Austria - Wine Regions Flashcards
Niederösterreich
What percentage is planted to white varieties and what is the most planted variety?
- 2/3 white
- 50% Grüner Veltliner
Niederösterreich
What are the three larger sub-regions?
- Weinviertel (north)
- Regions along the Danube (west of Vienna)
- Pannonian plain (south-east)
Niederösterreich
What is the largest appellation?
Weinviertel (also Austria’s largest)
Weinviertel
Describe rain patterns and climatic factors
- Rain: 400-600mm
- Cooling breezes from the north -> high diurnal range (peppery aromas and high acidity)
Weinviertel
What is the only permitted grape variety for DAC wines and what % of plantings is it?
- Grüner Veltliner
- 50% of plantings
Weinviertel
What is the typical style of Grüner Veltliner? (aromas, acidity, body, quality, price)
- Typically, most peppery (cooling winds)
- High acidity
- Medium to medium (+) body
- Good to very good quality, inexpensive to premium prices
Weinviertel
Name a significant producer
Sohm & Karcher
What are the sub-regions along the Danube river?
- Wachau
- Kremstal
- Kamptal
- Wagram
Wachau
What are the two most planted varieties and on what soil are they planted?
- Riesling (gneiss)
- Grüner Veltliner (loess)
Wachau
What is the general quality level and price?
Almost exclusively very good to outstanding wines with premium price
Wachau
How is the layout of most vineyards?
Steep terraces with the best sites facing south
Wachau
What is the annual rain fall?
460mm -> irrigation often necessary
Wachau
What businesses are mostly involved in production?
Mostly family-owned estates
Wachau
Name two significant producers
- F.X. Pichler (family-owned estate)
- Domäne Wachau (large, quality-driven co-operative)
Wachau
What is the Vinea Wachau and how are wines classified?
- Association of quality-driven producers
- Classified single vineyards based on soil and climate
Wachau
Describe the three classifications of dry wine of Vinea Wachau
- Steinfeder – Fruity, dry, max 11.5% abv, lightest style
- Federspiel – More concentrated, dry, 11.5-12.5% abv
- Smaragd – Highly concentrated, dry, ripe fruit, min 12.5% abv
Wachau
Describe the typical style of Wachau white wines (aromas, body, oak, acidity, ageing)
- Citrus, stone fruit, sometimes tropical
- Light (Steinfeder) to full (Smaragd) body
- NO oak influence
- Medium (+) to high acidity
- Best wines (esp. Smaragd) can improve in bottle for decades
Kremstal
What is the climate compared to Wachau and why?
- Warmer than Wachau
- Influenced by warn Pannonian plain to the east
Kremstal
Name two significant producers
- Lenz Moser
- Weingut Stadt Krems (co-operative)
Kremstal
What percentage is planted to white varieties and what varieties are allowed for DAC wines?
- 75%
- Riesling and Grüner Veltliner
Kremstal
What is the typical style of white DAC wines? (sweetness, acidity, body, quality, price)
- Dry
- Medium (+) to high acidity
- Medium to full body
- Good to outstanding quality, mid to premium priced
Kremstal
What black grape variety is grown and what is its general style?
- Zweigelt
- Fruity, easy drinking
Kremstal
What percentage is planted to black varieties and what region appears on the label?
- 25%
- Niederösterreich
Kamptal
Around what town is the region located?
Langenlois
Kamptal
How is the climate influenced?
- Warm influence from the Pannonian plain
- Cooling influence from Bohemian Massif
Kamptal
What are the three most grown varieties in descending order?
- Grüner Veltliner (>50%)
- Zweigelt
- Riesling
Kamptal
What is the general quality and price of white wines?
Very good to outstanding quality with premium prices
Kamptal
How are red wines from Zweigelt labeled and what is the general style?
- Labeled as Niederösterreich
- Mostly fruity, easy-drinking
Kamptal
Name two significant producers
- Bründlmayer
- Hirsch
Wagram
Where are the vineyards located and by what is the climate influenced?
- South and north of the Danube
- Strong warming influence from the Pannonian plain
Wagram
What is the general soil and what variety is mostly planted?
- Loess
- Grüner Veltliner
Wagram
What other variety is planted and what is the style of wine? (body, ageing)
- Roter Veltliner (no relation to Grüner Veltliner)
- Full-bodied
- Nutty aromas with bottle ageing
Wagram
What varieties are allowed for DAC wines?
There is no DAC
Wagram
What is the style of Grüner Veltliner? (sweetness, body, acidity, quality, price)
- Mostly dry
- Medium body
- High acidity
- Good to very good quality, mid- to premium priced
Thermenregion
By what is the climate influenced?
Benefits from warming influence of Pannonian plain
Thermenregion
What varieties are allowed for DAC wines?
There is no DAC
Thermenregion
What is the ratio of white and black varieties?
50/50
Thermenregion
What black grape varieties are grown and what is the general quality?
- Pinot Noir and Sankt Laurent
- High quality
Thermenregion
What is the style of Sankt Laurent? (body, tannins, aromas)
- Medium(-) body
- Medium tannins
- Red cherry flavors
Thermenregion
What are the white varieties and their characteristics?
