Austria-History, Wine Law

Question 1

What occurred in Roman era which allowed for increased viticulture in Austria?

Answer 1

Probus repealed ban on provincial viticulture

Question 2

When was the first record of TBA in Austria? Why is this significant?

Answer 2

1526

200 years before Spatlese in Germany

Question 3

What is the name of the major viticultural institute of Austria? When was it founded? Where is it?

Answer 3

Klosterneuburg
1860
E Wagram

Question 4

Who is Dr. Lenz Moser? Significant development?

Answer 4

Austrian scientist who developed wire trellising system 1950s

Question 5

Which scandal damaged opinion of Austrian wine? How was it discovered?

Answer 5

anti-freeze scandal of 1985

a winemaker tried to claim it as a legitimate expense on taxes `

Question 6

What is the actual chemical responsible for the Austrian Anti-freeze scandal?

Answer 6

Diethylene Glycol

Question 7

What was the major reprocussion of the Aus. Anti-freeze scandal?

Answer 7

drafting of some of Europe’s most stringent wine laws

Question 8

Which 2 regions of Austria combined contain 90% of the country’s plantings?

Answer 8

Niederösterreich and Burgenland

Question 9

What % of Austria is planted to white grapes? Most planted variety?

Answer 9

67%

GV (31%)

Question 10

What is most planted red grape of Austria? parentage?

Answer 10

Zweigelt

Blaufränkisch x St. Laurent in 1922

Question 11

What are the 3 quality levels of Austrian wine law?

Answer 11

Wein
Landwein
Qualitätswein

Question 12

Req’s for Austrian Wein category?

Answer 12

1. Replaces tafelwein for 2009 vint.

2. May have vintage and varietal, but no geo des beyond Österreich

Question 13

Req’s for Austrian Landwein category?

Answer 13

Must be from one or more of 36 auth grapes

3 broad geo areas

a. Weinland (Niederösterreich, Wien, Burgenland)
b. Steierland (Steiermark)
c. Bergland (500 ha scattered mountainous vineyards)

Question 14

Req’s for Austrian Qualitätswein category?

Answer 14

a. Single Weinbaugebiete or smaller 16 regions, from 1 or more of 36 permitted grapes
b. Pass tasting panel, chem analysis (State Control Number aka “Prüfnumber”)
c. Red/white banderole on bottles capsule
d. 2/3rds of production of country

Question 15

What is min alc for Austrian Prädikatswein?

Answer 15

5% abv

Question 16

What is the Klosterneuburger Mostwaage?

Answer 16

KMW, Austrian must weight scale, measured in degrees

Question 17

what is unique about Austrian Prädikat levels in regard to kabinett?

Answer 17

Kabinett is a subset of Quälitatswein not a Prädikat level

req 17 KMW

Question 18

What additions to wine are not allowed at the Austrian Prädikat level?

Answer 18

chaptalization, süssreserve

Question 19

what are basic req’s for strohwein/schilfwein?

Answer 19

BA/Eiswein ripeness, grapes dried for 3 mo, 25 KMW

Question 20

What is Ausbruch? Reqs?

Answer 20

local specialty of Rust on W bank of Lake Neusiedlersee

TBA ripeness, 30 KMW

Question 21

What does the Austrian DAC stand for?

Answer 21

Districtus Austriae Controllatus

Question 22

How many DACs currently exist in Austria? Which major regions have not achieved this status?

Answer 22

14 as of 2019

Wachau and Wagram

**eventual goal of all 16 regions

Question 23

What region of Austria was first to gain DAC status? When?

Answer 23

Weinvertel 2002

Question 24

What are 14 DACs of Austria and years achieved?

Answer 24

• Weinviertel (2002)
• Mittelburgenland (2005)
• Traisental (2006)
• Kremstal (2007)
• Kamptal (2008)
• Leithaberg (2009)
• Eisenberg (2010)
• Neusiedlersee (2012)
• Wiener Gemischter Satz (2013)
• Rosalia (2018)
• Vulkanland Steiermark (2018)
• Südsteiermark (2018)
• Weststeiermark (2018)
• Carnuntum (2019)

Question 25

When was the Austrian Sekt Quälitatswein PDO est?

Answer 25

2015

Question 26

how can the consumer differentiate between basic Austrian sekt and PDO sekt?

Answer 26

bottles must have seal on capsule w/ “Gesüzter Urssprung, geprüfte Qualität” (protected designation of origin and certified quality)

Question 27

What are the 3 levels of Austrian Sekt PDO and reqs of each?

Answer 27

Klassik
9 mo lees, tank, transfer, trad methods allowed
Reserve
18 mo lees, grapes from Austria’s federal states, trad method only, no blending for rosé, vint allowed, brut/extra/nature only (12 g RS max)
Grosse Reserve
30 mo lees, from single village only, hand harvest, no blending for rosé, vineyard/vint allowed, trad method only, brut/extra/nature only (12g RS Max)

Question 28

What is Hauersekt?

Answer 28

Grower Producer (RM) Austrian Sekt

village/vineyard/grape/vint all allowed on label