D3- Austria Flashcards
Examines the regions, grapes, methods of production, and styles of Austria.
Why isn’t western Austria well suited to commercial grape growing?
The terrain in western Austria is too mountainous for grape growing.
More favorable grape-growing conditions are found where the Alps flatten towards the Pannonian plain and along the Danube.
What is the overall climate of Austria?
Cool continental.
What are the influences that can affect local climate in different parts of Austria?
- Cool northerly winds (Weinviertel and areas in north);
- Warming influence from the Adriatic (Steiermark and areas in south);
- Warmer Pannonian climate (Burgenland and areas east near Hungary);
- Cool Alpine breezes (Danube and areas near west).
Name 3 weather hazards in Austria.
- Spring frosts in many regions;
- Hail, mostly in Steiermark;
- Low rainfall causing water stress (due to thin, free draining soils).
What are the 2 major soil types found in Austria?
- Thin soils over rock (granite or gneiss, crystalline bedrock material known locally as Urgestein);
- Richer soils, e.g. Loess.
- Which white Austrian grape variety has a greater requirement for water?
- Which soils does this varietal prefer to be grown in due to this?
- Grüner Veltliner;
- Loess or clay, which are richer soils and retain higher levels of water than Austria’s thin rocky soils.
On which soil type is Riesling usually planted?
Thin, rocky soils.
What are the 2 other soil types found in Austria, and where can you find them?
- Limestone and schist – Leithaberg hills;
- Gravel and volcanic material – Steiermark, parts of Kamptal.
What was the preferred training method in Austria for high volume production that was popular in the 1980s?
Lenz Moser system.
It required little maintenance and allowed many vineyard tasks to be mechanized due to the vines being cordon trained to the height of 1.2–1.4 m (higher than other systems and requiring wider rows to avoid shading).
What training system is now seen in Austria that has replaced Lenz Moser?
Single or double Guyot (replacement-cane) with VSP trellising – it is better suited to high quality production than Lenz Moser.
Flatter land in parts of Weinviertel and Burgenland means that grapes can be ___ harvested.
Machine
What environmental factor causes disease pressure to be low in many parts of Austria?
Moderate precipitation.
~450mm in Weinveirtel to 850mm in Steiermark.
With the lack of disease pressure in Austria, what does that mean for farming practices?
Organic and sustainable farming practices are common.
What is the legal maximum yield/ha in Austria?
67.5 hL/ha
Though the average yield between 2017-2021 was 54 hL/ha.
The most planted white grape variety in Austria is ___.
Grüner Veltliner
It accounts for 33% of all plantings in Austria.
The most planted red grape variety in Austria is ___.
Zweigelt
It accounts for 14% of all grapes planted.
The skins of Grüner Veltliner are thin or thick?
Thick
Due to Grüner Veltliner’s thick skins, why is the grape must not kept in contact with the skins for too long*?
*Many producers use a short period of skin contact to maximize aromas and flavors.
- Too much skin contact can contribute a phenolic taste, or bitterness to the wine;
- The skins also contain the chemical compound rotundone that lends a peppery aroma.
The white pepper aroma is characteristic of this variety, but too much of it can overtake the wine.
Give a quick profile of Grüner Veltliner.
- Medium (+) to high acidity;
- Typically not oaked;
- Range from simple to complex
1. Simple: citrus and green fruit aromas made for early drinking of acceptable to good quality and inexpensive prices;
2. Complex: pronounced citrus and peach fruit and great complexity of aroma and flavor, which can be bottle aged and are of outstanding quality and premium priced.
Zweigelt is a cross between which two other red grape varieties?
Sankt Laurent x Blaufränkisch
Which ripens earlier: Zweigelt or Blaufränkisch?
Zweigelt
It can also be high yielding as it is vigorous, so canopy management is important.
What deficiency is Zweigelt prone to, which withers the grapes before they ripen (and can lead to crop loss)?
Potassium deficiency.
Select the correct answer.
Zweigelt is not susceptible to:
a. Frost or rot
b. Water stress or hail
c. Leaf roll virus or crown gall
a. Frost or rot
Give a quick profile on Zweigelt.
- Medium (+) acidity;
- Medium tannin;
- Red fruit, particularly cherry;
- Styles range from easy drinking, fruity unoaked wines (acceptable to good quality and inexpensive to mid-priced) to full bodied, oaked styles that have the possibility to age that command premium prices.
Is Welschriesling related to Riesling?
No.
In which 2 areas of Austria will you find the greatest plantings of Welschriesling?
What styles are made in each area?
- Steiermark – made here into fresh, neutral, unoaked, dry styles that are acceptable to good quality and inexpensive;
- Burgenland around the humid Neusiedlersee region – made here into sweet wines labeled as BA or TBA, with pronounced tropical fruit aromas and dried fruit with the ability to develop in bottle of outstanding quality and premium prices.
