WSET Diploma Austria Flashcards

1
Q

What is the climate in Austria? How is it characterised?

A

Cool Continental Short Summers and harsh Winters. High diurnal range, with long Autumn ripening

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2
Q

What is the climate consideration in Austria’s Northerly regions?

A

Cooling northerly winds

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3
Q

What is the climate consideration growing close to the Hungarian border?

A

Warmed by Easterly winds

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4
Q

What are the 3 main white grapes grown in Austria?

White grapes account for ___% of plantings in Austria.

A
  1. Gruner Veltliner
  2. Welchriesling
  3. Muller-Thurgau
    - 67%
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5
Q

What are the 3 main black grapes grown in Austria?

A
  1. Zweigelt
  2. Blaufrankisch
  3. Blauer Portugieser
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6
Q

Within Austria wine law, what is a ‘DAC’ and what does it stand for?

What is their focus / goal?

A

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.
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7
Q

What 3 things must growers agree on before applying for DAC?

A

Grape variety

Set of regulations

Style of the wine

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8
Q

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
  • 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.

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9
Q

What is ‘Strohwein’ or ‘Schilfwein’?

A

A dried grape wine of at least Beerenauslese ripeness. Grapes are dried on straw mats over the winter.

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10
Q

What is PGI wine called in Austria?

A

Wein

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11
Q

Which part of Austria are wine-growing areas located?

What is located in Austria’s other section?

A

To the East

To the West is the Alps

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12
Q

Which 2 federal states account for the majority of wine production?

A

Niederosterreich (Lower Austria) Burgenland

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13
Q

Name the sub region of Niederosterreich renowned for high quality dry wines made from either Gruner Veltliner or Riesling

A

Wachau

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14
Q

Where are most of the vineyards located in Niederosterreich?

A

On the banks of the Danube and further North towards the Slovak border

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15
Q

Name the sub region in Niederosterreich which is Austria’s largest vine growing area and the first Austrian DAC

A

Weinviertel DAC

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16
Q

What is the only grape variety permitted in Weinviertal DAC?

A

Gruner Veltliner

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17
Q

If you were asked for an upmarket Gruner Veltliner, which prestigious sub region would you recommend?

A

Wachau, the most renowned for high quality dry wines.

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18
Q

What are the 2 styles of wine made in Weinviertal DAC and how do they differ?

A

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.

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19
Q

What is the Federal State of Burgenland renowned for?

A

Top quality sweet wines and red wines

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20
Q

What is the name of the vast shallow lake in the North of Burgenland that is key for sweet wine production?

A

Neusiedlersee

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21
Q

Why is the lake Neusiedlersee so important to sweet wine production?

A

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.

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22
Q

What is the ‘typical’ character of Austrian Gruner Veltliner?

When young? When aged?

A

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

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23
Q

What is the ‘typical’ character of Austrian Riesling?

A

Dry and medium to full bodied with ripe, peachy, primary fruit

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24
Q

Name one area producing good Austrian Riesling

A

Wachau

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25
Q

What is the ‘typical’ character of Austrian Welschriesling?

A

Fresh and simple with citrus and green apple flavours and high acidity but renowned for making botrytis sweet wines

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26
Q

What is the ‘typical’ character of Austrian Zweigelt?

A

Deeply coloured red with soft tannins and bramble fruit

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27
Q

What is the ‘typical’ character of Austrian Blaufrankisch?

A

Reds with medium tannins, high acidity and a peppery, sour cherry flavour

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28
Q

What is the ‘typical’ character of Austrian St. Laurent?

A

Reds similar in character to Pinot Noir. Often oak aged.

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29
Q

List the 4 Natural factors of wine

A

Grapes

Climate

Weather

Soil / Aspect

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30
Q

Which 2 regions lie just north of Wachau?

A

Kamptal DAC and Kremstal DAC

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31
Q

What are the 4 federal states for PDO wines?

A

Niederösterreich (Lower Austria)

Burgenland

Steiermark (Styria)

Wien (Vienna)

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32
Q

What are the 2 additional levels to the Prädikat system in Austria?

