Austria

Question 1

What is the most widely planted grape variety in Austria?

Answer 1

Gruner Veltliner.

Question 2

What are Austrias two main white varieties?

Answer 2

Gruner Veltliner and Riesling.

Question 3

What are two red wines are made in Austria?

Answer 3

Zweigelt, Blaufrankish. Zweigelt is the most planted and Blaufrankish is the highest regarded.

Question 4

What mountain range covers the western part of Austria?

Answer 4

Alps.

Question 5

What is the climate of Austria?

Answer 5

Cool continental with short summers and very harsh winters.

Question 6

What are the characteristics of Gruner Veltliner?

Answer 6

It produces fresh unexciting wines if yields become too high. Capable of producing full bodied, concentrated wines with high acidity.

Question 7

How do young Gruner Veltliners taste?

Answer 7

Citrus or stone fruit, with layers of honey and stone fruit as the wine ages.

Question 8

What is the second most planted white variety?

Answer 8

Welschriesling. Fresh but simple. Citrus and green apple flavors with high acidity.

Question 9

What are the characteristics of a dry Welschriesling?

Answer 9

Fresh but simple, displaying citrus and green apple flavors and high acidity. But can also produce high quality desert wines.

Question 10

Where do the best Austrian Rieslings come from?

Answer 10

Wachau, Kamptal and Kremstal.

Question 11

What is their style?

Answer 11

Dry and medium to-full-bodied, with ripe peachy, primary fruit. Capable of bottle maturation.

Question 12

What other white varieties are grown in Austria?

Answer 12

Chardonnay, Muller-Thurgau and Sauvignon Blanc, the last of which has a growing reputation in the southeastern region of Stiermark.

Question 13

What black grape varieties are grown in Austria?

Answer 13

Zweigelt, Blaufrankisch and St. Laurent.

Question 14

What is Zweigelt a cross of?

Answer 14

Blaufrankish and St. Laurent.

Question 15

What are the characteristics of Zweigelt?

Answer 15

Deeply colored red with soft tannins and bramble fruit.

Question 16

What is the most highly regarded of the Austrian black varieties?

Answer 16

Blaufrankisch.

Question 17

What are the characteristics of Blaufrankisch?

Answer 17

Medium tannins, high acidity and a peppery, sour cherry flavor.

Question 18

What variety is St. Laurent similar to?

Answer 18

Pinot Noir.

Question 19

Name the four federal states for PDO wines.

Answer 19

Niederösterreich (lower Austria), Burgenland, Steiermark (Styria) and Wien (Vienna).

Question 20

Which two federal states account for the vast majority of production?

Answer 20

Niederösterreich and Burgenland.

Question 21

What is the largest region for production?

Answer 21

Niederosterreich.

Question 22

The Niederösterreich is on the banks of what river?

Answer 22

Danube.

Question 23

What is the most renown subregion in Niederosterreich?

Answer 23

Wachau. Known for its high quality dry whites made from either Gruner Veltliner or Riesling.

Question 24

Where are the best vineyards in Niederosterreich?

Answer 24

Steep, south facing vineyards next to the Danube.

Question 25

What is the name of Austrias largest vine growing area and their first DAC?

Answer 25

Weinviertel.

Question 26

What is the only grape variety allowed to make wines in Weinviertel?

Answer 26

Gruner Veltliner.

Question 27

Name the two levels of wine in the Weinviertel DAC?

Answer 27

Klassik made in a light, fresh and fruity style with no discernible oak flavors. And Reserve that must have a higher minimum alcohol and are allowed to be matured in oak.

Question 28

Burgenland lies along the border with what country?

Answer 28

Hungary.

Question 29

What is Burgenland known for?

Answer 29

Top quality sweet wines and red wines.

Question 30

Name the four principal white varieties Burgenland uses for their white wines.

Answer 30

Pinot Blanc, Welschriesling, Gruner Veltliner, and Chardonnay.

Question 31

What type of wine is Neusiedlersee know for?

Answer 31

Sweet wine production. Vineyards are situated on low level ground near Lake Neusiedlersee and benefit from autumn mists and the wetland regions surrounding the lake. An ideal condition for botrytis. Welschriesling is the most widely used variety for these wines.

Question 32

What is the most widely planted black variety in Austria?

Answer 32

Zweigelt. Planted on the higher ground away from Lake Neusiedlersee.

Question 33

What other black varieties (besides Zwigelt) are planted in Austria?

Answer 33

Blaufrankisch and St. Laurent. In addition to the International varieties of pinot, merlot and cab.

Question 34

Name one DAC for Zweigelt?

Answer 34

Neusiedlersee.

Question 35

What is the largest DAC for Blaufrankisch?

Answer 35

Mittelburgenland.