Plantings of Welschriesling are in decline partially due to a decrease in consumption of this simple, dry style.
What factors make Blaufränkisch best suited to be grown in Burgenland?
- Ripens late and thus needs a warm climate to become fully ripe;
- Its thick skins mean it is not as prone to rot as some other varieties, which is important in the humid area around Neusiedlersee.
What are the 2 prime DACs in Austria for Blaufränkisch?
- Leithaberg DAC;
- Mittelburgenland DAC.
Give a quick palate profile on Blaufränkisch.
- High acidity;
- Medium (+) to high tannins;
- Deep colour and black fruit flavors;
- Range from simple, fruity wines with little or no oak aging (good in quality and mid-priced) to complex wines with pronounced black fruit, spicy oak characters and high tannins (very good to outstanding and premium priced).
Where in Austria is Riesling mostly planted?
Niederösterreich, planted in the warmest sites on thin soils.
In Austria, give two reasons why Grüner Veltliner and Riesling typically don’t go through malolactic conversion.
- The low pH of the wines would make it difficult to achieve;
- Most winemakers desire to retain the varietal character and fresh acidity.
In Austria, most white wines are fermented to ___.
dryness
Many producers will leave wine on the fine lees for six months or longer to add texture.
What are the EU wine equivalents to the following Austrian wine designations?:
- Wein
- Landwein
- Qualitätswein
- Wein – Wine without Geographic Indication;
- Landwein – Wine with Protected Geographic Indication (PGI);
- Qualitätswein – Wine with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)*.
*Qualitätswein also has to undergo a government inspection to ensure it meets minimum quality standards; the government inspection number will be stated on the label.
In Austria, Wein and Landwein together only account for around __% of all production.
8%
Qualitätswein (including Prädikatswein) make up the remainder.
Within the Qualitätswein category, wines may also be labeled as Klassik and Reserve.
Define both Klassik and Reserve.
- Klassik – wines with a declared vintage which show varietal character;
- Reserve – dry wines with a minimum 13% abv, typically harvested and released later than standard wines.
Qualitätswein has a higher category within it, known as Prädikatswein.
What are the different Prädikat levels are based on?
Must weight at time of harvest.
Which style in the German Prädikat system, which also exists as a designation under Qualitätswein in Austria, is not included as a category of Austrian Prädikatswein?
Kabinett
TBA wines that come from the city of Rust, Austria are labeled as ___.
Ausbruch
In 2002 Austrian wine law legislation created an appellation system promoting regionally typical Qualitätswein (the DAC system).
If a winery does NOT conform* to the legislation they cannot use the DAC on their label. What must they use instead?
*e.g. using non-permitted grape varietals
The larger regional appellation the wine comes from, e.g. Niederösterreich.
Like the AOC system in France or the DOCG system in Italy, the DAC letters do not guarantee quality but are rather an indicator of __.
Typicity
DAC wines have an option to use a quality hierarchy that distinguishes regional, village, and single vineyard wines on the label.
What is that hierarchy?
- Gebietswein - regional;
- Ortswein - village;
- Riedenwein - single vineyard.
What are the two most important associations that classify quality and origin for Austrian wines?
- Österreichische Traditionsweingüter (ÖTW);
- Vinea Wachau.
Describe the the Österreichische Traditionsweingüter (ÖTW).
- Founded 1992;
- A group of producers based in several regions that have been classifying their vineyards based on soil type and climate;
- 90 vineyards were selected as Erste Lage in 2023, which means that dry wines from these vinyeards can use the 1ÖTW logo on their labels as long as the two most traditional grape varietals from that region are used.
Vinea Wachau is a group of quality-minded producers found in which DAC?
Wachau
Which 4 of Austria’s nine federal states have significant viticulture?
- Niederösterreich;
- Burgenland;
- Steiermark;
- Wien.
Austria’s largest grape growing region (and federal state) is ___.
Niederösterreich (Lower Austria)
2/3 of all plantings here are white varieties with Grüner Veltliner accounting for nearly half.
Niederösterreich is generally broken down into three regions.
What are the three regions?
- Weinviertel in the north
- Regions along the Danube west of Vienna which include Wachau, Kremstal, Kamptal and Wagram;
- Warmer Pannonian plain in the southeast.
In Wachau, the two most planted grape varieties of any color are __ and __.
Riesling and Grüner Veltliner.
They are NEVER blended.
What 3 factors ensure that Wachau grapes attain full ripeness?
- The best sites face south for maximum sunlight interception;
- Stone terraces retain heat during the day and radiate it back to the vine at night;
- The Danube reflects heat and sun into the terraces.
In Wachau, Riesling is generally planted on what soil type?
