Study for Austria - Introductory Sommelier Level -1
Here’s a beginner-friendly breakdown of what you should know about Austria for your Introductory Sommelier Course. Austria is known for its high-quality white wines, unique grape varieties, and strict wine laws.
Key Topics to Study for Austria
1. Climatic Influences
Pannonian Effect: Warm, dry winds from the east (Pannonian Plain) influence the climate, especially in eastern Austria.
Continental Climate: Warm summers and cold winters, ideal for grape ripening.
Danube River: Moderates temperatures and provides ideal conditions for vineyards.
Hills and Slopes: Vineyards are often planted on slopes for better sun exposure and drainage.
2. Austrian Quality Structure
Austria has a strict quality classification system:
Wein: Basic table wine with no geographical indication.
Landwein: Regional wine with a broader geographical indication.
Qualitätswein (QbA):
Must come from one of Austria’s 16 wine regions.
Can include Prädikatswein levels (similar to Germany).
DAC (Districtus Austriae Controllatus):
Austria’s version of AOC or DOC.
Focuses on regional typicity and specific grape varieties.
Examples: Wachau DAC, Kamptal DAC, Kremstal DAC.
3. Prädikatswein Levels
Similar to Germany, Austria uses ripeness levels for its Prädikatswein wines:
Spätlese: Late harvest, richer wines.
Auslese: Selectively harvested, often sweeter.
Beerenauslese (BA): Overripe, botrytized grapes.
Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA): Extremely sweet, made from shriveled, botrytized grapes.
Eiswein: Made from frozen grapes, high in sweetness and acidity.
4. Wachau Quality Terms
The Wachau region has its own classification system for dry wines:
Steinfeder: Light-bodied, up to 11.5% alcohol.
Federspiel: Medium-bodied, 11.5–12.5% alcohol.
Smaragd: Full-bodied, over 12.5% alcohol, often age-worthy.
5. Principal Grape Varieties
White Grapes (70% of production):
Grüner Veltliner: Austria’s signature grape, known for its peppery, citrusy, and mineral-driven wines.
Riesling: High-quality, dry wines with stone fruit and floral notes.
Welschriesling: Used for sweet wines and simple, fresh styles.
Chardonnay: Known locally as Morillon in some regions.
Weißburgunder (Pinot Blanc): Produces elegant, food-friendly wines.
Red Grapes (30% of production):
Zweigelt: Austria’s most planted red grape, producing fruity, medium-bodied wines.
Blaufränkisch: Known for its spicy, structured wines with dark fruit flavors.
St. Laurent: Similar to Pinot Noir, with soft tannins and red fruit notes.
6. Production Regions
Austria has four main wine regions (Weinbaugebiete):
Niederösterreich (Lower Austria):
Largest wine region, known for Grüner Veltliner and Riesling.
Sub-regions to know:
Wachau: Famous for its dry, high-quality wines.
Kamptal: Known for Grüner Veltliner and Riesling.
Kremstal: Similar to Kamptal, with mineral-driven wines.
Weinviertel: Austria’s first DAC, focused on Grüner Veltliner.
Burgenland:
Known for red wines (Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch) and sweet wines (e.g., from Lake Neusiedl).
Sub-regions to know:
Neusiedlersee: Famous for botrytized sweet wines.
Mittelburgenland: Known for Blaufränkisch.
Steiermark (Styria):
Produces aromatic white wines, including Sauvignon Blanc and Morillon (Chardonnay).
Wien (Vienna):
Unique for its Gemischter Satz: A traditional field blend of multiple grape varieties.
7. Labelling Terms
Trocken: Dry wine.
Halbtrocken: Off-dry wine.
Süß: Sweet wine.
Strohwein: Sweet wine made from grapes dried on straw mats.
Ausbruch: A sweet wine made by blending botrytized and non-botrytized grapes (unique to Austria).
8. Notable Sweet Wines
Eiswein: Made from frozen grapes, with intense sweetness and acidity.
Strohwein: Made from dried grapes, resulting in concentrated sweetness.
Ausbruch: A rare, high-quality sweet wine from Rust in Burgenland.
9. Deductive Tasting for Austrian Wines
Sight: Pale to medium lemon color.
Nose: Aromas of citrus (lime, lemon), green apple, white pepper (Grüner Veltliner), and stone fruits (Riesling).
Palate: High acidity, medium body, and a focus on minerality and freshness.
Tips for Studying Austria
Focus on Grüner Veltliner: Understand its flavor profile and importance to Austria.
Learn the Wachau Terms: Steinfeder, Federspiel, and Smaragd are unique to Austria.
Map Practice: Be able to locate key regions like Wachau, Kamptal, and Burgenland.
Taste Austrian Wines: Try examples of Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, and Blaufränkisch to understand their styles.
