CSW Chapter 14- Austria

Eastern

What part of Austria is suitable for wine growing? Has lower hills and plains

40, 26 white and 14 red

How many grape varieties are authorized for use in Austria?

66%

How much of Austria’s production is white wine?

Gruner Veltliner

Number one grape of Austria, known for notes of citrus, white pepper, and minerality

Wleshrie

Zweigelt

Most popular red variety in Austria, a cross between Blaufrankisch and St Laurent. Medium bodied, cherry flavor, peppery finish.

Blaufrankisch

Aka Lemberger or Kekfrankos, Austrian red variety, full bodied, high acid, solid tannin, dark berry flavors

St Laurent

Red variety, member of the Pinot family, medium bodied with medium tannin and cherry-berry flavors

KMW, Klosterneuburger Mostwaage

Austrian measure for must weight. 1 degree is equal to about 5 Oeschle

Austrian Wine Laws

• Wein- may be labeled with a vintage and/or grape variety, but no place more specific than Osterreich (Austria)

• Landwein- PGI level, has geographical indication, labeled with one of the three Weinbauregionen- Weinland Osterreich, Steierland, or Bergland

• PDO Wines- Qualitatswein (minimum 15 KMW), Pradikatswein (minumum 19 KMW), and Districtus Austrian Controllatus (DAC). Must be sourced from a single quality wine region/subregion/DAC. 2/3 of Austria total production.

  • DAC is highly specific wines produced using grapes considered the highest quality and most typical of the region

Strohwein or Schilfwein

Austrian dried grape wine, at least BA level ripeness. Grapes air dried on made of straw or reeds

Austrian Pradikatswein levels

• Spatlese- minimum 19 KMW

• Auslese- minimum 21 KMW, unripe grapes must be removed

• Beerenauslese, Eiswein, and Strohwein/Schilfwein- minimum 25 KMW

• Trockenbeerenauslese- minimum 25 KMW and majority of the grapes must be affected by botrytis

Bergwein

Aka mountain wine, produced using grapes that are grown on extraordinarily steep mountain slopes with at least 26% gradient

Niederosterreich (Lower Austria)

• Largest wine growing region in Austria in both geographical area and vineyard acreage

• Landlocked with continental climate

• Danube river flows through

• Popular subregions include: Weinviertel, Kamptal, and Kremstal

Weinviertel DAC

• largest subregion of Niederosterreich

• 100% gruner veltliner

• Pungent, spicy, peppery

• Reserve may have subtle botrytis character

Kamptal DAC

• aka Kamp Valley, along Kamp River

• Steep terraces

• Riesling- powerful, mineral driven, good aging potential

• Main town is Langenlois, big spot for wine tourism

• In Niederosterreich

Kremstal DAC

• in Niederosterreich

• Around city of Krems

• Exposed to warming breezes of Pannonian Plain

• Known for rich, structured, flavorful wines from Gruner Veltliner and Riesling

Traisental DAC

• in Niederosterreich

• Aka Traisen Valley

• Smaller volume and younger

• Gruner Veltliner is #1- fresh/fruity/spicy , and then Riesling

Wachau DAC

• in Niederosterreich

• One of the most historic and respected wine regions in Austria

• Top tier wines of the DAC must be produced with grapes grown in designated single vineyard sites (Rieden) and made from Gruner Veltliner or Riesling

• Wind-blown, glacier-carved loess soil atop crystalline/gneiss bedrock

Wagram DAC

• in Niederosterreich

• Gruner Veltliner (spicy) and Roter Veltliner, along with Riesling, PN, and Zweigelt

• Used to be called Donauland

Thermenregion DAC

• in Niederosterreich

• South of Vienna

• Hillsides of Wienerwald (Vienna Woods)

• Northern part of area- Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay, and Zierfandler and Rotgipfler

• Southern part- St Laurent, PN, Zweigelt

Carnuntum DAC

• in Niederosterreich

• South and east of Vienna

• Whites may be Chardonnay, Weissburgunder, or Gruner Veltliner

• Reds may be Zweigelt or Blaufrankisch

Burgenland

• One of the three main wine regions in Austria

• Shares a border with Hungary

• Lake Neusiedl

• Ideal for growth of botrytis cinera

Mittelburgenland DAC

• in Burgenland

• Makes reds from Blaufrankisch that are full bodied, deep color, with spicy aromas, and notes of red and black fruits

• Classic wines must be aged in stainless steel or used oak

• Reserve wines must be aged in new oak

Eisenberg DAC

• In Burgenland

• Red wines from Blaufrankisch

Neusiedlersee DAC

• in Burgenland

• East of lake Neusiedl

• Red wines from Zweigelt and sweet white wines

Rosalia DAC

• in Burgenland

• Named for Rosalia Mountain Range

• Dry wines only, only reds or roses

• Reds from Blaufrankisch or Zweigelt

• Roses from any approved red grape for PDO wines

Ruster Ausbruch DAC

• in Burgenland

• One of the most famous wines of Austria

• Made in town of Rust

• Sweet, botrytis-affected white wine

• Allowed grapes are Chardonnay, Muskateller, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc

• Harvested at minimum of 30 KMW (TBA level)

Steiermark/Styria

• one of the three main winemaking regions in Austria

• Contains less than 10% of the country’s vineyards

• Chardonnay and SB leading varietals

• Contains 3 DACs

Sudsteiermark DAC

• in Steiermark

• Top varietal is SB, followed by Riesling, PG, and Chardonnay

• Marine sediment in the flats, while hills and slopes have marl and conglomerate soils

• Long growing season makes complex and concentrated grapes

Vulkanland Steiermark DAC

• in Steiermark

• Volcanic soils, vines planted on the slopes of dormant volcanoes

• Welschriesling, Chard, Weissburgunder, Grauburgunder, SB, Zweigelt

Weststeiermark DAC

• in Steiermark

• Steep hills and deep valleys

• One of the smallest by acreage in Austria

• Known for Schilcher Rose made from red Blauer Wildbacher

• Weissburgunder, Welschriesling, and Muller Thurgau

Wein/Vienna

• only European capital to have an PDO within the city limits

• Heurigen- seasonal wine taverns, made wine popular

• Gemischter Satz- wines made from several different grape varieties fermented together, at least 3 grapes. No obvious oak influence. Also must be grown together in the field.

  • 15 approved varieties