Austria Flashcards
(128 cards)
1
Q
What is the climate in Austria?
How is it characterised?
A
Cool Continental
Short Summers and harsh winters
High diurnal range, with long autumn ripening
2
Q
What is the climate consideration in Austria’s northerly regions, like Weinviertal?
A
Cooling northerly winds
3
Q
What is the climate consideration in Austria’s growing regions in the east, like Burgenland, close to the Hungarian border?
A
Warming easterly winds from the Pannonian plain
4
Q
What is the climate consideration for vineyards in the south of Austria, like Steiermark?
A
There is more influence from the Adriatic sea, meaning they are warmer
5
Q
What is the climate consideration for vineyards in the west of Austria, such as vineyards on the Danube river?
A
Cooling breezes from the alps
6
Q
In what region would you expect hail to be a threat?
A
Steiermark
7
Q
What two types of soils are a common feature in Austria?
A
Thin soils over rock (granite or gneiss)
Richer soils such as loess
8
Q
What type of soils is Grüner Veltliner best suited to? Why?
A
Heavier soils such as loess or clay
Has a greater water requirement
9
Q
What type of soils is Riesling usually planted on in Austria?
A
Thin soils
10
Q
What type of soils can be found in Leithaberg hills?
A
Limestone and schist
11
Q
In which Austrian growing regions would you find Gravel and volcanic material?
A
Steiermark
Kamptal
12
Q
What was the main training method used in Austria in the 1980s?
Describe this method
Why was it popular?
A
Lenz Moser
Vines are cordon trained high (1.2 metres) and required wider rows to avoid shading.
This was good for high volume production, as once it was established, it requires little maintenance and allows for mechanisation
13
Q
What is the main training system used in Austria today?
A
Single/ double guyot (replacement cane) with VSP trellising
14
Q
In which growing regions would you expect to find vineyards planted on hand built steep terraces?
A
Vineyards around the Danube, like Wachau, Kremstal and Kamptal
15
Q
What is the average rainfall in Weinviertal?
A
450mm per year
16
Q
What is the average rainfall in Steiermark?
A
850mm per year
17
Q
Why is disease pressure low in Austria in general?
A
Rainfall is low
18
Q
What are the maximum legal yields in Austria?
A
67.5hl/ha
19
Q
Austria has been making wines since ___, but it was the ___ ___ in the __th to __th century who had the most impact, bringing with them wine culture from ____
A
Since the Bronze Age
Cistercian Monks in the 10th to 12th century
Wine culture from Burgundy
20
Q
Austria saw a large expansion of land under vine during which centuries?
A
15th and 16th centuries
21
Q
Why did Austrian land under vine decrease from the 17th century onwards?
A
Invasion from Turkey
High taxes on wine
Increased popularity of beer
22
Q
Why did Austrian land under vine decrease at the end of the 1800s?
A
Phylloxera
Powdery and downy mildew
23
Q
What year did the antifreeze scandal hit Austria?
Why was antifreeze added to wines?
How much did exports drop from 1985 to 1986?
A
1985
A small number of large volume producers added antifreeze to wines to increase volumes and the perception of sweetness
Exports dropped from 30m litres in 1985 to 5m litres in 1986
24
Q
In what year was the Austrian Wine Market Board formed?
A
1986
25
What is the name of the organisation that was set up in response to the Austrian antifreeze scandal with the aim of changing the image of Austrian wine?
Austrian Wine Market Board
26
What percentage of plantings in Austria are Grüner Veltliner?
31%
27
Give the key characteristics of Grüner Veltliner vines
Thick skins
| Can be vigorous
28
Give a typical tasting note for a Grüner Veltliner wine
Can be simple or pronounced
Green fruit, citrus, peach, white pepper
High acidity
Range of quality and price points
29
Where would you expect Welschriesling to be used for neutral, inexpensive, unoaked wines?
Steiermark
30
Give a typical tasting note for a botrytised Welschriesling wine
```
Pronounced aromas
Tropical fruit, dried fruit
High acidity
Ability to age
V. good to outstanding
```
31
Why is Welschriesling suitable for TBA and BA wines?
