Austria : Principal Wine Regions

Question 1

Austria: Niederosterreich

Wine Regions

Answer 1

Austrias largest wine region
2/3 of white and 1/2 of all planting of Gruner
Many of the most famous vineyards are in this region
3 regions:
-Weinveirtel in the north
-along the danube inlcuding Wachau, Kamptal and Wagram
-The warmer Pannonian plain in the SW

Question 2

Austria: Wachau

Answer 2

• along north bank of Danube
• Riesling and Gruner
• and never blended
• Steep terraces facing south for max sunlight interception
• Danube reflects heat and sun
• Soils are varies Reisling is planted on GNEISS and GRuner on LOESS
• Only 460 mm rainfall per annum so irrigation is necessary
• Some years Danube can create noble rot which is not always wanted by producers who make dry styles
• Very good to outstadning wines and tend to be prem prices
• Largely dominated by single estates and family owned vineyards eg. FX Pixler
• Co-op domaine Wachau
• From 2020, wines can be labelled Wachau DAC - single vineyards must be Gruner or Riesling

Question 3

Austria: Vinea Wachau

Answer 3

Vinea Wachau - based on soil and climate classified single vineyards
Three registed trademarks for dry wine less than 9g/L

Steinfeder - Fruity, dry wine with max 11.5% , the lightest of styles
LIGHT
Federspeil - A more concentrated dry wine with 11.5-12.5%
MEDIUM
Smaragd - highly concentrated , dry wine with ripe fruit flavours , min 12.5%
FULL
Due to the stony terrraces and high levels of sunshine many wines will have citrus stone fruit and tropical in Smaragd ( the wines can age for decades in bottle - outstanding )
No new oak influence
All wines will have Med to high ACID ,
Should not exceed 14% abv

Question 4

Austria: Kremstal

Answer 4

• Borders Wachau to the West
• Influenced by the warm Pannonian Plain
• Gruner and Riesling , some Zweigelt
• DAC wines must be Gruner or Riesling
• and made in a dry style , Med+ to high levels of acid , med to full bodied
• Good to outstanding , mid to prem priced
• Lenz Moser
• Red wines must be labelled Niederosterreich and are mostly made from Zwiegelt in a frulity easy drinking style , refreshing Med + to High levels of acid, medium tannins and red and black fruit aromas that are good to very goood

Question 5

Austria: Kamptal

Answer 5

• Named after the river that flows through
• Over 50% Gruner , Zwieglet and Rielgin are 2nd and 3rd
• Similar temperature to Kremstal but no humidity
• Subject to warm breezes from the Pannonian plain so Black varieiteis can be ripened
• Bohemian Massif cool air creates diurnal temperatures =high acid
• Kamptal DAC is onyl Gruner and Riesling of very good to outstanding quality
• Red wines must be labelled Niederosterreich
• Zweigelt is made in a light fruity sylte of good quality , mid priced
• Some are aged in large oak casks for 12 months for complexity and are very good
• Some Pinot Noir has also been produced here

Question 6

Austria: Wagram

$$-$$$

Answer 6

• Norht and South end of the Danube on gentle rolling hills
• Stront warming influence from the Pannonian Plain
• GRuner on LEoss Soils
• Area is also know for Roter Veltliner a local white grape that produces full bodied wines with nutty charachter
• DAC can only be Gruner, Roter, and Riesling
• Gruner is made in Klassik and reserve style
• Also some Eiswein and late harvest styles dry, medium body with high acid of good to very good quality
  *

Question 7

Austria: Weinviertel

Answer 7

• largest appellation in Niederosterreich
• 50% Gruner
• Fairly dry 400-600mm of rain
• Cool breezes from the north creaet high diuranl , high acid and peppery aromas
• DAC is Gruner only
• Reserve wines must have min of 13% abv and some oak ageing or inclusion of botryis affected grapes
• GRuner from Weinviertel is most peppery thanks to cooling winds, citurs and green fruit , med-med plus body and high acid
• Good to very good , $-$$$

