Tag Archives: Austrian Wine

New Grape Varieties approved for Austrian Wine

  By admin | November 28, 2018 - 3:09 pm | ,
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Vineyards in Kamptal - photo via: www.austrianwine.com

Vineyards in Kamptal – photo via: www.austrianwine.com

The Austrian Wine Marketing Board has just made a big announcement: four new grape varieties have been added to the list of “approved” varieties for use in the PGI and PDO wines of Austria! This makes for a total of 40 approved grapes, including 14 red and 26 white varieties, all of which will be valid for use as of the 2018 vintage.  All of the newly-approved grape varieties are white.

Here is a bit more information on these grapes:

Blütenmuskateller: Blütenmuskateller is a hybrid white grape variety created in Russia (then the USSR) in 1947. It is a somewhat complicated combination of Severny (itself a vinifera X amurensis hybrid) crossed with Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. In Russia, the grape was known as Cvetocny (Cvetochny). The grape is renowned for its ability to achieve high sugar content and is often used in sweet wines. Wines based on Blütenmuskateller tend to show “grape-y” Muscat-like notes in addition to aromas of tropical fruit, flowers, perfume, and sweet spices such as nutmeg.

Goldmuskateller: Goldmuskateller is a golden-berried version of Muscat believed to be native to northern Italy—where it is known as Moscato Giallo and used in some of the DOC wines of Trentino and Alto Adige. It is most likely a descendant of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. Goldmuskateller is often used to produce sweet wines, but dry wines can be delightful as well. Goldmuskateller-based wines tend to show the rich fruit, “grape-like” aromas common to Muscat as well a deep yellow-gold color and musky-spicy-floral aromas and flavors.

Vineyards in Bergland - photo via: www.austrianwine.com

Vineyards in Bergland – photo via: www.austrianwine.com

Muscaris: Muscaris is a German-bred hybrid grape created via the combining of Solaris (a white-skinned hybrid of Merzling and Geisenheim) X Muskateller (Muscat). Muscaris grapes tend to develop high levels of sugar and acidity, making them a good choice for sparkling wines. Typical aromas include lemon, orange, tangerine, and “musky perfume.”

Souvignier Gris: Souvignier Gris is a pink-skinned, German-bred hybrid grape created via the union of Cabernet Sauvignon and Bronner (a white-skinned hybrid of Merzling and Geisenheim). Souvignier Gris is known for high must weights and somewhat neutral fruity-floral aromas reminiscent of Pinot Blanc.

Three of the new grape varieties—Blütenmuskateller, Muscaris, and Souvignier Gris—are considered to be particularly resistant to fungal diseases such as powdery mildew and downy mildew. Such grapes are known as “PIWI” varieties (Pi = Pilz [fungus]; wi = widerstandsfähig [resistant]) and are well-suited to organic and sustainable viticulture.

Vineyards in Styria - photo via: www.austrianwine.com

Vineyards in Styria – photo via: www.austrianwine.com

Wine students might find it surprising that the list of newly-approved grape varieties includes hybrids. However, Austria has included hybrids (specifically Ráthay and Roesler) on its list of approved varieties for several years.

Click here for an updated list of:  The Austria 40-wine grapes approved for use in Austria

References/for more information:

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles – SWE’s Director of Education and Certification –  jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

Welcome to the World, Rosalia DAC!

  By admin | April 21, 2018 - 8:57 am | ,
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Photo via: www.austrianwine.com

Photo via: www.austrianwine.com

The Austrian Wine Marketing Board has announced the approval and registration of a new wine region to be known as the Rosalia Districtus Austriae Controllatus (DAC). The area of Rosalia was previously classified as a Grosslage (large collective vineyard site) and is located in Burgenland, south of the Leithaberg area.

Rosalia is named for the Rosaliengebirge—the Rosalia Mountain Range—that comprises a portion of the Alpine Foothills located on the border between Burgenland and Lower Austria. The Rosalia area is situated on the eastern slopes of the Rosalia mountains and includes the valley of the Wulka River, the political district of Mattersburg, and the famous Forchtenstein Castle. Vineyards are situated in the rolling hills at elevations up to 2,640 feet (750 m).

