Niederösterreich

Question 1

What does Niederösterreich mean?

Answer 1

Lower Austria

Question 2

What is the largest wine growing region in Austria?

Answer 2

Niederösterreich

Question 3

What is the flat Niederösterreich lie upon?

Answer 3

Pannonian Plain - former seabed of loess soils streching from eastern Austria through Hungary

Question 4

What is the Pannonian Plain?

Answer 4

The identifying geological formation which Niederosterreich lies upon. former seabed of loess soils streching from eastern Austria through Hungary

Question 5

Niederösterreich climatic features

Answer 5

continental climate: hot, dry summers and sever winters. Most wine growing sub zones are along the Danube River which moderates

Question 6

Which sub zones of Niederösterreich do not lie on the banks of the Danube River?

Answer 6

Weinviertel and Thermenregion

Question 7

Which sub zones of Niederösterreich lie along the banks of the Danube?

Answer 7

Kamptal, Kremstal, Wachau, Traisental, Wagram, Carnuntum,

Question 8

Niederösterreich largest subreigion and first DAC

Answer 8

Weinvertel

Question 9

Where is Weinvertel locatred

Answer 9

northeastern Niederösterreich, north of Danube and Pannonian plain. Cooler climate.

Question 10

What grapes are approved for Weinvertel DAC and what is min abv?

Answer 10

Gruner Veltliner. 12%abv min. 13% for reserve.

Question 11

Weinvertel DAC tasting panel looks for what styles of wine?

Answer 11

classic: lighter style, distinct peppery notes, no wood or botrytis.
Reserve: fuller body, min alc 13%, allows botrytis and wood, supported by richer character of the wine.

Question 12

What can you expect from a “classic” wine in Niederösterreich?

Answer 12

it is of DAC quality, no botrytis or wood, lighter body, min 12% abv

Question 13

What can you expect from a “reserve” wine in Niederösterreich?

Answer 13

Reserve: fuller body, min alc 13%, allows botrytis and wood, supported by richer character of the wine.

Question 14

Name two tributaries of the Danube and the corresponding wine regions

Answer 14

Krems and Kamp Rivers.

Kremstal and Kamptal.

Question 15

Which is a vineyard and which is a village?
Heiligenstein
Lamm
Dechant
Langenlois
Zöbing

Answer 15

Heiligenstein: vineyard
Lamm: vineyard 
Dechant: vineyard
Langenlois: village
Zöbing: village

Question 16

What word can signify a vineyard is a top site?

Answer 16

Ried. Old custom of replacing the village name with Ried.

Question 17

What is the Österreichischen Traditionsweingüter?

Answer 17

Organizing body founded in 1992, like the VDP, comprised of producers. They decide Erste Lage sites

Question 18

Grape varieties allowed in Austrian Erste Lage

Answer 18

Gruner Veltliner and Riesling

Question 19

Considered the best vineyard area in Niederösterreich

Answer 19

Wachau

Question 20

Climatic and geological features of Wachau

Answer 20

narrow band of steep, terraced slopes along banks of Danube. River and cool northern winds chill the summer nights, retaining acidity. Like mosel.

Question 21

Soil structure of Wachau

Answer 21

Loess and gföhler (gneiss), with alluvial sand near river’s edge

Question 22

Three classifications of Wachau

Answer 22

Steinfeder
Federspiel
Smaragd

Question 23

Styles and must weights of the three classifications of Wachau

Answer 23

Steinfeder: 15°KMW, max 11.5%abv. lightest style. (equivelent to Qualitatswein KMW)

Federspiel: 17°KMW, 11.5-12.5%abv, medium style (equivelent to Kabinett KMW)

Smaragd: 19°KMW, min12.5 abv, richest style, signs of botrytis. (equivalent to Spatlese KMW, or 95° Öchsle).

Question 24

What is Steinfeder, Federspiel, and Smaragd named after?

Answer 24

Steinfeder: local grass
Federspiel: falconer’s tool
Smaragd: green lizard

Question 25

Vineyard located in Weissenkirchen (Wachau) which is considered one of the best

Answer 25

Achleiten

Question 26

Three producers who produce Weissenkirchen Achleiten wines

Answer 26

FX Pichler, Prager, Emmerich Knoll

Question 27

What is Vinea Wachau and what rules do they follow?

Answer 27

founded in 1983, Organization of producers sworn to uphold the tenets of natural winemaking as written in the Codex Wachau: no additives, no chaptalization, no aromatization (including new barrique), no ‘fractionation’ like de-alcoholization. must be 100% wachau produce.

Question 28

How much of Wachau is controlled by Vinea Wachau?

Answer 28

85%+

Question 29

What subregion of Niederösterreich was known as Donauland prior to 2007?

Answer 29

Wagram

Question 30

Where is Wagram in comparison to Wachau, Kremstal, and Kamptal?

Answer 30

To the east, following Danube River before it hits Vienna.

Question 31

Main grapes of Wagram (red and white)

Answer 31

Gruner Veltliner
Roter Veltliner (red grape produced as a white wine, speciality of Wagram)

Question 32

Where are Carnuntum and Thermenregion located?

Answer 32

South of Vienna, far from the Danube.

Question 33

What is the climate of Thermenregion, and what grapes does it produce?

Answer 33

Hot, far from River and exposed to heat and continental climate on Pannonian plain.
grapes: white Rotgipfler and Zierfandler. Produced varietally or blended as “Spatrot-Rotgipfler”.

Question 34

Name a producer from Thermenregion

Answer 34

Heidi Schrock

Question 35

Main grape and wine styles of Carnuntum

Answer 35

Zweigelt, more red wines. Traditional field blends “Gemischter Satz”

Question 36

What is “Gemischter Satz”

Answer 36

traditional field blend, a specialty of Carnuntum.