12. About Austria Flashcards
What main style of wine is Austria famous for?
Dry, white wines with high acid made from Gruner or Riesling
What other styles of wine are made?
Sweet white wines and red wines from local grapes. Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch.
What cultured have influenced Austrias wine industry?
Started in the Bronze age. Romans have been influential. Though mainly Cistercian monks in 10-12th century who brought burgundian wine culture and helped establish terraced vineyards in Wachau. The Turks invaded in the 17th century, bringing high taxes on wine which decreased demand.
How have the AuV changed in Austria historically and why?
During the 15th century, AuV was 150’ ha (today 50’ ha). but the 17th century’s invasion from the Turks brought with it high taxes on wine which decreased the AuV. Also 1800s phylloxera and pests decreased AuV.
When did the culture of scientific vineyard management start?
In the 1800s.
When were the Austrian wine laws created?
During the early 1900’s
How have the export business been for austrian wine?
During the mid 1950s to 1980s, exports were high. Then a dip 1985 due to the Austrian wine scandal from 30 mil litres to 5 mil litres in 1986. Today austrian wine export are at 53 mil l and the value has more than tripled since 1985.
What was the Austrian wine scandal about?
To compete with cheaper wines, winemakers added diethylene glycol (antifreeze) to increase volume and simulate sweetness. This was discovered 1985.
What is the AWMB?
The Austrian Wine Marketing Board. Established 1986 to help change the international image of Austrian wine after the scandal.
