Austria, Hungary & Greece I

Question 0

Name the important Austrian sub-regions known for white wine production. Red wine production?

Answer 0

White:
Lower Austria – Wachau, Kamptal, Kremstal, Donauland

Red (and dessert):
Burgenland – Neusiedlersee, Mittelburgenland, Neusiedlersee-Hügelland

Question 1

Name the four major wine regions of Austria:

Answer 1

Lower Austria (Niederösterreich)
Vienna (Wien)
Burgenland
Styria (Steiermark)

Question 2

What are the major white grapes of Austria?

Answer 2

Grüner Veltliner, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling

Question 3

What are the major red grapes of Austria?

Zweigelt is a cross between which two varities?

Answer 3

Blaufränkisch, St. Laurent, Pinot Noir

Cross between a Blaufränkisch & St. Laurent

Question 4

What is the style of Austrian wine?

Answer 4

Most are white, but are drier than German wines with higher alcohol and more body resembling wines of Alsace.

Question 5

What is Ausbruch?

Answer 5

One of the great dessert wines of the world is Ausbruch, which comes from the village of Rust in Burgenland and has a history that goes back as far as 1617. On a par with a great French Sauternes, German Beerenauslese, and Hungarian Tokaji, it is made with botrytized grapes and, as with Tokaji, Furmint is its predominate grape variety.

Question 6

What are the specific ripeness classifications found in Wachau?

Answer 6

Steinfeder (max alcohol 11.5%) Fresh, fruity and lighter style
Federspeil (max alcohol 11.5%-12.5%) Stronger wine with generous character
Smargd (min alcohol 12.5%) Bold in weight and flavor

Question 8

What are the white grapes native to Hungary? What are the reds?

Answer 8

WHITE – Furmint, Hárslevelü, Olaszrizling

RED – Kadarka, Kékfrankos, Portugieser

Question 9

List the 7 major wine regions of Hungary:

Answer 9

Badascony (Olaszrizling)
Eger (Kékfrankos, Pinot Noir)
Somoló (Furmint)
Sopron (Kékfrankos)
Szekszárd (Kadarka, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon)
Tokaj (Furmint, Hárslevelü)
Villány-Siklós (Cabernet Sauvignon, Kékfrankos)

Question 10

In what century did Greek wine making begin?

Answer 10

2500 BC

~4500 years ago

Question 11

What is the most famous wine of Hungary? Which grape is it made from? How is sweetness measured? What is the name for the sweetest style?

Answer 11

1. Tokaji Aszú
2. Furmint
3. Puttonyos (baskets of botrytis affected grape paste added)
4. Aszú Essencia (or Eszencia)

Question 12

What are the major white grapes for Greece? Red varities?

Answer 12

WHITE – Assyrtiko, Moschofilero, Roditis

RED – Agiorgitiko, Xinomavro

Question 13

What is Retsina?

Answer 13

Retsina is made by adding pine resin to wine as a flavoring agent. Originally pine resin was used to seal old wine vessels (amphorae) and some would drip down into the wine. Greecians became used to the flavor and added it later. Smells like turpentine, and is repugnant by most outsiders.