Question 8

Austria: Thermenregion

Answer 8

• near Vienna, warm air from the Pannonian Plain can ripen black grapes - 40% of plantings
• not part of DAC system
• High qaulity Pinot Noir and Sankt Laurent ( Med- body, med tannins and red cherry flavours )are grown here
• Good to very good and $$
• Most planted white grape is Neuburger - subtle spice and floral aromas
• Local specials are Rotgipfler - full bodied with peach and Zierfandler - aromatic peach, honey and spice
  *

Question 9

Austria : Burgenland

Answer 9

on the border of Hungary, this is the warmest area of Austria
Pannonian Plains help ripen black varieties
56% of all planting mainly Blaufrankisch and Zwiegelt
Easy drinking and fruity wines to full bodied with oak

Gruner and Welschrielsing are the most planted whites ( but a nit too warm )
Botryis infected Welschrielsing is the areas speciality -outstanding

Question 10

Austria : Neusiedlersee

Answer 10

• Large shallow lake flat warm and humid
• Water can reach 30 degreess in the height of summer
• In autumn when air drops but water is warm , fog forms and covers the vineyards - close to lake
• High humidity encourages noble rot - warm sunshine in the afternoon burns away fog
• Consitent noble rot each vintage
• Thin skinned Welschriesling is planted to creat outstadning TBA styles - Very sweet, balanced acidity, marmalade,
• Hand harvested over weeks - prem prices and very good to outstanding
• **Ruster Ausbruch TBA **
• Warm but not humid away from the lake is the areas of Zwiegelt anmd Blaufrankisch
• Dry red wines can be DAC
• DAC Klassik - 100% Zwiegelt and red cherry fruit , no oak , med acid and med to full body , good to very good
• Reserve - 60% Zwiegelt and blended with Blaufrankish, Sankt Laurent or Pinot Noir - aged in oak, good to very good and mid to prem priced
  *

Question 11

Austria: Leithaberg

Answer 11

• varied region with many styles of wine
• Western shores of Neusiedlersee around town of Rust they make Ausbruch
• West of Lake is more red winees of Blaufrankisch ( 20% of all planting )
• The Leithaberg hills provid diurnal rang so wines have refreshing high aciditiy
• Leithaberg DAC can be red or white
• RED -85% Blaufrankisch
• Acid Med plus to high, and med plus to full body that are very good to outstadning
• Dry DAC whites can be blends or single varietals made from Weissburgunder, Chardonnay, Gruner, or Neuburger with Acid from medium to high and body from med minus to mediu plus
• Good to very good and mid -prem priced

Question 12

Austria : Mittelburgenland

Answer 12

• south of Leithaburg
• exposed to the Pannonian Plain means warm air and red wines
• 51% of all grapes are Blaufrankisch
• Three DAC styles must have min 85% BlauFR
• -DAC - SS tanks and large oak casks
• -DAC plus vineyard designation - higher min abv and aged in large oak or barriques
• -DAC Reserve -higher min abv . longer time masturing in large oak or barriques , full bodied promounced aromas and very good to outstanding
• These wines are mid priced and good to very good

Question 13

Austria: Steiermark

Answer 13

• also know as Styria, SE corner of Austria on border of Slovenia
• Stepp hills and terraces
• Winter freeze can be an issue
• Spring frost and hail are also an issue and hail netting is used
• Crisp , dry white eines made from Sauvignon Blan , Welschriesling and Weissburgunder
• High diuranl range means high levels of acid and are refreshing and made for drinking now
• Good to very good and mid priced
• DAC subregions :
• Vulkanland Steriemark DAC and Sudsteiermark DAC , Westersteiermark DAC - range of grapes are permitted for the regional wines
• Local specialities such as SB must be Orstweine or Riedenwine
  *

Question 14

Austria: Wein

Answer 14

• Vienna- capital city
• Most wines are made to be consumed immediately in a Heurigen from the curretn harvest
• DAC white wine called Wiener Gemischter Satz - must be blend of one of the 20 permitted varieties
• Must be dry and and unaoked
• DAC wines can be labelled with indication of the vineyard site
• Most wines are medium plus to high acid with light bodies
• acceptable to very good and entry level to mid priced
• Some high quality wines at prem prices