C23 - Austria - completed Flashcards
Where is the grape-growing area in Austria?
The eastern part
Describe the climate of eastern Austria
- Cool continental
- Short summers and very harsh winters
- Cooling northerly winds in the north
- Warming easterly winds near the Hungarian border
Describe weather variations in Austria
Less variation than in northern Europe
What is the most widely planted variety in Austria?
Grüner Veltliner
Describe wines making from Grüner Veltliner at high yields
Fresh but unexciting
Describe wines from Grüner Veltliner when grown with care
- 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
- Majority is fermented and matured in stainless steel, but old oak casks are common
- Some maturation may occur in oak barriques
What is the second most planted white variety in Austria?
Welschriesling
Describe dry Welschriesling
- Fresh but simple
- citrus and green apple flavours
- High acidity
What style of wine is Welschriesling well suited to?
Botrytised dessert wines
What is the third most widely planted white variety in Austria?
Riesling
Where in Austria are the best examples of Riesling from?
Wachau, Kamptal and Kremstal
Describe Rieslings from Austria
- Dry
- Medium to full-bodied
- Ripe, peachy primary fruit
- Best examples can bottle-age
What are the ‘other’ white varieties of Austria?
- Chardonnay
- Müller Thurgau
- Sauvignon Blanc
Which of Austria’s ‘other’ varieties is growing in reputation? Where?
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Steiermark (a southern region)
What is the most widely planted black variety in Austria?
Zweigelt
Which grapes were crossed to make Zweigelt?
Blaufränkisch x St Laurent
Describe wines from Blaufränkisch
Deeply coloured
Soft tannins
Flavours of bramble fruit
What is the most highly regarded of the Austrian black varieties?
Blaufränkisch
Describe Austrian wines made from Blaufränkisch
- Medium tannin
- High acidity
- Peppery, sour cherry flavour
____ is an Austrian speciality grape with wines similar to Pinot Noir in character
St. Laurent
What is the role of oak in creating wines from St Laurent?
It is common
What red wine movement is taking place in Austria?
Local varieties are being blended with international varieties such as Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
What are the four federal states of production for PDO wines?
- Niederösterreich (Lower Austria)
- Burgenland
- Steiermark (Styria)
- Wien (Vienna)
In which states of Austria is the vast majority of production?
Niederösterreich and Burgenland
Which is the largest of Austrian regions for production and exports?
Niederösterreich
Where are the majority of vineyards in Niederösterreich?
On the banks of the Danube and further north towards the Slovak border
Where is Wachau and what is it known for?
- It is in Niederösterreich
- The most renowned for high quality dry wines
- Made from Riesling or Grüner Veltliner
How many sub-regions are there in Niederösterreich?
Eight
Describe vineyards of Wachau
- Steep
- Often terraced
- South facing
- Next to the river Danube
How long has Wachau been a DAC?
It has not chosen to become one
What classification system does Wachau use?
Its own
Which regions surround Wachau?
- Kamptal DAC
- Kremstal DAC
What style are Kamptal DAC and Kremstal DAC made into?
- Similar style and quality to Wachau
- From Grüner and Riesling
What is the largest vine-growing area of Austria?
Weinviertel DAC
Which was the first Austrian DAC?
Weinviertel DAC
Which varieties are used for Weinviertel DAC?
Only Grüner Veltliner
How else is Weinviertel divided?
Into two levels; Klassik and Reserve
Describe Weinviertel Klassik wines
- Light, fresh and fruity
- No discernible oak
Describe Weinviertel Reserve wines
- Higher minimum alcohol than Klassik
- Allowed to be matured in oak
Where in Austria is Burgenland?
To the east of Austria along the border with Hungary
What is Burgenland best known for?
- Top quality sweet wines
- Red wines
What other style of wine is made in Burgenland?
Dry whites
What are Burgenland’s dry whites made from?
- Pinot Blanc
- Welschriesling
- Grüner Veltliner
- Chardonnay
Where is the key area for sweet wine production in Burgenland?
Around Neusiedlersee
What is Neusiedlersee?
A vast shallow lake in the north of Burgenland
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 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
What is the most widely planted red variety of Burgenland?
Zweigelt
Name red varieties in Burgenland other than Zweigelt
- Blaufränkisch
- St Laurent
- Pinot Noir
- Merlot
- Cabernet Sauvignon
Name a DAC for Zweigelt
Neusiedlersee DAC
What is the largest of the DACs for Blaufränkisch?
Mittelburgenland
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)
What are the two statuses that PDO wines can have in Austria?
- Qualitätswein
- Districtus Austriae Controllatus (DAC)
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 must 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 more:
- 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 on grape varieties, a style of wine and a set of regulations to go with it
How must other wines in Austria outside of DAC regulations label their wines?
With only the name of the relevant federal-state
Which are the best known grapes of Austria? Red, white and sweet?
- Grüner Veltliner (dry white)
- Zweight (red)
- Blaufränkisch (red)
- Welschriesling (botrytised sweet)
Zweigelt is a crossing of which two varieties?
Saint-Laurent with Blaufrankisch
How many DACs for Blaufrankish in Neusiedlersee
3
