Austria

Question 1

Austria - Geography

Answer 1

Eastern Austria bordering Hungary, Slovenia

Continental climate, some mediterranenan influence.

Major river - Danube

South facing slopes on rolling hills

Pannonian plain south of Vienna, dried sea bed

Question 2

Austria - grapes

Answer 2

Overall white wine is the norm

White
* Gruner Veltliner (phenolic bitternes = acid feel)
* Riesling (usually dry styles)

Red
* Zweigelt (cross of Blaufrankish and St-Laurent)
* * cold weather resistant
* Blaufrankish (compares to Pinot Noir)
* St.-Laurent (cold hearty, challenging to palate)

Question 3

Austria - Viticulture and vinification

Answer 3

• Steep terraced vineyards overlooking the Danube
• Very dry or very sweet wines
• New oak is rarely used
• No tradition of off-dry styles
• Sekt (zecked) - sparkling

Question 4

Austria - classification
without geographic indication

Answer 4

Wein (wine)

about 5% of overall production

Question 5

Austria - classification
with geographic indication

Answer 5

Landwein (PGI
* Regional wines, rarely exported

Qualitatswein (PDO)
* Includes DAC wines
* * DAC is like France’s AOP system

Pradikatswein (PDO)
* like Germany, but rarely produced in Austria

Question 6

Austria - wine regions

Answer 6

Four main regions - north to south
* Niederostrreich (lower Austria)
* Wein (Vienna)
* Burgenland
* Steiermark (Styria)

Question 7

Austria - DAC
wine classification

Answer 7

DAC = Districtus Austriae Controllatus

• Quality wine/Apellation of Origin
• Similar to AOC or DOC
• Certain grape varieties and styles permitted
• Focus is on dry wines

Question 8

Austria - Niederosterreich
Sub-regions

Answer 8

Kremstal DAC
* Valley of Krems River

Kamptal DAC
* Valley of Kamp river

Wachau (Vackow)
* some of Austria’s best white wines
* Unique classification for dry wines

Tal - valley

Question 9

Austria
Wachau classification for dry wines

Answer 9

Steinfeder
* 11.5% maximum alcohol

Federspiel
* 11.5-12.5% alcohol

Smaragd
* 12.5% min alcohol
* can have Botrytis