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WSET 3 (2nd Edition) > Chap 23: Austria > Flashcards

Chap 23: Austria Flashcards

1
Q

Where in Austria is the grape-growing area?

A

The eastern part

The alps cover the western part of Austria

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2
Q

Describe the climate of eastern Austria
* Cool, Mod or Warm
* Continental, Maritime, Meditteranean
* Features of Summers vs. Winters
* Climatic Features

A
  • Cool Continental Climate
  • Short summers and very harsh winters
  • Cooling northerly winds in the north
  • Warming easterly winds near the Hungarian border
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3
Q

Describe weather variations in Austria vs. northern Europe

A

Less here than in northern Europe

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4
Q

What is the most widely planted variety in Austria?

A

Grüner Veltliner

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5
Q

Describe wines from Grüner Veltliner at high yields

A

Fresh but unexciting

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6
Q

Describe wines from Grüner Veltliner when grown with care
* Body
* Acidity
* Flavors in youth vs. age

A
  • Full-bodied & concentrated
  • High acidity
  • In youth: citrus or stone fruit with some hints of white pepper
  • With age: develops layers of honey and toast
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7
Q

Describe the role of oak in the production of Grüner Veltliner in Austria

A
  • Majority is fermented and matured in stainless steel, but old oak casks are common
  • Some may maturate a portion of their best wine in oak barriques
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8
Q

What is the second most planted white variety in Austria?

A

Welschriesling

Note: this is not the same grape as Riesling

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9
Q

Describe dry Welschriesling:
* Flavors
* Acidity

A

Fresh but simple
* Displaying citrus and green apple flavours
* High acidity

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10
Q

Other than producing dry wines, what other style of wine is Welschriesling well suited to?

A

Botrytised dessert wines

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11
Q

What is the third most widely planted white variety in Austria?

A

Riesling

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12
Q

Where in Austria are the best examples of Riesling from?

A

Wachau, Kamptal and Kremstal

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13
Q

Describe Rieslings from Austria:
* Sweetness
* Body
* Flavor
* Age potential

A
  • Dry
  • Medium to full-bodied
  • Ripe, peachy primary fruit
  • Best examples can bottle-age
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14
Q

What are the 3 ‘other’ white varieties of Austria (NOT Riesling, Gruner Veltliner and Welschriesling)?

A

Chardonnay
Müller Thurgau
Sauvignon Blanc

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15
Q

Which of Austria’s ‘other’ varieties is growing in reputation? Where?

A

Sauvignon Blanc

Steiermark (a southern region)

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16
Q

What is the most widely planted black variety in Austria?

A

Zweigelt

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17
Q

Which grapes were crossed to make Zweigelt?

A

Blaufränkisch x St Laurent

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18
Q

Describe wines made from Zweigelt:
* Color
* Style of Tannin (soft, grippy, silky, velvety etc)
* Flavors

A

Deeply coloured
Soft tannins
Flavours of bramble fruit

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19
Q

What is the most highly regarded of the Austrian black varieties?

A

Blaufränkisch

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20
Q

Describe Austrian wines made from Blaufränkisch:
* Tannin
* Acidity
* Flavors

A

Medium tannin
High acidity
Peppery, sour cherry flavour

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21
Q

Which Austrian speciality grape gives wines a similar charector to Pinot Noir?

A

St Laurent

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22
Q

What is the role of oak in creating wines from St Laurent?

A

Oak ageing is common for these wines

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23
Q

What red wine movement is taking place in Austria?

A

Local varieties are being blended with international varieties such as Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot

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24
Q

What are the four federal states of production for PDO wines?

A

Niederösterreich (Lower Austria)
Burgenland
Steiermark (Styria)
Wien (Vienna)

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25
Q

Which two states of Austria account for the vast majority of production?

A

Niederösterreich and Burgenland

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26
Q

Which is the largest of Austrian regions for production and exports?

A

Niederösterreich

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27
Q

Where are the majority of vineyards in Niederösterreich?

A

On the banks of the Danube and further north towards the Slovak border

28
Q

Where is Wachau and what is it known for?

A

It is in Niederösterreich
The most renowned for high quality dry wines
Made from Riesling or Grüner Veltliner

29
Q

How many sub-regions are there in Niederösterreich?

