Niederosterrich (Austria)

Question 1

The eight subzones of Niederosterreich:

Answer 1

Weinviertel

Carnuntum

Traisental

Wagram

Kremstal

Kamptal

Wachau

Thermenregion

Question 2

Weinviertel Facts

Answer 2

Largest subzone, located in the hills north of Danube and Pannonian Plain

Must be produced from Grüner Veltliner, Min. alcohol of 12%. Reserve category min. alcohol of 13%, may reveal hints of botrytis and wood.

Question 3

Kremstal and Kamptal Facts

Answer 3

May be produced from either Grüner Veltliner or Riesling, classic: 12% min alcohol or reserve: 13% min alcohol

Located in western Niederosterreich, along the Krems and Kamp Rivers, tributaries of the Danube

Grüner Veltliner here shows a more delicate spice

Question 4

The town of Langenlois

Answer 4

Located in Kamptal, one of Austria’s most important wine towns

Highly regarded vineyards:

Heiligenstein

Lamm

Dechant

Question 5

What does the word Ried indicate?

Answer 5

A top site

Question 6

The Erste Lage

Answer 6

An elevated category of classification not yet legal.

In 2010 52 top sites throughout Kremstal, Kamptal, Wagram, and Traisental were elevated to this status

Only Grüner Veltliner and Riesling are permitted to carry the logo

Question 7

Wachau Climate and Soil

Answer 7

Steep slopes along the Melk and Krams along the banks of the Danube River makes for a Continental climate

Soil structure is a combination of loess and “gfohler”(or geneiss) and alluvial sand in the lower vineyard sites

Question 8

The Wachau categories of classification

Answer 8

Steinfeder: A local grass found in the vineyards. Maximum alcohol of 11.5%

Federspiel: A falconers tool. Final alcohol range of 11.5% - 12.5%

Smaragd: An emerald lizard who basks on the terraces. Minimum alcohol of 12.5%. Equivalent ripeness to Spatlese.

Question 9

FX Pichler, Prager, Emmerich Knoll

Answer 9

Among the Wachau’s finest

Question 10

What village is the vineyard Achleiten located in?

Answer 10

Weissenkirchen

Question 11

The Vinea Wachau Facts

Answer 11

Founded in 1983, members control more than 85% of the regions vineyard acreage.

An organization of estates sworn to uphold the tenets of natural winemaking as spelled out in the Codex Wachau

Question 12

Roter Veltliner

Answer 12

An unrelated red grape produced as a white wine is a specialty of Wagram

Question 13

Where are the rare white grapes of Rotgipfler and Zierfandler found?

Answer 13

Thermenregion

They are produced varietally or as the blended Spatrot-Rotgipfler

Question 14

What is Gemischter Satz in Carnuntum?

Answer 14

Traditional field blends

Production is focused on reds in Carnuntum, particularly Zweigelt