Austria - Wine Regions Flashcards by Simon Kratzer

Niederösterreich
What percentage is planted to white varieties and what is the most planted variety?

2/3 white
50% Grüner Veltliner

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Niederösterreich
What are the three larger sub-regions?

Weinviertel (north)
Regions along the Danube (west of Vienna)
Pannonian plain (south-east)

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Niederösterreich
What is the largest appellation?

Weinviertel (also Austria’s largest)

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Weinviertel
Describe rain patterns and climatic factors

Rain: 400-600mm
Cooling breezes from the north -> high diurnal range (peppery aromas and high acidity)

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Weinviertel
What is the only permitted grape variety for DAC wines and what % of plantings is it?

Grüner Veltliner
50% of plantings

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Weinviertel
What is the typical style of Grüner Veltliner? (aromas, acidity, body, quality, price)

Typically, most peppery (cooling winds)
High acidity
Medium to medium (+) body
Good to very good quality, inexpensive to premium prices

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Weinviertel
Name a significant producer

Sohm & Karcher

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What are the sub-regions along the Danube river?

Wachau
Kremstal
Kamptal
Wagram

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Wachau
What are the two most planted varieties and on what soil are they planted?

Riesling (gneiss)
Grüner Veltliner (loess)

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Wachau
What is the general quality level and price?

Almost exclusively very good to outstanding wines with premium price

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Wachau
How is the layout of most vineyards?

Steep terraces with the best sites facing south

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Wachau
What is the annual rain fall?

460mm -> irrigation often necessary

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Wachau
What businesses are mostly involved in production?

Mostly family-owned estates

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Wachau
Name two significant producers

F.X. Pichler (family-owned estate)
Domäne Wachau (large, quality-driven co-operative)

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Wachau
What is the Vinea Wachau and how are wines classified?

Association of quality-driven producers
Classified single vineyards based on soil and climate

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Wachau
Describe the three classifications of dry wine of Vinea Wachau

Steinfeder – Fruity, dry, max 11.5% abv, lightest style
Federspiel – More concentrated, dry, 11.5-12.5% abv
Smaragd – Highly concentrated, dry, ripe fruit, min 12.5% abv

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Wachau
Describe the typical style of Wachau white wines (aromas, body, oak, acidity, ageing)

Citrus, stone fruit, sometimes tropical
Light (Steinfeder) to full (Smaragd) body
NO oak influence
Medium (+) to high acidity
Best wines (esp. Smaragd) can improve in bottle for decades

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Kremstal
What is the climate compared to Wachau and why?

Warmer than Wachau
Influenced by warn Pannonian plain to the east

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Kremstal
Name two significant producers

Lenz Moser
Weingut Stadt Krems (co-operative)

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Kremstal
What percentage is planted to white varieties and what varieties are allowed for DAC wines?

75%
Riesling and Grüner Veltliner

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Kremstal
What is the typical style of white DAC wines? (sweetness, acidity, body, quality, price)

Dry
Medium (+) to high acidity
Medium to full body
Good to outstanding quality, mid to premium priced

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Kremstal
What black grape variety is grown and what is its general style?

Zweigelt
Fruity, easy drinking

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Kremstal
What percentage is planted to black varieties and what region appears on the label?

25%
Niederösterreich

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Kamptal
Around what town is the region located?

Langenlois

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**Kamptal** How is the climate influenced?

* Warm influence from the Pannonian plain * Cooling influence from Bohemian Massif

**Kamptal** What are the three most grown varieties in descending order?

* Grüner Veltliner (>50%) * Zweigelt * Riesling

**Kamptal** What is the general quality and price of white wines?

Very good to outstanding quality with premium prices

**Kamptal** How are red wines from Zweigelt labeled and what is the general style?

* Labeled as Niederösterreich * Mostly fruity, easy-drinking

**Kamptal** Name two significant producers

* Bründlmayer * Hirsch

**Wagram** Where are the vineyards located and by what is the climate influenced?

* South and north of the Danube * Strong warming influence from the Pannonian plain

**Wagram** What is the general soil and what variety is mostly planted?

* Loess * Grüner Veltliner

**Wagram** What other variety is planted and what is the style of wine? (body, ageing)

* Roter Veltliner (no relation to Grüner Veltliner) * Full-bodied * Nutty aromas with bottle ageing

**Wagram** What varieties are allowed for DAC wines?

There is no DAC

**Wagram** What is the style of Grüner Veltliner? (sweetness, body, acidity, quality, price)

* Mostly dry * Medium body * High acidity * Good to very good quality, mid- to premium priced

**Thermenregion** By what is the climate influenced?

Benefits from warming influence of Pannonian plain

**Thermenregion** What varieties are allowed for DAC wines?

There is no DAC

**Thermenregion** What is the ratio of white and black varieties?

50/50

**Thermenregion** What black grape varieties are grown and what is the general quality?

* Pinot Noir and Sankt Laurent * High quality

**Thermenregion** What is the style of Sankt Laurent? (body, tannins, aromas)

* Medium(-) body * Medium tannins * Red cherry flavors

**Thermenregion** What are the white varieties and their characteristics?

* **Neuburger** most planted variety (local variety with subtle spicy and floral aromas) * **Rotgipfler** (full-bodied, peach flavors) * **Zierfandler** (aromatic, peach, honey, and spice)

