Wine Law

Question 1

What are the two categories of Wein?

Answer 1

1. Wein - Can include grapes from anywhere in the EU.

2. Osterreich - grapes must be sourced from Austria.

Question 2

What are the three quality levels of Austrian Wine

Answer 2

1. Wein
2. Landwein
3. Qualitatswein

Question 3

What are the requirments for Landwein?

Answer 3

(Equivalent to the EU’s PGI)

1. Must be produced from grapes approved for Qualitatswein.
2. Grapes must come from one of three regions (Weinland, Steirerland, Bergland)

Question 4

What are the requirements for Qualitatswein?

Answer 4

(Equivalent to the EU’s PDO)

1. Grapes must be from a single region.
2. Produced in a facility in or boardering that region
3. 40 approved grape varieties.
4. Must show regional definition
5. Min. must weight = 15kmw
6. Max. yield of 65.7 hl/ha
7. Min. 9% abv (5% abv for Pradikatswein)
8. Inspected and approved by Government tasting panel.

Question 5

What are the requirements for Qualitatswein Sekt?

Answer 5

1. Min. 15kmw

2. Min. 9 months on lees

Question 6

What’s the minimum KMW for basic Qualitatswein?

Answer 6

Min. 15 KMW

Question 7

What’s the minimum KMW for Kabinett Qualitatswein?

Answer 7

Min. 17 KMW

Question 8

What’s the minimum KMW for Spatlese and Auslese Pradikatswein?

Answer 8

1. Spatlese = min. 19 KMW

2. Auslese = min. 21 KMW

Question 9

What are the requirements for Strohwein Pradikatswein?

Answer 9

1. Min. 25 KMW
2. Min. 5% abv
3. Produced from grapes dried for a minimum of 3 months.

Question 10

Trockenbeerenauslese produced in the city of Rust may also be labelled as what?

Answer 10

“Ausbruch”

Question 11

Qualitatswein accounted for what % of Austrian wine production?

Answer 11

Roughly 90% - reflecting Austria’s focus on quality.

Question 12

What’s the maximum yield for Qualitatswein?

Answer 12

65.7 hl/ha

Question 13

What’s the maximum RS for Kabinett Qualitatswein?

Answer 13

9 g/l

Question 14

What do the terms “Klassik” and “Reserve” indicate?

Answer 14

1. Klassik = unofficial term used to denote a dry, unchaptalized, medium-bodied style - often crisp, fruity, unoaked, moderate in alcohol
2. Reserve = official term used to denote fuller styles. Requires higher must weight and minimum alcohol (13%). Often more extraction and oak aging.

Question 15

What does the term “Hauersekt” indicate?

Answer 15

“Growers sparkling wine”

Wine that has been produced on the estate using only estate grown fruit.