It has thin skins, making it susceptible to noble rot
32
In Austria, Riesling wines are typically made in what style?
Give a typical tasting note
Wines are almost always dry
```
Pronounced aromas
Ripe stone fruit, sometimes with tropical fruit
Age adds nutty, petrol notes
High acidity
Medium (+) to full bodied
Medium alcohol
Good ageing potential
V.good to outstanding
Premium
```
33
Give a typical tasting note for a Sankt Laurent wine
Deep ruby
Red cherry fruit
Medium tannins
34
What is the most planted black grape in Austria?
Zweigelt
35
Zweigelt is a crossing of which two grapes?
Sankt Laurent and Blaufrankisch
36
Give the key characteristics of the Zweigelt vine
```
Crossing of Sankt Laurent and Blaufrankisch
Early ripening
High yielding
Vigorous
Resistant to rot
Resistant to frost
```
37
Describe the range of styles of wine you might expect from Zweigelt
Easy drinking, unoaked wines (acceptable to good)
Full-bodied oaked styles with ageing potential (v.good)
38
Give a typical tasting note for a Zweigelt wine
Red fruit, cherry flavours
Medium (+) acidity
Medium tannin
39
Give a typical tasting note for a Blaufrankisch wine
Deep colour
Black fruit flavours
High acidity
Medium (+) to high tannin
40
Give the key characteristics of the Blaufrankisch vine
```
Early budding (spring frost)
Late ripening
High yielding
Thick skins
Rot resistant
```
41
What regions produce premium Blaufrankisch?
Mittel Burgenland
| Leithaberg
42
Explain the typical wine making options for Austrian red wines:
Typically fermented in _____ with either ____or _____.
Wines are sometimes matured in _____ to help _____ without _______.
Some premium wines are aged in ______ with some ______.
Typically fermented in large open top vessels with either punch downs or pump overs
Wines are sometimes matured in large old oak vessels to help soften tannin without extracting new oak flavour.
Some premium wines are aged in barriques with some new oak
43
Why might some Austrian producers favour acacia vats over oak for maturation?
It gives a small amount of oxygenation without the vanilla character of oak
44
Explain the typical wine making options for Austrian white wines:
Many producers will use a short period of skin contact to ________
Fermentation takes place in _____ and temperature control is commonly used to _______________
Many producers will leave wines on _______ for ______.
Many producers will use a short period of skin contact to maximise aroma and flavour.
Fermentation takes place in neutral vessels and temperature control is commonly used to avoid losing delicate volatile aromas.
Many producers will leave wines on fine lees for 6 months or longer.
45
Why do Gruner Veltliner and Riesling wines not go through malolactic conversion?
It is hard to achieve because these wines typically have a low pH
MLF would mask varietal character and lower their characteristic high acidity
46
Within Austria wine law, what is a 'DAC' and what does it stand for?
Districtus Austriae Controlatus
This is an indication of origin within the Qualitätswein system
47
What is the Austrian term for wines with no geographical indication?
Tafelwein
48
What is the Austrian term for PGI wine?
Landwein
49
What is the Austrian term for PDO wine?
Qualitätswein
50
In Austrian wine labelling, what does the term Klassik mean?
Wines with a declared vintage
| Wines show varietal character
51
In Austrian wine labelling, what does the term Reserve mean?
Dry wines
Minimum 13% ABV
Typically harvested and released later than standard wines
52
From lowest to highest must weights, name the different Austrian Prädikat levelse
Spätlese
Auslese
Beerenauslese = Eiswein
Trockenbeerenauslese
NB. There is no Kabinett
53
What name is given to Trockenbeerenauslese wines from the city of Rust, on lake Neusiedlersee?
Ausbrach
54
Is DAC wine a guarantee of quality?
No - it is a stamp of typicity, as wines must be made from approved varieties. New wave wines from the area may be rejected even though the quality is high
55
For DAC wines there is an option to use a quality hierarchy that distinguishes levels. Give the correct Austrian name for the following:
Regional wine
Village wine
Single vineyard wine
Regional wine: Gebeitswein
Village wine: Ortswein
Single vineyard wine: Riedenwein
56
What is the Österreichische Traditionsweingüter (OTW)?