Soils based on gneiss.
In Wachau, Grüner Veltliner is generally planted on what soil type?
Loess
Even though Wachau generally experiences moderate/lowish rainfall (~460mm/yr), it can still get humid.
The risk of which fungal disease increases with this humidity?
Noble rot.
Select the correct answer.
Wachau is dominated by:
a. Family-owned estates
b. Co-öps
c. Global conglomerates
a. Family-owned estates
Austria has almost 11,000 wine estates across the country.
Single vineyard wines from Wachau can only be made from these two grape varietals.
- Riesling;
- Grüner Veltliner.
For those producers in the Vinea Wachau, what are the three different classifications of dry white wines?
- Steinfeder – lightest style; dry wine and fruity (citrus and stone fruits), with a maximum of 11.5% abv;
- Federspiel – more concentrated, dry wine with alcohol ranging from 11.5–12.5% abv;
- Smaragd – Fullest in style, dry, highly concentrated with ripe fruit flavors (tropical); minimum 12.5% abv.
No oak influence on any of these styles.
Why is Kremstal warmer than Wachau?
It is influenced by the warm Pannonian plain to the east.
It’s warm enough in Kremstal that Zweigelt is planted here.
DAC wines from Kremstal must be one of these two grapes.
- Riesling;
- Grüner Veltliner.
Since Riesling and Grüner Veltliner are the only two grape varieties allowed to carry the DAC in Kremstal and Kamptal, what appellation can Zweigelt (and other red wines) carry when made in these two regions?
Niederösterreich.
Select the correct answer.
Most red wines from Kremstal are made in what style?
a. fruity and easy drinking with minimal oak influence
b. tannic and wound in their youth which require years of bottle aging due to heavy oak influence
a. fruity and easy drinking with minimal oak influence
The Kamptal region surrounds the town of ___.
Langenlois.
Which grape variety of either color is most planted in Kamptal?
Grüner Veltliner
Why is botrytis less frequent in Kamptal than it is in Kremstal?
Kamptal is less humid than Kremstal.
Kamptal gets warm breezes from the ___ and cooling air from the ___.
- Warm breezes from the Pannonian plain;
- Cooling air from the Bohemian Massif.
In Kamptal, the warm Pannonian breezes and the cool air from the Bohemian Massif make for a large diurnal range.
What does this mean for the acidity in the grapes grown there?
High levels of acidity.
Name two important producers in Kamptal.
- Bründlmayer;
- Hirsch.
Name three important producers in Kremstal.
- Salomon Undhof;
- Lenz Moser;
- Weingut Stadt Krems (a co-op).
Select the correct answer.
Wagram has a strong warming influence from what?
a. Warm Mediterranean air
b. Warm winds from Africa
c. Warm influence from the Pannonian plain
c. Warm influence from the Pannonian plain
Wagram is a region based on loess soils, so it’s planted mostly to this white grape variety.
Grüner Veltliner
Wagram is also known for this other white grape variety, also ending in Veltliner (but no relation to Grüner).
Describe this other white grape varietal.
Roter Veltliner - Full bodied, develops nutty aromas with bottle age.
In Wagram, Grüner Veltliner is made in a Klassik and Reserve style.
Which style allows for some subtle oak influence: Klassik or Reserve?
Reserve
The largest appellation in Niederösterreich and Austria as a whole is ___.
Weinviertel.
Which grape (of either color) accounts for half of all plantings in Weinviertel?
Grüner Veltliner.
Why do Grüner Veltliners from Weinviertel have distinctive, peppery aromatics and high acidity?
Cooling breezes from the north allow for a high diurnal range meaning peppery aromatics are preserved as are high levels of acidity.
The ONLY grape variety allowed to carry the Weinviertel DAC is ___.
Grüner Veltliner.
What are the details surrounding Reserve Grüner Veltliners from Weinviertel DAC?
- Must have a minimum 13% abv;
- Allows for some oak aging and/or the inclusion of some botrytis affected grapes (which adds richness and complexity, but the wines are still dry).
Does Thermenregion have a DAC?
No*
*The WSET reading materials for 2023 reflect that Thermenregion is not a DAC, but Thermenregion did in fact become a DAC in 2023. Speak with your Diploma instructor to see if you have to know this for your exam.
What factor allows red grapes to consistently ripen in Thermenregion?
The region gets a lot of warm air from the Pannonian plain.
Which red grape varieties do you find in Thermenregion?
- Pinot Noir;
- Sankt Laurent.
What are the 3 local white grape varieties of Thermenregion?
- Neuburger*;
- Rotgipfler;
- Zierfandler.
*Most planted white grape in Thermenregion.
Burgenland is located on the border of which neighboring country?
Hungary
Why is Burgenland one of the warmest areas in Austria?
