Austria Flashcards
Describe the climate of Austria.
Cool continental climate, short summers, harsh winters; vineyards east of the Alps, north winds cool, east winds warm.
What are the most widely planted grapes in Austria.
Gruner-Veltliner (citrus, stone fruit, white pepper)
Welschriesling (fresh, simple, suspectible to Bot)
Riesling (dry, medium-bodied, fruit)
Zweigelt (deep, soft tannins, bramble)
Blaufrankisch (high acid, sour cherry, pepper)
St Laurent (similar to Pinot Noir, often oaked)
How are Austrian wines classified?
Wein (no GI)
Landwein (PGI)
Qualitatswein (PDO - must be from one of four federal states or one of sixteen smaller areas)
Districtus Austriae Controllatus (PDO - one of nine areas that have agreed on rules and elected to become DAC)
PDO level wine can be labeled with a Pradikat level similar to Germany’s system. There is no Kabinett, level, Ausbruch exists between BA and TBA, and Strohwein is a category for berries dried indoors.
What are the four federal states that produce PDO level wine in Austria?
Niederosterreich, Burgenland, Steiermark (Styria), and Wien (Vienna)
What are the most well-known areas in Niederosterreich?
Wachau (Gruner and Riesling)
Kamptal DAC
Kremstal DAC
Weinviertel DAC (only Gruner, Klassik or Reserve)
What is the region of Burgenland known for?
Top quality sweet wines, often made from Welschriesling, in the vicinity of Neusiedlersee; and reds made from St Laurent, Blaufrankisch and Zweigelt.