A group of producers from Kamptal, Kremstal, Traisental, Wagram, Vienna and Carnuntum who have been classifying their vineyards in a Burgundian fashion in accordance with soil type and climate
57
How do OTW members label their single vineyard wines?
Erstelagen
| Bottles are labelled 1ÖTW
58
What is Vinea Wachau?
A group of quality minded producers in Wachau who have classified single vineyards based on soil and climate
59
What are the three classifications used by Vinea Wachau, from lightest to fullest style?
Are wines sweet or dry?
Steinfeder
Federspiel
Smaragd
All styles are dry
60
Describe the style and alcohol levels Steinfeder wines
Fruity, dry wine from Wachau
Maximum 11.5% ABV
Lightest style of Wachau wine
61
Describe the style and alcohol levels Federspiel wines
Concentrated, dry wine from Wachau
11.5 - 12.5% ABV
Middle style of Wachau wine
62
Describe the style and alcohol levels Smaragd wines
Highly concentrated, dry wine with ripe fruit flavours from Wachau
Minimum 12.5% ABV
The fullest bodied wines from Wachau
63
What is the name of Austria's largest grape growing area?
Niederösterreich
64
The Wachau region is primarily located on the north bank of which river?
Danube
65
Gneiss and granite soils in Wachau promote what features in the final wine?
More acidity, firm structure and mineral texture
66
How much rain does the Wachau receive annually?
460mm - low
Irrigation is needed in many vintages although it is controlled
67
Give the typical quality and price you would expect from Wachau wines from Grüner or Riesling
V. good to outstanding
| Premium
68
Is Wachau a DAC?
What grapes are permitted?
It became one in 2020
A range of grapes are permitted for regional and village wines, but single vineyard wines must be Grüner or Riesling
69
In order for Wachau wines to be classified as Steinfeder, Federspiel or Smaragd, what is the maximum permitted amount of residual sugar allowed?
9g/l max
70
Name 4 top Wachau estates
Emerich Knoll
FX Pichler
Nikolaihof
Weingut Prager§
71
Wachau is mainly dominated by family run estates, but what is the name of the quality driven co-op in the area?
Domaine Wachau
72
Kremstal is warmer or cooler than Wachau?
What is a big climatic influence here?
Warmer, especially in the vineyards south of the Danube
The region is influenced by warm breezes from the Pannonian plain to the east
73
Where would you find the famous Steiner Hund vineyard?
What type of soils are found here?
How does this affect Gruner and Riesling grown here?
Kremstal
Limestone and clay
Wines are slightly fuller bodied
74
Where would you find the Pfaffenberg vineyard?
What type of soils are found here and what aspect does it have?
Kremstal (almost in Wachau)
Gneiss and granite soils
South facing aspect
75
What grapes are permitted in Kremstal DAC wines?
Grüner and Riesling
76
What are red wines from Kremstal labelled as?
What is the main black grape planted here and where in the region is it most prominent?
Niederösterreich
Zweigelt
Mostly grown in the east - more influence from the warm Pannonian Plain
77
Give a typical tasting note for Kremstal red wines from Zweigelt
```
Red and black fruit flavours
Medium (+) to high acidity
Medium tannin
Medium body
Good to v.good
Mid priced
```
Easy drinking fruity style
78
Give the typical quality and price you would expect from Kremstal wines from Grüner or Riesling
Good to outstanding
Mid to premium price
Quality can be more variable than in Wachau
79
Name the most important co-op in Kremstal
Weingut Stadt Krems
80
The Kamptal region is named after the river ____ that flows through it. This region surrounds the town of _____ and is basically the northern continuation of the _____ terrain.
The Kamptal region is named after the river Kamp.
This region surrounds the town of Langenlois and is basically the northern continuation of the Kremstal terrain.
81
After Wachau, which Austrian growing region is considered as the second best region for quality?
Kamptal
82
Describe the key characteristics of the Kamptal growing area
```
South facing vineyards
Largely loess soil
Mountains provide protection from northern chill
Warm breezes from the Pannonian plain
Cooling air from Bohemian Massif
```
83
Where would you find the famous Heiligenstein vineyard?
