Erste Lage
Erste Lage is a classification for the highest quality vineyards in Austria. It translates to "first site" or "first location" in English. These vineyards are recognized for their exceptional terroir, which refers to the combination of soil, climate, and topography that gives wines their unique character.
Erste Lage wines must meet strict quality standards of the Association of Traditional Austrian Wine Estates (ÖTW). The ÖTW is a group of top Austrian winemakers promoting the country's highest-quality wines.
The site must have a history of producing high-quality wines and meet specific soil types, aspects, and elevation criteria to be classified as an Erste Lage vineyard. The grapes must also be harvested by hand and undergo a rigorous selection process to ensure only the best grapes are used.
To recognize the importance of these special vineyards, a group of winemakers in Austria have created two classifications: "ÖTW ERSTE LAGE" (1ÖTW) and "ÖTW GROSSE LAGE" (GÖTW). These classifications take into account the vineyard's geography, geology, the quality of the wines produced there, and also its history and how it has been managed over time.
Several wine regions include Kamptal, Kremstal, Traisental, Carnuntum, Wagram, and Wien. They have their own classifications of wine based on the origin of the grapes: Riedenwein (from a single vineyard), Ortswein (from a specific municipality), and Gebietswein (regional wine). These categories are defined under Austrian Wine Law's DAC regulation.
Some wine regions like Wagram and Wien still discuss this structure, but ÖTW member estates already follow it. The ÖTW vineyard site classifications - 1ÖTW and GÖTW - refer to the top tier of this classification: Riedenwein, which means a wine from a single vineyard. So, when you see 1ÖTW or GÖTW on a bottle of wine, you can be sure it comes from an exceptional single vineyard site in Austria.
Grapes
In the ÖTW system of appellations, grape varieties are not the primary focus. Instead, the personality and conditions of the vineyard take precedence. However, the grape varieties grown in a region are defined in the DAC wine law regulations and apply to ÖTW-classified vineyards.
Kamptal, Kremstal, Traisental, Wagram, Grüner Veltliner, and Riesling are the main grape varieties used. In Vienna (Wien), the varieties used are Wiener Gemischter Satz, Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, and Weissburgunder. In Carnuntum, the primary varieties used are Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch.
While these grape varieties are specific to each region, the ÖTW classification focuses on the vineyard site rather than the grape variety. This means that even though Grüner Veltliner and Riesling are the main varieties used in Kamptal, Kremstal, Traisental, and Wagram, the wines produced from the top-quality vineyards classified under 1ÖTW and GÖTW will vary based on the unique personality and conditions of each vineyard.
Classification
To be a member of the ÖTW (Association of Traditional Austrian Wine Estates), winemakers must follow strict standards to ensure the quality of their wines. They must be certified with a sustainability seal, such as Sustainable Austria, the EU organic seal, or an equivalent. Herbicides and insecticides are not allowed to be used in the winery.
There are limits on how much wine can be produced from each vineyard area, with lower limits for the top-quality vineyards classified under 1ÖTW and GÖTW. Grapes from these vineyards must be hand-harvested, and the must (juice) may not be artificially concentrated.
Wines from 1ÖTW vineyards undergo longer maturation and are not released to the market until a year after harvest. White wines from 1ÖTW vineyards may be released in September following the harvest, while red wines from 1ÖTW vineyards may be released in September of the second year. Wines from GÖTW vineyards may mature for an additional year before being released.
These strict standards ensure that wines from ÖTW member estates are of the highest quality and made with care and attention to detail.
3 Criteria
When classifying vineyard sites, it's important to take an integrated approach considering various factors. This includes viticultural aspects such as the soil structure, volume of precipitation, air currents, exposition, elevation, and changes in temperature over time. However, it's also important to consider anthropological, historical, and economic aspects and acknowledge external perspectives.
Based on all these factors, parameters have been developed to classify vineyard sites into three main groups, with several subcategories in each group. This helps to determine the significance of each vineyard site and make informed decisions about their classification.