Three styles of wine are approved under the Rosalia DAC:

  • Rosalia DAC:  Approved for dry, red, wines based on Blaufränkisch or Zweigelt grapes. These wines are required to contain a minimum of 12% abv and a maximum of 0.4% residual sugar. The wines may be oak-aged, but oak contact is not required. The flavor profile should be “complex, aromatic, and show finesse, fruit, and spiciness.”
  • Rosalia Reserve DAC: This designation is also approved for dry, red, wines produced using either Blaufränkisch or Zweigelt; however, Reserve DAC wines require a minimum alcohol content of 13% abv. Rosalia Reserva DAC wines are allowed to list a single-vineyard (Ried) designation on the label.
  • Rosalia DAC Rosé: This designation is approved for dry, rosé wines using one or more “quality” grape varieties (as approved for Qualitätswein in Austria).  Rosalia DAC Rosé must contain less than 0.4% residual sugar and may list a specific vineyard (Ried) on the label; however, a specific grape variety (or varieties) is NOT allowed to be stated on the label. The wine is intended to be aromatic with the scent of red berries and show “fresh, fruity, and spicy” flavors.
Map via: www.austrianwine.com

Map via: www.austrianwine.com

Rosalia is the 11th area in Austria to be recognized as a DAC wine production region. We can expect to see the Rosalia DAC designation on bottles and labels with the release of wines from the 2017 vintage. Welcome to the world, Rosalia DAC!

References/for more information:

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Post authored by Jane A. Nickles—your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

 

All of Vienna in One Glass

  By admin | March 27, 2014 - 4:38 pm | ,
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viennaVienna has a unique history of wine production.  The bustling capital city is home to 612 hectares (1,500 acres) of vineyards, planted in both the outer districts and outskirts of the city.  These vineyards provide a substantial amount of lovely scenery as well as a significant economic input to the city of Vienna.

The quality wines of Vienna are classified under the Weinbaugebiete region of Wien (Vienna). As is to be expected for a modern urban region, Wien is by far the smallest, in terms of both square mileage and production, of Austria’s four Weinbaugebiete. Wien produces a mere 1% of the total output of Austria.

Traditionally, wines from Wien have been known as “Heuriger,”or wine tavern wines.  A unique Austrian tradition, a Heuriger is basically a tavern operated by a wine maker and may only serve its own wines.  Some are open year-round and serve a wide variety of food, while others, known as “Buschenschank” are hidden among the vineyards and may only be open a few weeks a year, serving the new wine of the vintage and simple “snacks” to accompany the wine.

Vineyards ViennaNowadays, the wines of Wien are enjoying a newly-found reputation as fine wines; many are to be found on the wine lists of the most forward-thinking and renowned restaurants, and some have even reached “cult wine” status. As of the 2013 vintage, the region’s traditional wine has earned the highest classification status available to Austrian wines – the Districtus Austriae Controllatus (DAC).

The Viennese DAC is officially known as Weiner Gemischte Satz DAC. Gemischter Satz (loosely translated) means “mixed set” and the qualifications for the DAC are both highly unique and very strict. This style of wine has been called “all of Vienna in one glass.”

To qualify, the wine must be made from white wine grapes grown in Vienna area vineyards planted with at least three quality grape varieties. The grapes must be harvested, pressed, and fermented together, with the largest portion of a single grape variety no more than 50% and three varieties must make up at least 10% each. The wines are meant to be fruit-forward and are not allowed to show “significant influence of oak.”

St. Charles' Church (Karlskirche) in Vienna

St. Charles’ Church (Karlskirche) in Vienna

An unusual factor of this DAC is that the grapes must not just be processed together; they must also be grown together in what is now known as a “field blend” – side by side in the vineyard. While the regulations require a minimum of three different varieties, up to 15 varieties are listed as “approved” for use and may be present in a single wine.  Approved varieties include traditional Austrian varieties such as Grüner Veltliner, Sylvaner, Traminer, Rotgipfler, Neuburger, Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc) and Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris), as well as international varieties such as Chardonnay (sometimes known in Austria as “Morillon”).

Viennese wine not made according to the strict standards for the Weiner Gemischte Satz DAC will continue to be bottled under the Wien Weinbaugebiete category.

Click here for more information on the Weiner Gemischte Satz DAC from the AustrianWine.com website.

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