Geography/Laws/Soils/History

Question 1

Major river running though Austria

Answer 1

Danube

Question 2

First recorded Trockenbeerenauslese in Austria

Answer 2

1526 (200 years before Germany found spatlese)

Question 3

American fungal diseases that affected Austrian vines

Answer 3

Oidium, peronospera

Question 4

Dr. Lenz Moser developed what in 1950s that changed what in vineyards?

Answer 4

Developed wire trellising system that allowed for mechanization of vineyards

Question 5

What important institute was built at Klosteneuburg in 1860?

Answer 5

viticultural research institute that focused on grape crossing and higher yield

Question 6

Name of chemical added to Austrian wines in 1980s that caused scandal and nearly destroyed wine industry

Answer 6

Diethylene Glycol (colorless, odorless, poisonous chemical). Added body. Austria responded by passing strictest wine rules.

Question 7

What general area of the country is Austria’s vineyard area mostly concentrated in?

Answer 7

Eastern portion, 90% in Niederösterreich and Burgenland

Question 8

Four Weinbaugebiete from North to South in Austria

Answer 8

Niederosterreich
Wein (vienna)
Burgenland
Styria (Steiermark)

Question 9

most cultivated grape varietal in Austria. What percentage of average?

Answer 9

Gruner Veltliner. 30% total vineyard acreage.

Question 10

Top white grape plantings in Austria

Answer 10

Gruner, Welschriesling, Muller Thurgau, Weissburgunder, Riesling, Chardonnay

Question 11

Chardonnay synonyms in Austria

Answer 11

Morillon, Feinburgunder

Question 12

Leading red grape planted in Austria

Answer 12

Zweigelt

Question 13

Zweigelt heritag

Answer 13

blaufrankisch x St Laurent (in 1922)

Question 14

Top red plantings in austria

Answer 14

Zweigelt, Blaufrankisch, Blauer Portugieser, Blauburger

Question 15

Blauburger heritage

Answer 15

blaufrankisch x blauer portugieser

Question 16

Are red or white grapes the most planted in Austria?

Answer 16

White. 65% of acreage.

Question 17

Three levels of Austrian wine quality

Answer 17

Wein, Landwein, Qualitatswein (highest)

Question 18

Austria law for Qualitatswein

Answer 18

1) sourced from single weinbaugebiete or 16 smaller regions
2) produced from 1 or more of 35 permitted grapes
3) must pass tasting panel and chemical analysis
4) must receive Prufnummer
5) must have red and white banderole on capsule

Question 19

Amount of Austrian wine labeled Qualitatswein

Answer 19

2/3rds

Question 20

Austria law for wine labeled Wein

Answer 20

1) must carry a vintage date and varietal

2) may not carry a more specific region other than Osterreich

Question 21

Austrian law for wine labeled Landwein

Answer 21

1) same 35 permitted parietals

2) can only be from one of three broad geographical areas (Weinbauregionen): we inland, steierland, or bergland.

Question 22

What quality level did Wein overtake in 2009?

Answer 22

Tafelwein

Question 23

What regions do the three broad Weinbauregionen cover?

Answer 23

Weinland covers Niederösterreich, Wien, and Burgenland.

Steierland steiermark

Bergland includes 500ha of remaining lands in mountains.

Question 24

What is the minimum yield that all quality levels in Austria must abide to?

Answer 24

9000kg/ha (67.5hl/ha)

Question 25

What two categories can Qualitatswein in Austria be divided into?

Answer 25

Pradikatswein

DAC (Districtus Austriae Controllatus)

Question 26

Minimum alcohol content for Austrian Pradikatswein

Answer 26

5%abv

Question 27

What level of sweetness does Austrian Pradikatswein begin at?

Answer 27

Spatlese.

Question 28

Can Kabinett Qualitatswein in Austria be chaptalized?

Answer 28

No chaptalization or sussreserve is permitted in Austrian Kabinett, even tho it is not considered Pradikatswein.

Question 29

In addition to Spatlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, and Trokenbeerenauslese, what two other categories are in Austria’s pradikatswein classification?

Answer 29

Strohwein (dried grape wine of beerenauslese ripeness),

Ausbruch (sweet specialty of Rust in Neusiedlersee-Hugelland)

Question 30

What is the focus of the DAC system, and why was it created?

Answer 30

DAC focus is dry wines. New indication of origin for qualitatswein designed to make wine regions and wine styles synonymous, like in France and Italy. Goal is for all 16 of Austria’s smaller regions to gain DAC status.

Question 31

How many DACs are currently in Austria?

Answer 31

9

Question 32

What does DAC control?

Answer 32

limited grape varietals, minimum alcohol, style.

Question 33

Name the 9 Austrian DACs

Answer 33

Weinvertal, Mittelburgenland, Traisental, Kremstal, Kamptal, Leithaberg, Eisenberg, Neusiedlersee, Wiener-Gemischter-Satz.

Question 34

What scale is must weight measured in Austria?

Answer 34

KMW (Klosteneuburger Mostwaage Scale). 1° KMW = 1% sugar content of must

Question 35

Must weight (KMW) for:
Generic Wine
Landwein
Qualitatswein

Answer 35

Generic Wine: 10.6°
Landwein: 14°
Qualitatswein: 15°

Question 36

Must weight (KMW) for:
Kabinett
Spatlese
Auslese
Beerenauslese

Answer 36

Kabinett: 17°
Spatlese: 19°
Auslese: 21°
Beerenauslese: 25°

Question 37

Must weight (KMW) for:
Strohwein
Eiswein
Ausbruch
Trockenbeerenauslese

Answer 37

Strohwein: 25° (same as beerenauslese)
Eiswein: 25° (same as beerenauslese)
Ausbruch: 27°
Trockenbeerenauslese: 30°