Austria

Question 1

Austria Map

Answer 1

Question 2

Austrian White Grapes

Answer 2

1. Gruner Veltliner – Primary grape
2. Welschriesling - this is NOT Riesling
3. Riesling – less widely planted
4. Chardonnay, Muller-Thurgau, Sauv blanc
   
   1. Sauv blanc is getting a good reputation in the south – Steiermark

Question 3

Burgenland

Answer 3

Dry wines from Pinot Blanc, Welschriesling, Gruner Veltliner, Chardonnay

Lake Neusiedlersee - sweet Welschriesling

• Low-lying vyds near lake, autumn mist
• Ideal for Botrytis, almost guaranteed

Best reds: high ground in the hills

• Neusiedlersee DAC for Zweigelt
• 3 DACs for Blaufrankisch (Mittelburgenland)

Question 4

Austria’s Climate

Answer 4

The Alps take up the west, so grapes are grown in the lowlands of the east

Cool continental climate, short summers and harsh winters

North regions get cooling northerly winds, SE regions get warm easterly winds

Less annual weather variation than northern Europe

Question 5

Welschriesling

Answer 5

This is NOT Riesling – secondary grape

When dry is fresh, simple, citrus, green apple, high acid

Susceptible to botrytis, so used in dessert wines

Question 6

Niederosterreich - Weinviertal DAC

Answer 6

Austria’s largest vine-growing area and first DAC

Wines can only be from Gruner Veltliner

Klassik – made in light, fresh, fruity style – no oak

Reserve – must have higher alc and can mature in oak

Question 7

Niederosterreich (Lower Austria)

Answer 7

Largest region for both production and exports

Most vineyards on the banks of the Danube and toward Slovak border

8 sub-regions, primary are:

• Wachau
• Kamptal DAC and Kremstal DAC
• Weinviertal DAC

Question 8

Gruner Veltliner

Answer 8

Primary grape, high-quality, point of difference in export market

Fresh but unexciting wines at high yields

Premium: Full-body, concentrated, high acid

In youth: citrus, stone fruit, white pepper; ages to honey and toast

Ferment and stored in SS, some use old oak casks, a few put best wines in new oak barriques.

Question 9

Riesling

Answer 9

Less widely planted

Tends to come from Wachau, Kamptal and Kremstal

Usually dry and medium-to-full bodied w ripe peachy primary fruit

Best examples can mature in bottle

Question 10

Austrian Wine Regions - PDO

Answer 10

4 federal states are used, w top 2 accounting for the vast majority

1. Niederosterreich (Lower Austria)
2. Burgenland
3. Steiermark (Styria)
4. Wein (Vienna)

Question 11

Austrian Red Grapes

Answer 11

1. Zweigelt-cross of Blaufrankisch x St Laurent
   
   1. Deep color, soft tannins, brambly fruit
2. Blaufrankisch-most highly regarded
   
   1. Med tannin, high acid, peppery, sour cherry
3. St Laurent
   
   1. Austrian-specific grape similar to Pinot Noir
   2. Oak aging common
4. Many blending in Pinot Noir, Cab Sauv, Merlot

Question 12

Niederosterreich - Wachau (and Kamptal / Kremstal)

Answer 12

Most renowned

High quality dry Gruner or Riesling

Steep, terraced south-facing vineyards next to the Danube max exposure and improve ripeness / concentration

Wachau is not a DAC, uses its own system

Kamptal DAC and Kremstal DAC lie just north of Wachau and make similar wines from GV and WR