24. Austria Flashcards
Climate
Moderate continental
Weather
1) Moderate continental climate with marked diurnal range in many areas.
2) Long ripening season means noble rot is possible if humidity levels sufficient.
3) Less variation in annual weather patterns than in northern Europe.
What are the white grape varieties in Austria?
Gruner Veltliner (grapes, white pepper, pron. minerality; ages to honey/toast); Welschriesling (sappy, simple; botrytis/dessert wines); Riesling (dry, full body, stone fruit, minerality).
What are the black grape varieties in Austria?
Zweigelt (deep color, soft tannins);
Blaufrankisch (highly regarded, moderate tannins, pepper/sr cherry, minerality);
St Laurent (similar in character to Pinot Noir).
Grapegrowing
1) Many top vineyards are on steep south-facing slopes
2) Flat low-lying vineyards near the Neusiedlersee experience regular/heavy botrytis.
Winemaking
Whites: Focus on purity of fruit with some skin contact and oak.
Reds: Oak widely used for premium wines
What are the key wines in Niederosterreich?
Wachau, Weinviertel
What are the key wines in Burgenland?
Neusiedlersee, Neusiedlersee-Hugelland, Mittelburgenland
PDO Wines
1) Qualitatswein: Kabinett
2) Pradikatswein: Spatlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Strohwein, Eiswein, Ausbruch, Trockenbeerenauslese
3) Districtus Austriae Controllatus (DAC)
PGI Wines/Other PGI:
Landwein
Other: Wein
Further labeling terms (*only in Wachau):
Steinfeder, Federspiel, Smaragd (moving from lightest/freshest to fullest body)
Key region: Wachau Neiderosterreich (Lower Austria):
Gruner V, Riesling. Steep terraced vineyards, long dry autumns. Wines aged in old neutral oak casks; varietal fruit, minerality evolve into honey/toast complexity. Best single vineyard GVs compare to best in white Burgundies. Dry, full bodied Rieslings. Both very sought after, high priced.