A

Ausbruch

Strohwein / Schilfwein

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33
Q

Name the important river (and its 3 tributaries) that flows through Austria’s main wine-growing regions:

A

Danube River

Krems, Kamp and Traisen Rivers

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34
Q

What are the 3 categories of Wachau dry wine production and what are they based on?

A

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.

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35
Q

2 Austrian synonyms for Chardonnay are:

A
  • Morillon
  • Feinburger
36
Q

Which 4 countries, from north to south, share a border with Austria’s wine-making regions?

A
  • Czech Republic.
  • Slovakia
  • Hungary
  • Slovenia
37
Q

Which Italian region was part of Austria until the end of World War I and continues to use German as a second language today?

A

Alto-Adige

38
Q

What event led to the fundamental reorganization of the Austrian wine industry in the 1980s?

A

The “antifreeze” scandal, where winemakers were adding the chemical Diethylene glycol to their wines in order to give it more texture.

39
Q

What scale is used to measure must weight In Austria?

A

KMW, Klosterneuburger Mostwaage Scale

40
Q

Kamptal DAC is located in which region?

Which 2 varietals account for over 90% of wine production?

A
  • Niederosterreich
  • Riesling / Gruner Veltliner
41
Q

Eisenberg DAC is located in which region?

What is the permitted varietal here?

A
  • Burgenland
  • Blaufrankisch
42
Q

The DAC level of classification is on par with which level of classification in France?

A

AOP

43
Q

Which country to the east of Austria is linked with it by history, climate, and common grape varieties?

A

Hungary

44
Q

Which geographical feature separates Austria and Germany?

A

The Alps

45
Q

Order the following regions from coolest to warmest

(1 = coolest, 3 = warmest).

A. Kamptal

B. Weinviertel

C. Mittelburgenland

A

Weinviertal = 1

Kamptal = 2

Mittelburgenland = 3

46
Q

Eisenberg, Neusiedlersee, and Leithaberg are regions found in which Weinbaugebiet?

A

Burgenland

47
Q

Match the sub-region to its larger Weinbaugebiet.

A. Südsteiermark

B. Neusiedlersee

C. Kremstal

A

A. Styria

B. Burgenland

C. Niederosterreich

48
Q

Blauburgunder is a synonym for which grape?

A

Pinot Noir

49
Q

Thermenregion is located within which weinbaugebiete?

Which 2 rare white grapes are cultivated here?

It feels the full force of the ____ Summer.

A
  • Niederosterreich
  • Rotgipfler and Zierfandler.
  • Pannonian
50
Q

Sudsteiermark DAC is located within which weinbaugebiete?

Which grape variety is their specialty?

A
  • Steiermark (Styria)
  • Sauvignon Blanc
51
Q

What are the 3 DACs of Styria / Steiermark?

A
  • Sudsteiermark DAC
  • Weststeiermark DAC
  • Vulkanland Steiermark DAC
52
Q

What does the Austrian term “Hauersekt”, which corresponds to the German “Winzersekt”, indicate when applied to a wine label?

A

This indicates the wine is made by the grape grower, much like Récoltant Manipulant.

53
Q

What are the 3 categories of Austrian Sekt w/ Protected Designation of Origin?

A

Klassik

Reserve

Grosse Reserve

54
Q

What are the different requirements for Austrian Sekt w/PDO (Klassik, Reserve, Grosse Reserve)?

A

Klassik: Grapes come from one of Austria’s federal states; min. 9 months on lees; Tank, transfer, and traditional method allowed, and all dosage levels/styles and colors may be produced.

Reserve: Traditional method only; Grapes must be grown and vinified in one of Austria’s federal states; min. 18 months on the lees; only Brut, Extra Brut, or Brut Nature.

Grosse Reserve: grapes must come from a single wine village; hand-harvesting is required; min. 30 months on the lees; may not be released until three years after harvest; wines must be Brut, Extra Brut, or Brut Nature.

55
Q

Which weinbaugebiete is also known as “Lower Austria”?

A

Niederosterreich

56
Q

The majority of wine in Austria is produced under the DAC designation.

True or False?

A

False

57
Q

Riesling and Welschriesling are varieties that are genetically related to each other.

True or False?