Describe the soils and terrain
Kamptal
Steeply terraced slopes of eroded gneiss and granite
84
What grapes are permitted in Kamptal DAC wines?
Grüner and Riesling
85
What are the three most planted grape varieties in Kamptal?
Grüner Veltliner (over 50%)
Zweigelt
Riesling
86
What are red wines from Kamptal labelled as?
What is the main black grape planted here?
Niederösterreich
Zweigelt
87
What is the average rainfall in Wienviertal?
400mm to 600mm
88
What grapes are permitted in Wienviertal DAC wines?
Grüner Veltliner only
89
In Weinviertal, ____ breezes from the ____ allow for high____ meaning ____ aromatics are preserved, as well as _____
Cooling breezes from the north allow for high diurnal range meaning peppery aromatics are preserved, as well as high acidity.
90
Give a typical tasting note for a white wine from Wienviertal. Include the grape variety
```
Grüner Veltliner
Green fruit, citrus fruit, white pepper
High acidity
Medium to medium (+) body
Good to very good
Inexpensive to premium
```
91
What grapes are permitted in Wagram DAC?
There is no DAC!
92
Vineyards in Wagram are planted both ____ and ____ of the river ____ on ____ ____ ____. There is a strong ____ influence from ____ ____ ____
Vineyards in Wagram are planted both north and south of the river Danube on gently rolling hills. There is a strong warming influence from the Pannonian plain.
93
What is the main soil type in Wagram?
What is the most widely planted grape variety?
Loess
Grüner Veltliner
94
What type of wines does Roter Veltliner produce?
In which Austrian wine region would you be most likely to find this grape?
Full bodied white wines that develop nutty aromas with age
Wagram
95
What styles of wine would you expect to find in Wagram?
What quality and price would you expect?
Other than some late harvest and Eiswein, most Wagram wines are dry with medium body and high acidity
Good to v.good
Inexpensive to premium priced
96
Thermenregion is situated close to ____ and benefits from ____ ____ coming from ____ _____ ____
____ account for almost 50% of all plantings.
The region ____ part of the DAC system
Thermenregion is situated close to Vienna and benefits from warm breezes coming from the Pannonian plain
Black grapes account for almost 50% of all plantings.
The region is not part of the DAC system
97
The best reds from Thermenregion are made from which varietals?
Give a typical tasting note
Pinot Noir
Sankt Laurent
```
Red fruit aromas with spicy oak
High acidity
Ability to age
Good to v.good
Mid priced
```
98
What is the most planted white grape in Thermenregion?
What aromas would you expect in the final wine?
Neuberger
Subtle spicy and floral aromas
99
Burgenland borders which country to the east?
It is one of the _____ and _____ regions in Austria
Hungary
Flattest and warmest
100
What percentage of plantings in Burgenland are black?
What two black varietals dominate?
What styles of red wines are produced?
Over 55%
Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt
Range from easy drinking and fruity to full-bodied with intense new oak
101
What are the two most planted white grape varieties in Burgenland?
Grüner Veltliner
| Welschrieling
102
Where is Neusiedlersee?
Describe the growing conditions here
In Burgenland, dituated around the shores of the lake of Neusiedlersee
Flat
Warm
Humid
103
What is the warmest wine growing region in Austria?
Neusiedlersee
104
Explain why Neusiedlersee has consistent noble rot every year
In the autumn months when the air temperature drops, the temperature of Neusiedlersee lake remains warm
Fogs form overnight and cover the surrounding vineyard areas
High humidity encourages botrytis to take hold
Warm afternoon sun burns the fog away and prevents grey rot from taking hold
105
What grape is prone to noble rot and therefore commonly planted near Neusiedlersee lake to make TBA styles of wine?
Welschriesling
106
What is the most planted black grape in Neusiedlersee?
Where in the region would you expect to find these planted?
Zweigelt
Further from the lake - humidity is lower but it is still warm enough for black grapes to ripen
107
Give a typical tasting note for a Neusiedlersee TBA wine and the main variety used
```
Welschriesling
Pronounced aromas of marmalade
No oak (usually)
Very sweet
High acidity
Full bodied
V.good to outstanding
Premium
Capable of ageing
```
108
What wines are permitted in Neusiedlersee DAC?
