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
Which states make up Weinland in Austria?
Niederösterreich, Vienna, and Burgenland
Which states makes up the Steirerland?
Styria
What states make up the Bergland?
Carinthia, Tyrol, Upper Austria, Vorarlberg, and Salzburg
What 2 mountain ranges play an important role in viticulture in Austria. Where are they?
Alps - extend from the West
Carpathian - Rise from the Panonnian plane and extend East
What scale does Austria use to measure must weight?
Klosterneuburg Must Weight Scale (KMW) - a measurement of 1 gram of sugar per 100 grams of grape must. (approximately 5 degrees Oechsle)
How many DACs does Austria have?
17
What are the 3 quality levels outlined by Austrian wine law? What do they each require?
Wein- May have grapes from anywhere in the EU and Osterreich must be made from grapes within Austria. Vintage and variety may be stated if the wine adheres to national yield levels and includes grapes that are permissible Qualitätswein varieties.
Landwein- same as PGI. Must be produced from grape varieties that are approved for Qualitätswein, and 100% of the grapes must come solely from one of the three winegrowing areas: Weinland, Steirerland, or Bergland.
Qualitätswein- grapes must be harvested in a single winegrowing region and produced in a facility within or bordering that region.
Wine must show typicity of region.
Meet a minimum must weight of 15 degrees KMW
Adhere to maximum yields of 65.7 hectoliters per hectare.
Have a minimum 9% ABV (5% for Prädikatswein).
Must be inspected and approved by a government tasting official and given a Federal Inspection Number
What are the four designations that fall within Qualitätswein in Austria?
Kabinett
DAC wines
Prädikatswein
Sekt Austria g.U
What does Klassik refer to in Austria?
A style of wine that is dry, unchapitalized, medium bodied, and usually unoaked, fruity, and crisp
What is the difference between the Prädikatswein system in Austria from Germany?
Is Austria Kabinett styles fall under Qualitätswein and in Germany Kabinett is part of the Prädikatswein system
What is mostwägerbescheiningung?
A certificate verifying the grapes quality for prädikatswein in Austria
When did Robert Alwin Schlumberger come to Vienna? What did he do before? What is he known for is Austria?
1842
He was Ruinart’s cellar master
For making Austria’s first sparkling wine just south of Vienna
What is Goldeck in Austria? What is it named after?
One of the largest sekt producing companies in Austria
It was the name of Austria’s first sparkling wine named after the Goldeggen Vineyard
What is the term hauersekt?
House sparkling wine. Indicated that the base wine was made by the grower / winemaker rather than a large company
When were the quality levels for PDO Austrian Sekt approved by the National Comittee? What are they?
2022
Sekt Austria
Sekt Austria Reserve
Sekt Austria Grosse Reserve
What are the minimum aging requirements for Austrian Sekt?
PDO: 9 months on the lees for traditional method. 6 months on the lees for tank method.
Only traditional method permitted for Reserve and Grosse Reserve
Reserve PDO: Min 18months on the lees.
Grosse Reserve PDO: 36 months on the lees
What are Gruner Veltliner’s parents?
Traminer (Savagnin) and St.Georgen
What is the most planted red varietal in Austria?
Second?
Zweigelt
Blaufränkisch
What is Zweigelt a crossing of?
Blaufränkisch and St.Laurent
Originally called Rotburger
How many grape varieties are approved for Qualitatswien?
40
Give min degrees KMW levels for Austrian wine
Wein: 10.7
Landwein: 14
Qualitätswein: 15
Sekt: 15
Kabinett: 17
Spätlese: 19
Auslese: 21
Beerenauslese: 25
Eiswein: 25
Strohwein: 25
Ruster Ausbruch: 30
Trockenbeerenauslese: 30
