels of quality in Austria?
Wein
Landwein
Qualitätswein
How much of Austria wine is Qualitätswein?
What are the requirements for Qualitätswein?
- accounts for approximately two-thirds of Austria’s total production.
- 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.
What are the requirements for Wein?
may carry a vintage date and a varietal on the label, but may not exhibit a more exclusive statement of origin than “Österreich”.
-a generic category that replaced Tafelwein in 2009.
What are the requirements for Landwein?
What are the three broad geographic areas and what do they cover?
- Restricted to same 35 varietals as Qualitätswein, but are labeled with one of three broad geographic areas (Weinbauregionen):
- Weinland (covers areas of Niederösterreich, Wien and Burgenland)
- Steierland (corresponds to Steiermark)
- Bergland (includes around 500 ha of vineyard land scattered throughout the remainder of Austria’s mountainous countryside.)
What are the three Weinbauregionen? What do they cover?
Broad geographic areas for Landwein production
Weinland-Weinland covers the areas defined as Niederösterreich, Wien and Burgenland
Steierland- corresponds to Steiermark,
Bergland- includes around 500 ha of vineyard land scattered throughout the remainder of Austria’s mountainous countryside.
-All three levels of quality share a maximum yield of 9,000 kg/ha (67.5 hl/ha) but minimum must weights increase with each level of quality.
What is the difference in yield between Wein, Landwein, and Qualitätswein
All three levels of quality share a maximum yield of 9,000 kg/ha (67.5 hl/ha) but minimum must weights increase with each level of quality.
How is Austrian Qualitätswein divided?
Subdivided into the categories of Prädikatswein and Districtus Austriae Controllatus (DAC).
What is the minimum alcohol for Austrian Prädikatswein? What practices are prohibited for Austrian Prädikatswein?
5% is required for wines labeled by Prädikatswein.
winemakers are prohibited from practicing both chaptalization and the addition of Süssreserve
In Austria, is Kabinett considered Qualitätswein or Prädikatswein?
As opposed to Germany, in Austria, Kabinett wines are considered a subset of Qualitätswein rather than a beginning rung on the ladder of Prädikatswein
**however, even at the Kabinett level winemakers are prohibited from practicing both chaptalization and the addition of Süssreserve.
What additional categories are added to Austrian Prädikatswein, that are not in their German counterparts?
- Strohwein, a dried grape wine of at least Beerenauslese ripeness,
- Ausbruch, a sweet specialty of Rust in Neusiedlersee-Hügelland.
Where is most of Austria’s sweet wine produced?
Around the lake of Neusiedlersee “NOISE-see-LER-see” in Burgenland
What are the DACs of Austria? When were each established? (9)
—Weinviertel (2002) (Niederösterreich); only Grüner
—Mittelburgenland (2005) (Burgenland); dry red based on Blaufränkisch
—Traisental (2006) (Niederösterreich); Grüner/Riesling
—Kremstal (2007) (Niederösterreich); Gruner/Riesling
—Kamptal (2008) (Niederösterreich); Grüner/Riesling
—Leithaberg (2009) (Burgenland) “lite-HAR-berg”; white (Grüner Veltliner, Neuburger, Chardonnay, Weissburgunder (blends or varietal wines); Red: Blaufränkisch, plus max. 15% combined Pinot Noir, St. Laurent, and Zweigelt
—Eisenberg (2010) (Burgenland); dry red based on Blaufränkisch
—Neusiedlersee (2012) “NOISE-see-LER-see” (Burgenland); dry red based on min 60% Zweigelt
—Schilscherland (2017) (Steiermark); Rose (Schilcher) based on Blauer Wildbacher
—Rosalia (Burgenland) (2017); dry still red/rosé based on Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt
What method is most often used for Austrian Sekt?
Traditional method
What new legal category was created in 2016 in Austria?
Austrian Sekt with Protected Designation of Origin.
- Austrian Sekt Committee formed to bring international attention to high-quality Sekt in 2013.
- distinct from the “normal” Austrian Sekt)
What is the minimum pressure Austrian Sekt may be bottled at?
3.5 bars.
What are the three categories of Austrian Sekt Qualitätswein?
When was this established?
What does “Hauersekt” mean?
—Klassik —Reserve —Grosse Reserve *Est. 2016 —Grower wine- Tirage, disgorgement and expedition performed by the grape grower.
What are the requirements for Klassik Sekt?
—Grapes harvested in a single Austrian federal state
—Base wine fermentation and secondary fermentation conducted in Austria
—Area of origin on the label may not be more specific than the federal state in which the grapes were grown
—Not sold before October 22 of the year following the harvest
—Production Method: Any (tank, transfer, and traditional methods are allowed)
—Maximum Alcohol: 12.5%
—Lees Aging: Minimum 9 months
—Permitted Sweetness Levels: Any (all dosage levels/styles and colors may be produced)
What are the requirements for Reserve Sekt?
—Grapes harvested and whole-cluster pressed in a single Austrian state
—Area of origin may not be more specific than the federal state in which the grapes were grown
—Blending is not permitted for rosé wines
—Not sold before October 22 of the second year following the harvest
—Harvesting Method: Hand harvest only
—Maximum Press Yield: 60%
—Production Method: Traditional method only
—Lees Aging: Minimum 18 months
—Permitted Sweetness Levels: Brut, Extra Brut, Brut Nature
What are the requirements for Große Reserve (Grand Reserve) Sect? (10 requirements)
—Grapes harvested and whole-cluster pressed (in a basket or pneumatic press) in a single Austrian municipality
—Vineyard designation is permitted
—Blending is not permitted for rosé wines
—Not sold before October 22 of the third year following the harvest
—Harvesting Method: Hand harvest only
—Maximum Press Yield: 50%
—Production Method: Traditional method only
—Maximum Alcohol: None
—Lees Aging: Minimum 30 months
—Permitted Sweetness Levels: Brut, Extra Brut, Brut Nature
What is Hauersekt?