Red wines based on Zweigelt
109
How are sweet wines from Neusiedlersee labelled?
Burgenland - only red wines based on Zweigelt are permitted as DAC wines
110
DAC Klassik wines from Neusiedlersee are made from what variety?
Give a typical tasting note, quality and price
100% Zweigelt
```
Red cherry, little or no oak influence
Medium acidity
Medium to full body
Good to v. good
Mid priced
```
111
DAC Reserve wines from Neusiedlersee are made from what grape variety?
Give the quality and price you would expect from these wines
Minimum 60% Zweigelt
Can be blended with Blaufrankisch, Pinot Noir or Sankt Laurent
Wines are typically oak aged
Good to very good
Mid to premium price
112
What wines are permitted in Leithaberg DAC?
Give the typical acidity, body, quality and price
RED: Min. 85% Blaufrankisch, oak aged
Medium (+) to high acidity
Medium (+) to full body
V.good to outstanding
Premium
WHITE: Blends or single varietal wines form Weissburgunder, Grüner Veltliner or Neuburger
Medium to high acidity (depending on the blend)
Medium (-) to medium (+) body
Good to v. good
Mid to premium
113
What are the main types of soils found in Leithaberg?
What feature of this DAC means that grapes retain high acidity?
Schist and limestone
Leithaberg hills provide diurnal range
114
Mittel Burgenland is situated ____ of Leithaberg and exposed to ____ ____ _____, meaning the climate here is ____.
____ ripens easily here and accounts for over half of all plantings
Mittel Burgenland is situated south of Leithaberg and exposed to the Pannonian plain, meaning the climate here is warm.
Blaufrankisch ripens easily here and accounts for over half of all plantings
115
Three DAC styles are found in Mittel Burgenland, but what is the main grape that they all have in common?
Name and explain the requirements for each DAC Mittel Burgenland style of wine
All must be min. 85% Burgenland
DAC: Typically aged in stainless steel or large oak casks
DAC + vineyard designation: Slightly higher alcohol requirement, typically aged in large oak casks or barriques
DAC Reserve: Slightly higher alcohol requirement, longer minimum ageing requirement, typically aged in large oak casks or barriques
116
What type of soils would you expect to find in Mittel Burgenland?
Heavy, deep soils of loamy clay
Soils are good at retaining water to keep vines dry throughout the dry summers
117
Steiermark, also known as ____, is found on the ____ corner of Austria, on the border of ____.
Many vineyards are on ____ ____ and have ____
Steiermark, also known as Styria, is found on the south-eastern corner of Austria, on the border of Slovenia.
Many vineyards are on steep hills and have terraces
118
What weather hazards are common in Steiermark?
Hail (vineyards often use netting)
Winter freeze (v. cold winters are common)
Spring frost
119
Name the 3 most planted white grapes in Steiermark.
What is the most common style of white wine from here?
Welschriesling
Sauvignon Blanc
Weissburgunder
Crisp, dry white wine
120
What quality and price point would you expect for white wines from Steiermark?
Good to very good
| Mid-priced
121
Steiermark has installed a DAC system for each of its three subregions. What are these called?
Vulkenland Steiermark DAC
Süsteiermark DAC
Weststeiermark DAC
122
Where would you find the vineyards of Wein?
Surrounding the city of Vienna
123
What is Weiner Gemischter Satz?
A DAC in Wein - it is a white wine blend made from up to twenty permitted varietals
Wines are dry and unoaked
Vineyard can be labelled
124
Give the typical acidity, body, quality and price that you would expect for a Weiner Gemischter Satz DAC wine
Medium (+) to high acidity
Light body
Acceptable to v.good
Inexpensive to mid priced
125
How many wine estates are there in Austria?
Over 4000 - ownership is highly fragmented
126
What are Heurigen?
Why are they important?
Small Austrian taverns which serve simple food
They play an important part in domestic sales for Austrian wine
127
How much Austrian wine is exported?
20%
128
Which countries are the biggest export markets for Austrian wine?
Germany (almost half of all exports by volume, over half by value)
Switzerland
USA