- Neuburger most planted variety (local variety with subtle spicy and floral aromas)
- Rotgipfler (full-bodied, peach flavors)
- Zierfandler (aromatic, peach, honey, and spice)
Thermenregion
A blend from what two varieties is a local speciality?
- Rotgipfler
- Zierfandler
Burgenland
What are the three most important sub-regions?
- Neusiedlersee
- Leithaberg
- Mittelburgenland
Burgenland
What are the two most planted black and white varieties?
- Blaufränkisch
- Zweigelt
- Grüner Veltliner
- Welschriesling
Burgenland
What is the climate and by what is it influenced?
- One of the flattest and warmest areas
- Warming influence from the Pannonian plain
Burgenland
How is the climate influencing white grape growing?
- Grüner Veltliner less quality as in Niederösterreich (too warm)
- Botrytised wines from Welschriesling are important
Burgenland
How is the climate influencing black grape growing?
Black grapes are able to ripen reliably
Neusiedlersee
What is special about the climate?
- Warmest area in Austria
- Fog forms over night in autumn when temperatures drop, but lake is is still warm
Neusiedlersee
How is the climate good for botrytis?
- High humidity, so botrytis forms
- Warm autumn sunshine in the afternoon to prevent grey rot
- Consistent botrytis every vintage
Neusiedlersee
Which grape variety is particularly well suited for botrytis, why, and where is it planted?
- Welschriesling
- Thin skin
- Planted near the lake
Neusiedlersee
For what two types of wines is the climate suitable? Where are they planted?
- TBA: near the lake
- Dry red wines: away from the lake (still warming influence but less humidity)
Neusiedlersee
Describe the typical style of Ruster Ausbruch (sweetness, acidity, aromas, oak, ageing, quality, price)
- Sweet
- High acidity
- Marmelade
- Usually not oaked
- Ageing potential
- Very good to outstanding
- Premium priced
Neusiedlersee
What varieties are planted for red wines?
- Zweigelt
- Blaufränkisch
- Pinot Noir
- Sankt Laurent
Neusiedlersee
What grape variety are DAC Neusiedlersee wines based on?
Zweigelt
Neusiedlersee
What varieties are allowed in DAC Klassik and Reserve?
- Klassik: Zweigelt
- Reserve: Zweigelt (min 60%), Blaufränkisch, Pinot Noir, Sankt Laurent
Neusiedlersee
Describe the typical style of a DAC Klassik wine (variety, aromas, oak, acidity, body, quality, price)
- Zweigelt
- Red cherry
- Little oak
- Medium acidity
- Medium to full body
- Good to very good quality
- Mid-priced
Neusiedlersee
Name a significant producer for red wine and TBA sweet wines
- Red: Krutzler
- TBA: Alois Kracher
Leithaberg
What are the styles of wines produced?
- Very sweet TBA (around Rust)
- Red wines
- White wines
Leithaberg
What is the most common black grape variety? (%)
Blaufränkisch (20% of plantings)
Leithaberg
What wines and respective grape varieties are allowed for DAC wines?
- Red: Min 85% Blaufränkisch
- White: Blends or single varietals from Weissburgunder, Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner, or Neuburger
Leithaberg
Describe the typical style of Leithaberg DAC red (oak, acidity, body, quality, price)
- Must be oak aged
- Medium(+) to high acidity
- Medium(+) to full body
- Very good to outstanding
- Premium priced
Leithaberg
Describe the typical style of Leithaberg DAC white (acidity, body, quality, price)
- Medium to high acidity
- Medium(-) to medium(+) body
- Good to very good
- Mid- to premium priced
Mittelburgenland
How is the climate influenced?
Warming influence from Pannonian plain
Mittelburgenland
What grape variety is mostly planted? (%)
Blaufränkisch (>50% of plantings)
Mittelburgenland
What variety is used for DAC wines and what are the requirements?
- Blaufränkisch
- Min 85%
Mittelburgenland
Describe the three DAC styles
- DAC – stainless steel tanks or large oak casks
- DAC + Vineyard designation – higher min alc level and large oak casks or barriques
- DAC Reserve – higher min alc level, longer maturation, and large oak casks or barriques
Mittelburgenland
Describe the basic and reserve quality level of DAC wines
- Basic – good to very good, mid-priced
- Reserve – Very good to outstanding, premium priced
Steiermark
Where are the vineyards situated?
Steep hills and often terraced
Steiermark
Describe the natural hazards
- Freeze
- Spring frost
- Hail (netting used)
Steiermark
What type of wines and varieties is Steiermark known?
- Crisp, dry White wines
- Welschriesling
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Weissburgunder
Steiermark
What are the three sub-regions of the DAC system?
- Vulkanland Steiermark DAC
- Südsteiermark DAC
- Weststeiermark DAC
Steiermark
What grape varieties are permitted for regional and village/single-vineyard DAC wines?
Regional – Range of varieties
Village/Single-vineyard – Sauvignon Blanc based
Wien
What is the DAC wine and its style?
- Wiener Gemischter Satz
- For early drinking
Wien
What are the requirements for Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC?
- Must be a blend (20 grape varieties permitted)
- Dry
- Unoaked
Wien
What is the typical style of wines? (acidity, body, quality, price)
- Medium(+) to high acidity
- Light body
- Acceptable to very good quality
- Inexpensive to mid-priced (some premium priced)