This indicates the wine is made by the grape grower, much like Récoltant Manipulant. May be added to a label on the Grosse Reserve level. Hauersekt must also list the village/vineyard, grape variety, and vintage.
**corresponds to the German Winzersekt
What does Geschützter Ursprung, geprüfte Qualität mean on a capsule?
“protected designation of origin and certified quality.”
-To differentiate Austrian Sekt with PDO from general Austrian Sekt, bottles must carry the official seal on the capsule stating this phrase.
What is the largest winegrowing region in Austria?
What is the region also known as?
Niederösterreich, or Lower Austria (North), is the largest winegrowing region in the country and contains twice the planted vineyard area of the next leading Weinbaugebiete, Burgenland
What is the climate of Niederösterreich?
Continental climate, ushers in hot, dry summers and severe winters.
What are two geological features of Niederösterreich?
Pannonian Plain-former seabed of loess soils stretching from eastern Austria through Hungary.
Danube River (and its tributaries)- Most subzones are located along the path. (Weinviertel and Thermenregion provide the exceptions.) Also known as Donau.
What are the subzones of Niederösterreich? (8)
—Weinviertel (whole NE section of Austria)
—Carnuntum (south of Wien and Weinviertel, east of Thermenregion
—Traisental (west of Wagram, south of Kremstal and Wachau)
—Wagram (south of Weinviertel, west of Wien, east of Kremstal and Traisental)
—Kamptal (north of Kremstal, south of western sector of Weinviertel)
—Kremstal (east of Wachau, SE of Kamptal)
—Wachau (most westward)
—Thermenregion (south of Wien, west of Carnuntum; hottest and most southerly region of the Niederösterreich)
What is the first and largest DAC in Austria?
What countries does it border?
Weinviertel est. 2002
Slovakia to the east and Czechia to the north
-The hills of Slovakia form a barrier between it and the warming influence of the Pannonian Plain to the southeast, so that its wines are Austria’s freshest and lightest.
Authorized grapes and style of Weinviertel DAC.
Classic vs Reserve? Alcohol? Wood? Max RS Aging?
Must be produced by Grüner Veltliner
Classic GV: Min alc of 12% “ fruity, spicy, peppery; no Botrytis note; no wood tone”
Reserve GV: Min 13% alcohol and “subtle botrytis and wood notes are acceptable”
Classic: 6 g/l
Reserve: “trocken” (9 g/l, provided total acidity is within 2 g/l of residual sugar)
—no aging requirements
Authorized grapes and style of Traisental, Kamptal, and Kremstal DAC.
Min Alc?
Min RS?
Use of wood?
Aging?
Wines may be produces by either Grüner Veltliner or Riesling, and may be labeled either Classic or Reserve.
3 DAC Classic styles:
- -Grüner shows a more delicate spice, rather than the pungent white pepper of Weinviertel.
- -Riesling “robust good body, stone fruit aromatics, minerally; no botrytis not; no wood tone.”
DAC: 11.5% (Kremstal starts at 12% with/without indication of vineyard)
DAC with an indication of village: 12%
DAC with an indication of village and single vineyard: 12.5%
Reserve: 13% reserve levels allow for new barrique and hints of botrytis
-“trocken” (9 g/l, provided total acidity is within 2 g/l of residual sugar
- All DACs and DACs with indication of village: January 1 in the year following the harvest
- All DACs with indication of village and single vineyard: March 1 of the year following the harvest
- All DACs Reserve: July 1 in the year following the harvest
What DACs are located in Western Niederösterreich? Along what two rivers?
Kremstal and Kamptal along the Krems and Kamp Rivers (both tributaries of the Danube)
-Wachau is the westernmost subregion, but is not a DAC.
What important wine town is located in Kamptal?
Langenlois “LA-gen (hard g) loys (Like toys)”
Name three vineyards highly regarded in Kamptal
Which grape do they primarily grow?
Heiligenstein (in village of Zöbing) grows Riesling
Lamm (in village of Kammern) grows GV
Dechant “DE-shant” (in village of Langenlois) grows GV
Others: Gaisberg for Riesling and Renner for GV
Define Ried
Indication of a top site.
-While Austrian single vineyard wines are labeled in the German fashion, with the village and vineyard name, many producers observe the old custom of replacing the village with the word Ried
What is the Österreichischen Traditionsweingüter?
What regions are classified?
An association of producers founded in 1992.
- In 2010, 52 top sites throughout Kremstal, Kamptal, Wagram and Traisental were elevated to the status of Erste Lage.
- Wien, Carnuntum joined in designating vineyards in 2018.
Although the classification does not yet have legal status, the organization is closely aligning itself to the DAC concept.
What grapes are premitted to carry the Austrian Erste Lage logo?
Only Grüner Veltliner and Riesling
Where is the Wachau?
How much of the countries vineyards does it contain?
Westernmost subregion of Niederösterreich. A narrow band of steep slopes between Melk and Krems along the banks of the Danube.
-at only 3335 acres ( 1350 ha) it constitutes just 3% of Austria’s vineyards.
What is the climate of Wachau?
What enables Wachau from retaining high natural acidity?
- Severe continental climate; Hot Pannonian summers reach their furthest west here, heating the Danube Valley as far as the eastern end of Wachau.
- the Danube river and the cool northern winds chill the summer nights significantly, acting as a natural heat regulator.
