Austria Regions

Question 1

Austria Main Winemaking Regions

Answer 1

• Niederösterreich (lower Austria)
• Burgenland
• Wein (Vienna)
• Stiermark (Styria)

Question 2

Niederösterreich overview

Answer 2

• largest production/export the regions[90% of Austria’s vineyards]
• many subzones along Danube
• focus is dry, unoaked high quality Gruner and Riesling
• best = south facing steep slopes

Question 3

Niederösterreich Climate

Answer 3

• continental, hot summers, severe winters

- seasonal divide much more pronounced

Question 4

Niederösterreich subregions

Answer 4

• Weinvertel DAC
• Kremstal DAC
• Kamptal DAC
• Wachau
• Wagram

Question 5

Weinvertel DAC Rules

Answer 5

• Grüner Veltliner
• minimum alcohol of 12%.
• approved by a tasting panel, [show a distinct peppery note, no obvious wood or botrytis tones]
• Reserve category = fuller-bodied wines w a min 13%abv [may have botrytis and wood]

Question 6

Traisental, Kamptal, and Kremstal DAC Rules

Answer 6

• Grüner Veltliner or Riesling,

- may be labeled either Classic [12%abv] or Reserve 13%abv]

Question 7

Weinvertel DAC overview

Answer 7

• largest subregion of Neiderösterreich
• first DAC
• hills of danube/pannonian plain [cooler climate/ fresher style]

Question 8

Wachau Overiew

Answer 8

• steep terraced slopes along danube [moderates]

- makes most age worthy wines

Question 9

Wachau Soils

Answer 9

loess and gföhler[gneiss]

Question 10

Wachau famous vineyard(s)

Answer 10

Achleiten

Question 11

Wachau Dry Wines Ratings

Answer 11

• Steinfeder (11.5% min alcohol,15°KMW lightest of three, named for local grass)
• Federspiel (11.5-12.5%,17°KMW named for Falconers tool)
• Smaragd (12.5% min, 19°KMW from very ripe grapes, named for emerald colored lizard that suns itself in vineyards) often show botrytis

Question 12

Kamtal/Kremstal Overview

Answer 12

• located in valleys of Kampt and Krems river

- Langenlois [important wine town] in Kamptal

Question 13

Wagram Overview

Answer 13

• east of Wacahao

- Gruner Veltliner and Roter Veltliner [white wine from red grape] a speciality

Question 14

Burgenland Overview

Answer 14

• east Austria near Hungary
• hot continental moderrated by Lake Neusiderliesse
• Neusiederliesee creates conditions for noble rot

Question 15

Burgenland Subregions

Answer 15

Neusiederlersee DAC 
Mittelburgenland DAC 
Südburgenland
Neusiederlersee-Hügelland
Eisenberg DAC
Leithaberg DAC

Question 16

Burgenland DACs

Answer 16

Neusiederlersee DAC
Mittelburgenland DAC
Eisenberg DAC
Leithaberg DAC

Question 17

Burgenland Grapes

Answer 17

• Sweet whites wines (mostly Welschriesling)

- Reds (Zweigelt/Blaufrankish)

Question 18

Mittelburgenland DAC rules

Answer 18

• Blaufrankish
• sold after March 1st the year following harvest
• large casks in event of wood aging

Question 19

Eisenberg DAC rules

Answer 19

-reds from Blaufrankish

Question 20

Leithaberg DAC rules

Answer 20

• allows both red/white

- reds 85% Blaufrankish min

Question 21

Neusiederlersee DAC rules

Answer 21

-DAC wines must be reds from Zweigelt but best wines from area are sweet

Question 22

Neusiederlersee producer(s)

Answer 22

-Alois Kracher BA and TBA wines are legendary [Scherube incredible]

Question 23

Stiermark (Styria) Grapes

Answer 23

-Welschriesling, Weisburgunder, Sauvignon blanc

Question 24

Stiermark (Styria) DAC(s)

Answer 24

-Schilerland DAC

Question 25

Stiermark (Styria) producer(s)

Answer 25

Manfred Tement: great oaked/unoaked suav blanc in Südsteiermark

Question 26

Wein(Vienna) overview

Answer 26

• only capital city in Europe to have it’s own wine appellation within city limits
• lies on Danube River
• Gemischter Satz DAC(field blend) & Heuriger(a nouveau)

Question 27

Austria Producers

Answer 27

• FX Pichler - Wachau
• Prager - Wachau
• Emmerich Knoll - Wachau
• Alois Kracher - Neusiderlesse
• Manfred Tement - Stiermark