Chapter 23 - Austria

Question 1

Climate and grape growing

Answer 1

• Eastern end of country
• Cool continental climate, short summers, harsh winters
• Less variation of weather
• Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, home to Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch as well as Welschriesling

Question 2

White Grape varieties

Answer 2

• Grüner Veltliner: fresh but unexciting wines if yields too high. Full-bodied, concentrated wines with high acidity. Citrus/stone fruit, white pepper, develops layers of honey and toast as it ages. Stainless steel, sometimes oak casks
• Welschriesling: Dry, fresh, simple, citrus, green apple flavours, high acidity. Can be used for dessert wines
• Riesling: Wachau, Kamptal, Kremstal with best examples. Dry, medium to full-bodied, peachy primary fruit aromas
• Chardonnay, Müller-Thurgau, Sauvignon Blanc (Steiermark) also planted

Question 3

Black grape varieties

Answer 3

• Zweigelt (BlaufränkischxSt Laurent) most widely planted grape. SOft tannins, bramble fruit
• Blaufränkisch: most highly regarded. Medium tannins, high acidity, peppery, sour cherry flavour
• St Laurent: similar to Pinot Noir.

Question 4

Most important areas

Answer 4

• PDO wines from Niederösterreich (Lower Austria), Burgenland, Steiermark, Wien account for most of the production
• Niederösterreich: Wachau most renoved for Riesling or Veltliner. Kamptal, Kremstal with similar steil. Weinviertel DAC biggest vine-growing area. Klassik (light, fresh, fruity), Reserve (higher alcohol and matured in oak)
• Burgenland: top-quality sweet wines and red wines. Border to Hungary. Dry wines from Pinot Blanc, Welschriesling, Grüner Veltliner, Chardonnay
• Neusiedlersee: sweet wine production, most widely used grape variety. Best red wines come from the area. Zweigelt most widely planted