Niederösterreich Flashcards
What does Niederösterreich mean?
Lower Austria
What is the largest wine growing region in Austria?
Niederösterreich
What is the flat Niederösterreich lie upon?
Pannonian Plain - former seabed of loess soils streching from eastern Austria through Hungary
What is the Pannonian Plain?
The identifying geological formation which Niederosterreich lies upon. former seabed of loess soils streching from eastern Austria through Hungary
Niederösterreich climatic features
continental climate: hot, dry summers and sever winters. Most wine growing sub zones are along the Danube River which moderates
Which sub zones of Niederösterreich do not lie on the banks of the Danube River?
Weinviertel and Thermenregion
Which sub zones of Niederösterreich lie along the banks of the Danube?
Kamptal, Kremstal, Wachau, Traisental, Wagram, Carnuntum,
Niederösterreich largest subreigion and first DAC
Weinvertel
Where is Weinvertel locatred
northeastern Niederösterreich, north of Danube and Pannonian plain. Cooler climate.
What grapes are approved for Weinvertel DAC and what is min abv?
Gruner Veltliner. 12%abv min. 13% for reserve.
Weinvertel DAC tasting panel looks for what styles of wine?
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.
What can you expect from a “classic” wine in Niederösterreich?
it is of DAC quality, no botrytis or wood, lighter body, min 12% abv
What can you expect from a “reserve” wine in Niederösterreich?
Reserve: fuller body, min alc 13%, allows botrytis and wood, supported by richer character of the wine.
Name two tributaries of the Danube and the corresponding wine regions
Krems and Kamp Rivers.
Kremstal and Kamptal.
Which is a vineyard and which is a village? Heiligenstein Lamm Dechant Langenlois Zöbing
Heiligenstein: vineyard Lamm: vineyard Dechant: vineyard Langenlois: village Zöbing: village
What word can signify a vineyard is a top site?
Ried. Old custom of replacing the village name with Ried.
What is the Österreichischen Traditionsweingüter?
Organizing body founded in 1992, like the VDP, comprised of producers. They decide Erste Lage sites
Grape varieties allowed in Austrian Erste Lage
Gruner Veltliner and Riesling
Considered the best vineyard area in Niederösterreich
Wachau
Climatic and geological features of Wachau
narrow band of steep, terraced slopes along banks of Danube. River and cool northern winds chill the summer nights, retaining acidity. Like mosel.
Soil structure of Wachau
Loess and gföhler (gneiss), with alluvial sand near river’s edge
Three classifications of Wachau
Steinfeder
Federspiel
Smaragd
Styles and must weights of the three classifications of Wachau
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).
What is Steinfeder, Federspiel, and Smaragd named after?
Steinfeder: local grass
Federspiel: falconer’s tool
Smaragd: green lizard
Vineyard located in Weissenkirchen (Wachau) which is considered one of the best
Achleiten
Three producers who produce Weissenkirchen Achleiten wines
FX Pichler, Prager, Emmerich Knoll
What is Vinea Wachau and what rules do they follow?
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.
How much of Wachau is controlled by Vinea Wachau?
85%+
What subregion of Niederösterreich was known as Donauland prior to 2007?
Wagram
Where is Wagram in comparison to Wachau, Kremstal, and Kamptal?
To the east, following Danube River before it hits Vienna.
Main grapes of Wagram (red and white)
Gruner Veltliner Roter Veltliner (red grape produced as a white wine, speciality of Wagram)
Where are Carnuntum and Thermenregion located?
South of Vienna, far from the Danube.
What is the climate of Thermenregion, and what grapes does it produce?
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”.
Name a producer from Thermenregion
Heidi Schrock
Main grape and wine styles of Carnuntum
Zweigelt, more red wines. Traditional field blends “Gemischter Satz”
What is “Gemischter Satz”
traditional field blend, a specialty of Carnuntum.
