Austria Flashcards
Austria has been making wine since the Bronze Age. But who and in what time period has had the most impact?
As in many other wine regions of Europe the Cictercian Monks in the 10-12th centuries.
What did the Cictercian monks bring and helped to establish in Austria?
Burgundian wine culture. Helped to establish the terraced hills in Wachau and neighbouring appellations.
During 15th and 16th century Austrian vineyard area expanded heavily to 150,000 ha. Name a few things that made it shrink considerably.
The Turks invaded. High taxes on wine. Increased popularity of beer. In the 1800’s phylloxera, powdery and downy mildew
There was a culture of scientific research into vineyard management and winemaking very early in Austria, and it continues today. When was the first wine laws created in Austria, and as an example, what was forbidden?
Early 1900’s, forbidding hybrid vines.
What was discovered in 1985? Where? What did it lead to?
Small number of producers in Burgenland added diethylene glycol to increase volumes and to simulate sweetness. Exports dropped from 30 million hL to 5 in one year.
What was established in 1986 in Austria to improve the Austrian wine reputation?
Austrian wine marketing board.
Overall climate in Austria? But what influences north, west, south and east respectively?
Cool continental. North (ex. Weinvirtel) is influenced by cold northerly winds. West (on Danube, ex Wachau) influenced by winds from the alps. South (Steiermark) influenced from the Adriatic. East (Burgenland) influenced by the warm Pannonian plain.
There are generally speaking two major soil types in Austria. Which ones?
Thin soils over rock (granite or gneiss. Or Urgestein URBERG - local name for crystalline bedrock material). Or richer soils such as loess.
In Austria, Riesling is usually planted on the thin soils as it tends to need less water than Grüner Veltliner. On what two soil types do you usually find Grüner Veltliner?
Loess and clay (they retain water very well)
What was/is the Lens Moser system in Austria?
Main training method in the 1980’s. Higher training than other systems, requiring wider rows to avoid shading. Popular for for high volume since it need little maintenance and allows mechanisation.
In Austria, the Lenz Moser system is now largely replaced by what?
Single or double guyot with VSP trellising. Better suited for quality production.
Machine harvesting is common in Austria on flatter lands in parts of Weinvirtel and Burgenland. But around Danube, such as Wachau, Kremstal and Kamptal - what rules there? And how much longer does some growers say it takes to grow vines there compared to flatter lands?
Around Danube the vines are planted on hand built stone terraces. All work is done by hand. It can take 3-5 times more hours to grow on the terraces. Adding cost.
How come as high as 15% of all vineyards follow certified organic practices (and an additional 18% certified sustainable) in Austria?
Disease pressure is low because of moderate rainfall (450 mm in Weinvirtel to 850 in Stiermark).
Max yield in Austria is legally capped at 67.5 hL/ha. But average yield between 2017 and 2021 was around what? What does that reflect?
Around 54 hL/ha. In line with Austria’s modern image focussing on creating high quality wines.
Top 5 varieties in Austria?
Grüner Veltliner
Zweigelt
Welschriesling
Blaufränkisch
Riesling