Content-related factors for vineyard classification include:
a. Historic relevance refers to the historical significance of a vineyard site. Factors like age, cultural importance, and the site's role in the region's winemaking history can contribute to a vineyard's historical relevance.
b. The subjective and intersubjective assessment of the winegrowers refers to the personal evaluation of a vineyard site by the people who work there. This can include factors like the perceived quality of the soil, the microclimate, and the overall potential for producing high-quality wines. It's important to consider these assessments as they come from people with firsthand site experience.
c. The homogeneity of the site in terms of geology, climate, and exposition refers to the consistency of the vineyard's physical and environmental characteristics. This is important because it can affect the uniformity of the grapes produced, which is important for maintaining consistency in the quality of the wines. Factors like soil type, altitude, and exposure to sunlight can all contribute to the homogeneity of a vineyard site.
Quality-oriented factors
a. Tastings by experts refer to assessments of the wines produced from a vineyard site by professional tasters, such as wine critics, sommeliers, or winemakers with extensive experience in the industry. Their evaluations can provide valuable insight into the quality of the wines produced and the potential of the vineyard site.
b. Evaluations in relevant media refer to reviews and ratings of the wines from a vineyard site in respected publications or media outlets, such as wine magazines or online resources. Positive reviews can help to establish the reputation of a vineyard site and increase demand for its wines.
c. Internal blind tastings refer to the practice of evaluating the wines produced from a vineyard site by a panel of experts in a blind tasting. This means that the tasters do not know which wines they are tasting, so their assessments are not influenced by preconceived notions or biases. Internal blind tastings can provide an objective assessment of the quality of the wines produced from a vineyard site.
Economic factors
Economic factors are also considered in the classification of vineyard sites. The quantitative analysis includes the number of producers marketing wines from the specific vineyard site, the total area cultivated, and the number of bottles sold. Financial analysis is also conducted, considering the price obtained and the price variations in the market. These economic factors help evaluate the market demand and the economic sustainability of a specific vineyard site, ultimately impacting its classification.
Fact List
Erste Lage is a vineyard site classification system used in Austria.
It was created by the Österreichische Traditionsweingüter (ÖTW) association in 2002.
It applies only to the top single vineyards in Kamptal, Kremstal, Traisental, and Carnuntum.
The Erste Lage classification is based on a range of factors, including historic relevance, homogeneity of the site, tastings by experts, evaluations in relevant media, and financial analyses.
Grape varieties play a subordinate role in the Erste Lage system, with Grüner Veltliner and Riesling being the most common varieties in Kamptal, Kremstal, Traisental, and Wagram, while Wien (Vienna) uses Wiener Gemischter Satz, Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, and Weissburgunder, and Carnuntum uses Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch.
To be part of the Erste Lage classification, the vineyard must adhere to strict guidelines on maximum yield per hectare, hand harvesting, and no artificial concentration of the must.
Wines from Erste Lage sites are subject to longer maturation periods, with white wines from Erste Lage sites being first released to the market in September of the year following the harvest, and red wines from Erste Lage sites being first released in September of the second year following the harvest.
Wines from Erste Lage sites may mature an additional year before being released to the market.
To be a member of the ÖTW association, winegrowers must be certified with the Austrian sustainability seal "Sustainable Austria", the minimum standard of the EU organic seal (Organic Grape Production), or an equivalent, and be able to substantiate the certification.
The application of herbicides and insecticides is prohibited throughout the winery for ÖTW members.
Questions
What is the meaning of the term "Erste Lage" in the context of Austrian wines?
Which wine regions in Austria have their own vineyard site classifications called 1ÖTW and GÖTW?
What are the criteria used to classify a vineyard as an Erste Lage site?
Which grape varieties are allowed to be grown in Erste Lage sites in Kamptal, Kremstal, Traisental, and Wagram?
What is the maximum yield per hectare for vineyards classified as 1ÖTW and GÖTW?
What are some of the environmental and sustainability standards that must be adhered to by vineyards classified as Erste Lage?
What is the difference in maturation time between white and red wines from ÖTW Erste Lage sites?
How does the classification of vineyards into Erste Lage affect the marketing and pricing of wines produced there?
What is the significance of the historical and economic factors considered in the classification of Erste Lage vineyards?
Can vineyards outside of Austria also be classified as Erste Lage sites?
