C23 - Austria /checked Flashcards
Where in Austria is the grape-growing area?
The eastern part
Describe the climate of eastern Austria
climate, summers/winters, 2 prevailing winds
- Cool continental
- Short summers and very harsh winters
- Cooling northerly winds in the north
- Warming easterly winds near the Hungarian border
Describe annual weather pattern variations in Austria
Less here than in Northern Europe
Rank the 3 most planted WHITE grape varieties in Austria
- Grüner Veltliner
- Welschriesling
- Riesling
Describe wines from Grüner Veltliner at high yields
Fresh but unexciting
Describe wines from Grüner Veltliner when grown with care
body, concentration, acidity, flavour youth/aged
- Full-bodied
- Concentrated
- High acidity
- In youth; citrus or stone fruit with some hints of white pepper
- With age; honey and toast
Describe the role of oak in the production of Grüner Veltliner in Austria
All variations exist:
No oak, old oak, new oak
- Majority is fermented and matured in stainless steel, but old oak casks are common
- Best wine may mature in new oak barriques
Describe dry Welschriesling
acidity, flavour
- Fresh but simple
- High acidity
- Displaying citrus and green apple flavours
What style of wine is Welschriesling well suited to?
Botrytised dessert wines
What regions in Austria are the best examples of Riesling from?
- Wachau
- Kamptal
- Kremstal
Describe Rieslings from Austria
sweetness, body, flavour, ageing
- Dry
- Medium to full-bodied
- Ripe, peachy primary fruit
- Best examples can bottle-age
What are the ‘other’ white varieties of Austria? (3)
- Chardonnay
- Müller Thurgau
- Sauvignon Blanc
Rank the 3 most planted WHITE grape varieties in Austria
- Zweigelt
- Blaufränkisch (most highly regarded)
- St. Laurent (similar to Pinot Noir)
Which grapes were crossed to make Zweigelt?
Blaufränkisch x St Laurent
Describe Austrian wines made from Zweigelt
colour, tannin, flavour
Deeply coloured
Soft tannins
Flavours of bramble fruit
Describe Austrian wines made from Blaufränkisch
tannin, acidity, flavour
Medium tannin
High acidity
Peppery, sour cherry flavour
What is the role of oak in creating wines from St Laurent?
It is common
What red wine movement is taking place in Austria?
BLENDING
Local varieties are being blended with international varieties such as Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
What are the four Austrian federal states with PDO status? (4, ranked to production majority)
- Niederösterreich (Lower Austria)
- Burgenland
- Steiermark (Styria)
- , Wien (Vienna)
How many sub-regions are there in Niederösterreich?
Name 4
Eight.
- Wachau (not DAC) - Riesling and Grüner Veltliner
- Kamptal DAC - Riesling and Grüner Veltliner
- Kremstal DAC - Riesling and Grüner Veltliner
- Weinviertel DAC - ONLY Grüner Veltliner
Describe vineyards of Wachau
Steep
Often terraced
South facing
Next to the Danube
What is the largest vine-growing area of Austria?
Weinviertel DAC
Which was the first Austrian DAC?
Weinviertel DAC
What are the 2 levels in Weinviertel DAC?
- Klassik - light, fresh, fruit, no oak
2. Reserve - higher alcohol, oak allowed
What wine styles is Burgenland (Austria) best known for?
- Top quality sweet wines
2. Red wines
What are Burgenland’s dry whites made from? (4)
- Pinot Blanc
- Welschriesling
- Grüner Veltliner
- Chardonnay
Where is the key area for sweet wine production in Burgenland?
Around Neusiedlersee
Describe the location of sweet wine vineyards around Neusiedlersee
On low-lying ground near the lake
Why are the best sweet wine sites of Burgenland on low-lying ground?
To benefit from autumn mists that come in from the lake and the wetland regions on its margins
This promotes noble rot
How consistent is botrytis infection around Neusiedlersee?
It is almost guaranteed every year
What is one of the most widely used grape varieties for sweet wine in Austria?
WELSCHRIESLING
Where in Austria do the best red wines come from?
The higher ground away from Neusiedlersee and in the hills further south
Name an Austrian DAC for Zweigelt
Neusiedlersee DAC
What is the largest Austrian DACs for Blaufränkisch?
Mittelburgenland DAC
How are PGI wines labelled in Austria?
Landwein
How are wines without a GI labelled in Austria?
Wein
How many areas within Austria qualify for PDO status?
20 (four states and 16 smaller areas)
Which of either 2 status can a Austrian PDO have?
- Qualitätswein, or
2. Districtus Austriae Controllatus (DAC) - only 9
How many areas of Austria are designated for the production of Qualitätswein?
11 (the four federal states and seven of the smaller areas)
From how many grape varieties may Qualitätsweine of Austria be made?
35
Into what style can Austrian Qualitätsweine be made?
Any
How else may Qualitätsweine be labelled in Austria?
With a Prädikat level (as in Germany)
What are the Prädikat levels in Austria?
The same as in Germany, but with two additionals:
- Ausbruch (between BA and TBA)
- Strohwein/Schilfwein
What is Strohwein/Schilfwein?
Bunches of grapes are laid out on beds of straw or reeds during the winter, to concentrate sugars
How many of the smaller regions of Austria have elected to become DAC?
9
How is DAC status awarded?
Wine producers in a region must agree :
- Grape VARIETIES,
- STYLE of wine
- Set of REGULATIONS
How must other wines in Austria outside of DAC regulations label their wines?
With only the name of the relevant federal-state