**Thermenregion** A blend from what two varieties is a local speciality?

* Rotgipfler * Zierfandler

**Burgenland** What are the three most important sub-regions?

* Neusiedlersee * Leithaberg * Mittelburgenland

**Burgenland** What are the two most planted black and white varieties?

* Blaufränkisch * Zweigelt * Grüner Veltliner * Welschriesling

**Burgenland** What is the climate and by what is it influenced?

* One of the flattest and warmest areas * Warming influence from the Pannonian plain

**Burgenland** How is the climate influencing white grape growing?

* Grüner Veltliner less quality as in Niederösterreich (too warm) * Botrytised wines from Welschriesling are important

**Burgenland** How is the climate influencing black grape growing?

Black grapes are able to ripen reliably

**Neusiedlersee** What is special about the climate?

* Warmest area in Austria * Fog forms over night in autumn when temperatures drop, but lake is is still warm

**Neusiedlersee** How is the climate good for botrytis?

* High humidity, so botrytis forms * Warm autumn sunshine in the afternoon to prevent grey rot * Consistent botrytis every vintage

**Neusiedlersee** Which grape variety is particularly well suited for botrytis, why, and where is it planted?

* Welschriesling * Thin skin * Planted near the lake

**Neusiedlersee** For what two types of wines is the climate suitable? Where are they planted?

* TBA: near the lake * Dry red wines: away from the lake (still warming influence but less humidity)

**Neusiedlersee** Describe the typical style of Ruster Ausbruch (sweetness, acidity, aromas, oak, ageing, quality, price)

* Sweet * High acidity * Marmelade * Usually not oaked * Ageing potential * Very good to outstanding * Premium priced

**Neusiedlersee** What varieties are planted for red wines?

* Zweigelt * Blaufränkisch * Pinot Noir * Sankt Laurent

**Neusiedlersee** What grape variety are DAC Neusiedlersee wines based on?

Zweigelt

**Neusiedlersee** What varieties are allowed in DAC Klassik and Reserve?

* Klassik: Zweigelt * Reserve: Zweigelt (min 60%), Blaufränkisch, Pinot Noir, Sankt Laurent

**Neusiedlersee** Describe the typical style of a DAC Klassik wine (variety, aromas, oak, acidity, body, quality, price)

* Zweigelt * Red cherry * Little oak * Medium acidity * Medium to full body * Good to very good quality * Mid-priced

**Neusiedlersee** Name a significant producer for red wine and TBA sweet wines

* Red: Krutzler * TBA: Alois Kracher

**Leithaberg** What are the styles of wines produced?

* Very sweet TBA (around Rust) * Red wines * White wines

**Leithaberg** What is the most common black grape variety? (%)

Blaufränkisch (20% of plantings)

**Leithaberg** What wines and respective grape varieties are allowed for DAC wines?

* **Red**: Min 85% Blaufränkisch * **White**: Blends or single varietals from Weissburgunder, Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner, or Neuburger

**Leithaberg** Describe the typical style of Leithaberg DAC red (oak, acidity, body, quality, price)

* Must be oak aged * Medium(+) to high acidity * Medium(+) to full body * Very good to outstanding * Premium priced

**Leithaberg** Describe the typical style of Leithaberg DAC white (acidity, body, quality, price)

* Medium to high acidity * Medium(-) to medium(+) body * Good to very good * Mid- to premium priced

**Mittelburgenland** How is the climate influenced?

Warming influence from Pannonian plain

**Mittelburgenland** What grape variety is mostly planted? (%)

Blaufränkisch (>50% of plantings)

**Mittelburgenland** What variety is used for DAC wines and what are the requirements?

* Blaufränkisch * Min 85%

**Mittelburgenland** Describe the three DAC styles

* **DAC** – stainless steel tanks or large oak casks * **DAC + Vineyard designation** – higher min alc level and large oak casks or barriques * **DAC Reserve** – higher min alc level, longer maturation, and large oak casks or barriques

**Mittelburgenland** Describe the basic and reserve quality level of DAC wines

* **Basic** – good to very good, mid-priced * **Reserve** – Very good to outstanding, premium priced

**Steiermark** Where are the vineyards situated?

Steep hills and often terraced

**Steiermark** Describe the natural hazards

* Freeze * Spring frost * Hail (netting used)

**Steiermark** What type of wines and varieties is Steiermark known?

* Crisp, dry **White wines** * Welschriesling * Sauvignon Blanc * Weissburgunder

**Steiermark** What are the three sub-regions of the DAC system?

* Vulkanland Steiermark DAC * Südsteiermark DAC * Weststeiermark DAC

**Steiermark** What grape varieties are permitted for regional and village/single-vineyard DAC wines?

**Regional** – Range of varieties **Village/Single-vineyard** – Sauvignon Blanc based

**Wien** What is the DAC wine and its style?

* Wiener Gemischter Satz * For early drinking

**Wien** What are the requirements for Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC?

* Must be a blend (20 grape varieties permitted) * Dry * Unoaked

**Wien** What is the typical style of wines? (acidity, body, quality, price)

* Medium(+) to high acidity * Light body * Acceptable to very good quality * Inexpensive to mid-priced (some premium priced)

Austria - Wine Regions Flashcards

(74 cards)