History, Wine Law, and Geogrpahy Flashcards
Which order of monks from Burgundy significantly influenced Austrian viticulture? When?
Cistercian monks in the 10th-13th centuries
What monastery established a wine college in 1860 that continues to serve as a principle enology school today?
Klosterneuburg
When was the first official Austrian wine law introduced?
1907
In what year did Germany annex Austria for the Third Reich?
1938
What did the Reich Hereditary Farm Act mandate in terms of vineyard size? How did this affect farmers?
Mandated a vineyard size of 7.5 to 125 hectares. Most farmer held only a few hectares, so this led to mergers and an influx of cooperatives
Who introduced Hochkulture - High stake training- to Austria?
Lenz Moser
Which varieties were most encouraged for Hochkultur training?
Grüner Veltliner and Zweigelt for their resistance to frost. (Riesling and Welchsrieslibg also did not freeze)
What were some factors that spurred the Austrian wine scandal of 1985?
- A string of poor vintages in the late 70s and early 80s led to a need to correct underripe and thin wines
- Increased demand for sweet wines from Germany and abroad
- A new tax policy implemented in 1970 no longer mandated cellar inspections
What is DEG? When was it used in Austria? What does it do?
Diethylene Glycol
Late 1970s and early 1980s
Has a sweet taste, it adds to and obscures sugar additions
What was the response to the Austrian wine scandal of 1985?
Export markets dried up and took 15yrs to rebound
The Austrian Wine Act of 1986 established some of the strictest regulations in Europe
When was the Vinea Wachau Nobilis Districtus formed?
1983
What were the three categories created by the Vinea Wachau to signify weight and natural alcohol level achieved?
Steinfeder - Max 11.5% alcohol and must weight of 15 degrees KMW
Federspiel - 11.5% - 12.5% alcohol and min must weight of 17 degrees KMW
Smaragd - Min 12.5% alcohol and min must weight of 18.2 degrees KMW
When was the Österreichische Traditionsweingüter (OTW) established? Where is it in use?
1992
Kamptal and Kremstal originally, it has now expanded to include Wachau, Wagram, Vienna, Carnuntum, and Traisental.
What system does the ÖTW use?
A three tiered classification - Gebietswein (regional), Ortswein (village), and Riedenwein (single vineyard). Riedweins can be identified for quality and distinctiveness using erste lage and grosse lage. As of 2023 their are 90 erste lage sites and grosse lage has not yet been utilized.
What was the first DAC? When?
Weinviertel
2003