WSET Diploma Austria Flashcards
What is the climate in Austria? How is it characterised?
Cool Continental Short Summers and harsh Winters. High diurnal range, with long Autumn ripening
What is the climate consideration in Austria’s Northerly regions?
Cooling northerly winds
What is the climate consideration growing close to the Hungarian border?
Warmed by Easterly winds
What are the 3 main white grapes grown in Austria?
White grapes account for ___% of plantings in Austria.
- Gruner Veltliner
- Welchriesling
- Muller-Thurgau
- 67%
What are the 3 main black grapes grown in Austria?
- Zweigelt
- Blaufrankisch
- Blauer Portugieser
Within Austria wine law, what is a ‘DAC’ and what does it stand for?
What is their focus / goal?
Districtus Austriae Controllatus
- A newer indication of origin withing the Qualitatswein system.
- Dry wines are the focus.
- Designed to align Austrian regions with wine profiles in the mind of the consumer, in the tradition of the French and Italian systems.
What 3 things must growers agree on before applying for DAC?
Grape variety
Set of regulations
Style of the wine
What is Ausbruch and when did it originate?
Which city / region is a specialty of?
What wine is it similar to in terms of production?
What varietals are often used, both traditional (1) and modern (7)?
- A sweet Austrian wine that dates back to the 17th Century.
- Rust in Burgenland
- Similar to Tokaji, made from botrytis-affected grapes.
- Traditional: Furmint
Modern: Chardonnay, Muskateller, Pinot Blanc, Neuburger, Welschriesling, Traminer and Pinot Gris.
What is ‘Strohwein’ or ‘Schilfwein’?
A dried grape wine of at least Beerenauslese ripeness. Grapes are dried on straw mats over the winter.
What is PGI wine called in Austria?
Wein
Which part of Austria are wine-growing areas located?
What is located in Austria’s other section?
To the East
To the West is the Alps
Which 2 federal states account for the majority of wine production?
Niederosterreich (Lower Austria) Burgenland
Name the sub region of Niederosterreich renowned for high quality dry wines made from either Gruner Veltliner or Riesling
Wachau
Where are most of the vineyards located in Niederosterreich?
On the banks of the Danube and further North towards the Slovak border
Name the sub region in Niederosterreich which is Austria’s largest vine growing area and the first Austrian DAC
Weinviertel DAC
What is the only grape variety permitted in Weinviertal DAC?
Gruner Veltliner
If you were asked for an upmarket Gruner Veltliner, which prestigious sub region would you recommend?
Wachau, the most renowned for high quality dry wines.
What are the 2 styles of wine made in Weinviertal DAC and how do they differ?
Klassik : Light, fresh, fruity; min. 12%abv, must be approved by a tasting panel and show a distinct peppery note, with no signs of botrytis/wood.
Reserve: Fuller-bodied, 13% min abv, may show notes of botrytis/wood.
What is the Federal State of Burgenland renowned for?
Top quality sweet wines and red wines
What is the name of the vast shallow lake in the North of Burgenland that is key for sweet wine production?
Neusiedlersee
Why is the lake Neusiedlersee so important to sweet wine production?
Because the vineyards are located on the low lying ground near the lake to benefit from the Autumn mists that come from the lake and wetland regions on its margins. These are ideal conditions for botrytis.
What is the ‘typical’ character of Austrian Gruner Veltliner?
When young? When aged?
Capable of producing full-bodied, concentrated wines with naturally high acidity.
Young - Flavours of citrus and stone fruits sometimes with hints of white pepper
Aged - The wine develops layers of honey and toast
What is the ‘typical’ character of Austrian Riesling?
Dry and medium to full bodied with ripe, peachy, primary fruit
Name one area producing good Austrian Riesling
Wachau
What is the ‘typical’ character of Austrian Welschriesling?
Fresh and simple with citrus and green apple flavours and high acidity but renowned for making botrytis sweet wines
What is the ‘typical’ character of Austrian Zweigelt?
Deeply coloured red with soft tannins and bramble fruit
What is the ‘typical’ character of Austrian Blaufrankisch?
Reds with medium tannins, high acidity and a peppery, sour cherry flavour
What is the ‘typical’ character of Austrian St. Laurent?
Reds similar in character to Pinot Noir. Often oak aged.
List the 4 Natural factors of wine
Grapes
Climate
Weather
Soil / Aspect
Which 2 regions lie just north of Wachau?
Kamptal DAC and Kremstal DAC
What are the 4 federal states for PDO wines?
Niederösterreich (Lower Austria)
Burgenland
Steiermark (Styria)
Wien (Vienna)
What are the 2 additional levels to the Prädikat system in Austria?
Ausbruch
Strohwein / Schilfwein
Name the important river (and its 3 tributaries) that flows through Austria’s main wine-growing regions:
Danube River
Krems, Kamp and Traisen Rivers
What are the 3 categories of Wachau dry wine production and what are they based on?
Based on ripeness of grapes at harvest.
Steinfeder: 11.5% max alc. Lightest style, named for a local grass.
Federspiel: 11.5-12.5% alc. Named for a local falcon.
Smaragd: 12.5% min. alc. Named for an emerald green lizard that suns itself in the vineyards.