A

Eight

30
Q

Describe vineyards of Wachau

A

Steep
Often terraced
South facing
Next to the Danube

31
Q

Which DACs are just north of Wachau and produce similar style and quality of wine?

A

Kamptal DAC & Kremstal DAC

32
Q

What is the largest vine-growing area of Austria?

A

Weinviertel DAC

33
Q

Which was the first Austrian DAC?

A

Weinviertel DAC

34
Q

Which varieties are used for Weinviertel DAC?

A

Only Grüner Veltliner

35
Q

How is Weinviertel DAC divided?

A

Into two levels; Klassik and Reserve

36
Q

Describe Weinviertel Klassik wines

A

They must be light, fresh and fruity with no discernable oak.

37
Q

Describe Weinviertel Reserve wines

A

They must have a higher minimum alcohol than Klassik and are allowed to be matured in oak

38
Q

Where in Austria is Burgenland?

A

To the east of Austria along the border with Hungary

39
Q

What is Burgenland best known for?

A

Top quality sweet wines

Red wines

40
Q

What other style of wine is made in Burgenland?

A

Dry whites

41
Q

What are Burgenland’s dry whites made from?

A

Pinot Blanc
Welschriesling
Grüner Veltliner
Chardonnay

42
Q

Where is the key area for sweet wine production in Burgenland?

A

Around Neusiedlersee

43
Q

What is Neusiedlersee?

A

A vast shallow lake in the north of Burgenland

44
Q

Describe the location of sweet wine vineyards around Neusiedlersee

A

On low-lying ground near the lake

45
Q

Why are the best sweet wine sites of Burgenland on low-lying ground?

A

To benefit from autumn mists that come in from the lake and the wetland regions on its margins
This promotes noble rot

46
Q

How consistent is botrytis infection around Neusiedlersee?

A

It is almost guaranteed every year

47
Q

What is one of the most widely used grape varieties for sweet wine in Austria?

A

Welschriesling

48
Q

Where in Austria do the best red wines come from?

A

The higher ground away from Neusiedlersee and in the hills further south

49
Q

What is the most widely planted red variety of Burgenland?

A

Zweigelt

50
Q

Name red varieties in Burgenland other than Zweigelt

A

Blaufränkisch
St Laurent
Pinot, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon

51
Q

Name a DAC for Zweigelt

A

Neusiedlersee DAC

52
Q

What are the two DACs for Blaufränkisch?

A

Mittelburgenland and Leithaberg

53
Q

The majority of wine made in Austria is PDO and is called what?

A

Qualitatswein - it may either come from a generic region or specified region.

54
Q

How are PGI wines labelled in Austria?

A

Landwein

55
Q

How are wines without a GI labelled in Austria?

A

Wein

56
Q

How many areas within Austria qualify for PDO status?

A

4 states that encompass a number of smaller specified regions.

57
Q

From how many grape varieties may Qualitätswein of Austria be made of?

A

For NON-DAC wines can use 40 permitted grape varieties grown anywhere within the generic region

58
Q

Into what style must Austrian Qualitätsweine be made?

A

Any style

59
Q

How else may Qualitätswein be labelled in Austria?

A

With a Prädikat level (as in Germany)

60
Q

What are the Prädikat levels in Austria typically reserved for?
What are the various levels?

A

Typically reserved for Medium-Sweet and Sweet wines.
The levels work the same as in Germany, but with one additonal one:
* Strohwein/Schilfwein

61
Q

What is Strohwein/Schilfwein?

A

Bunches of grapes are laid out on beds of straw or reeds during the winter, to concentrate sugars.

62
Q

How is DAC status awarded?

A

Wine producers in a region must agree on grape varieties, a style of wine and a set of regulations to go with it

63
Q

How must other wines in Austria outside of DAC regulations label their wines?

A

With only the name of the relevant generic region

64
Q

What else may appear on a DAC wine label?

A

The name of a village or single vineyard may also appear.

65
Q

How would a Pradikatswein be labelled for a specific region where a DAC already exists for another style of wine?

A

In this case, the wines must be labelled with the generic region instead.

WSET 3 (2nd Edition) (11 decks)

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