A

False

58
Q

What is the minimum alcohol by volume required for Kamptal Reserve Riesling?

A

13%

59
Q

What is the only DAC in Burgenland that allows white wine?

A

Leithaberg DAC

60
Q

Alois Kracher is a producer in what village / DAC / region?

A
  • Illmitz / Neusiderslee / Burgenland
61
Q

Weinland, Steierland and Bergland are geographic designations for what level of Austrian wine classification?

A

Landwein

62
Q

Langenlois, Zobing, and Kammern are villages in what DAC of which region?

A

-Kamptal / Niederosterreich

63
Q

In what village / sub-region / region is the Achleiten vineyard located?

A

Weissenkirchen / Wachau / Niederosterreich

64
Q

What famous trio of producers make wine from the Achleiten vineyard in Wachau?

A

FX Pichler, Prager, and Emmerich Knoll

65
Q

What are the minimum KMW levels Steinfeder / Federspiel / Smaragd Rieslings may be picked at?

A

Steinfeder: 15o

Federspiel: 17o

Smaragd: 19o

66
Q

Identify the correct village / sub-region / region / grape varietal most likely found at the following vineyards:

A. Renner

B. Gaisberg

C. Kranachberg

A

A. Renner: Kammern / Kamptal DAC / Niederosterreich / Gruner Veltliner

B. Gaisberg: Kammern / Kamptal DAC / Niederosterreich / Riesling

C. Kranachberg: Gamlitz / Sudsteiermark DAC / Steiermark / Sauvignon Blanc

67
Q

Which Burgenland DAC does NOT produce Blaufränkisch-based red wines?

A

Neusiedlersee DAC

68
Q

Lake Neusiedlersee is bordered by which two European countries?

A

Austria / Hungary

69
Q

Near what body of water would you find the village of Rust?

A

Lake Neusiedlersee

70
Q

What are the 5 “No’s” of the Codex Wachau?

A
  • NO Chaptalization
  • NO Concentration (i.e. reverse-osmosis, cryoextraction.)
  • NO barriques/oak chips
  • NO Fractionation (removal of alcohol via spinning cones.)
  • NO Manipulation of nature (pesticides, mechanical harvesting, etc…)
71
Q

Ausbruch has to be harvested at what minimum ripeness level?

A

30o

72
Q

Lamm is an Austrian Erste Lage vineyard in which village/DAC/region/ specializing in what grape variety?

A

-Kammern / Kamptal DAC / Niederosterreich / Gruner Veltliner

73
Q

Schloss Gobelsburg, Bründlmayer, and Hirsch are producers in what region?

A

Kamptal DAC

74
Q

Nigl, Salomon, and Christoph Hoch are producers in what region?

A

Kremstal DAC

75
Q

What does the word “Ried” indicate on an Austrian wine label?

A

A top site / vineyard.

76
Q

1 KMW is equivalent to approximately how many degrees Öchsle?

A

5

77
Q

In Austria, which grape is likely to undergo carbonic maceration?

A

Zweigelt

78
Q

Which countries border the Austrian region of Niederösterreich?

A

Czech Republic to the North.

Slovenia to the East.

79
Q

Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC is located in which weinbaugebiete?

Wines must be made of at least ___ varieties, and no single variety may be more than ___ % of the total blend.

A
  • Wien
  • at least 3 varieties, 50%
80
Q

Schilcher is a specialty of which DAC / weinbaugebiete?

What type of wine is it, and what grape is used?

A
  • Weststeiermark / Steiermark
  • Racy rosés from the Blauer Wildbacher grape.
81
Q
A
82
Q

Where is the Heiligenstein vineyard located (village / DAC / sub-region / grape variety?)

A

-Zöbing / Kamptal DAC / Niederosterreich / Riesling

83
Q

Ausbruch has to be harvested at what minimum ripeness level?

A

30o KMW

84
Q

Weingut Fritz Hirtzberger is a producer in which village / DAC / region?

A

-Spitz / Wachau / Niederosterreich.

85
Q

Traisental DAC is located in which sub-region / specializes in which grapes?

A

Niederosterreich / Gruner Veltliner and Riesling.