It opens up to the Pannonian plain.
Because Burgenland is so warm, what grapes can it reliably ripen?
Red grapes (and a variety of them).
The 2 main red grape varieties in Burgenland are __ and __.
Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt
The 2 main white grape varieties in Burgenland are __ and __.
Grüner Veltliner and Welschriesling
Why doesn’t Grüner Veltliner from Burgenland reach the same quality levels as those grown in Niederösterreich?
Burgenland is too warm.
Select the correct answer.
Neusiedlersee is a:
a. large shallow lake
b. large deep lake
c. large mountain range
a. large shallow lake
Select the correct answer:
The vineyard area around Neusiedlersee is:
a. hilly, cool, and dry
b. flat, warm, and humid
c. mountainous, cold, and rainy
b. flat, warm, and humid
Which area in Austria is the warmest?
Neusiedlersee.
What factors allow Neusiedlersee to have consistent noble rot every year?
- Despite air temperatures dropping in autumn the water of the lake remains warm and fog forms overnight, covering the surrounding vineyards;
- Vineyards closest to the lake are covered with the fog;
- This high humidity encourages botrytis; however, warm autumn afternoon sunshine burns away the fog and prevents grey rot.
Which white grape variety is planted near the Neusiedl lake?
Why this grape?
- Welschriesling;
- Its thin skin makes it prone to noble rot.
The red grape most planted in Neusiedlersee away from the humidity (and the lake) is ___.
Zweigelt
TBA styles in Neusiedlersee are made predominantly from this grape.
Welschriesling
- The Neusiedlersee DAC is for ______ wines.
- The _______ wines are labeled as Burgenland.
- RED
- SWEET
Neusiedlersee DAC Zweigelt Klassik wines must be ___% Zweigelt.
100%
Neusiedlersee DAC Zweigelt Reserve wines must be a minimum ___% Zweigelt.
60%
they can be blended with Blaufränkisch, Pinot Noir or Sankt Laurent
An important producer of TBA wines made in Neusiedlersee from Welschriesling is ______.
Alois Kracher
What is the most commonly planted red grape in Leithaberg?
Blaufränkisch
Accounts for 20% of all plantings.
Leithaberg DAC is for what color of wines?
Red or white.
Red wines carrying the Leithaberg DAC must be a minimum ___% of which grape variety?
85% Blaufränkisch
White wines carrying the Leithaberg DAC can be made from which grape varieties?
- Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc);
- Chardonnay;
- Grüner Veltliner;
- Neuburger.
What are the 3 DAC styles made in Mittelburgenland?
- DAC;
- DAC+ Vineyard designation;
- DAC Reserve.
The 3 DAC styles of Mittelburgenland must be made with a minimum of ___% of this red grape variety.
85% Blaufränkisch
Which Mittelburgenland DAC is typically aged in stainless steel tanks or large oak casks?
The regular DAC
Which Mittelburgenland DAC is a vineyard designation?
DAC+
Has a slightly higher minimum alcohol level and typically aged in large oak casks or barriques.
Describe the requirements of Mittelburgenland DAC Reserve.
- Minimum 85% Blaufränkisch;
- Must have slightly higher minimum alcohol level;
- Must have longer minimum time maturing in large oak or barrique (also aged in this same large oak or barrique).
Which Austrian wine region is on the border of Slovenia?
Steiermark (aka Styria).
What are three weather hazards that affect Steiermark (Styria)?
- Winter freeze;
- Spring frost;
- Hail.
Select the correct answer.
Steiermark (Styria) is best known for its:
a. sweet wines
b. full bodied red wines
c. crisp, dry white wines
c. crisp, dry white wines
The 3 most planted white grapes in Steiermark (Styria) are:
- Welschriesling;
- Sauvignon Blanc;
- Weissburgunder.
Many are made for immediate, refreshing drinking.
Name the 3 DACs for Styria’s subregions.
- Vulkanland Steiermark DAC;
- Südsteiermark DAC;
- Weststeiermark DAC.
What is the DAC for Wien (Vienna)?
Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC.
What are the requirements for Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC?
- Must be a blend, of which 20 different grape varieties are permitted;
- Must be dry and unoaked.
Must Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC wines labelled with an indication of vineyard site always taste dry?
No; these wines do not necessarily need to taste dry.
Why do Heurigen play an important role in domestic sales in Austria?
Heurigen, or small inns/taverns, serve traditional, local food and wine; many of them have outdoor spaces for eating and drinking. Depending on where they are in Austria they operate year-round or through the autumn, and they sell a lot of the wine made domestically.
Single vineyard Wagram DAC wines can be made from which 3 white grape varieties?
- Riesling;
- Grüner Veltliner;
- Roter Veltliner.
Wagram became a DAC in 2022. Read more about all the DACs here.
