The Ultimate Austrian Wineguide 2023/24

AUSTRIAN WINE

AUSTRIAN WINE REGULATIONS AUSTRIAN WINE REGULATIONS A ustrian wine law is incorporated in the hierarchical structure of EU wine legislation. As with the other EU member countries, the national wine laws of Austria form a “bridge” between the general rules of the EU wine market organization and the specific circumstances within the country. Wines are put into two general categories: wines of origin (Landwein, Qualitätswein / land wine, quality wine) and wines without a specific origin (Wein aus Österreich /Wine from Austria). For Qualitätswein (quality wine), grapes must come from one of the official Austrian wine-growing area. For Landwein (land wine), the origin of the wine is a larger wine-growing region. Wine labels must contain the following information; origin, variety, vintage, quality designation, alcohol content by volume, reference to its residual sugars (i.e. dry, etc), as well as the official state control number and name of the producer or bottler. The Austrian wine law defines a maximum yield of 9,000 kg of grapes or 6,750 litres of wine per hectare for wines of origin (Landwein and Qualitätswein). If the yield is larger, then the total volume must be declassified as a wine without origin and may only be sold if there is no declaration of origin, variety or vintage on the wine label. LANDWEIN – LAND WINE In Austrian wine law, the traditional term “Landwein” replaces the EU wine law term “wine with protected geographical indication”. Landwein comes from one of the three Austrian wine regions: Weinland (encompassing the federal states Niederösterreich/ Lower Austria, Burgenland, and Wien/Vienna), Bergland (encompassing the federal states Oberösterreich/Upper Austria, Salzburg, Kärnten/Corinthia, Tirol/Tyrol), or Steirerland (encompassing the federal state Steiermark/Styria). QUALITÄTSWEIN – QUALITY WINE In Austrian wine law, the traditional term “Qualitätswein” replaces the EU wine law term “wine with protected designation of origin”. Quality wine must be produced from any single variety or blend of the 35 permitted grape varieties for Austrian Qualitätswein, and must come from the 25 wine-growing areas. Wine-growing areas include each of the 9 federal states and 16 specific wine-growing areas. Austrian Qualitätswein (quality wine) is given a unique state control number (for each wine submitted). This confirms that the wine submitted has undergone a chemical and sensorial analysis in a federal bureau of oenology. In Austria, bottled Qualitätswein (quality wines) can be easily recognised by the red-white-red (to symbolise the national flag) seal, imprinted with the winery registration number, on either the capsule or screwcap closure. DAC – QUALITY WINE WITH REGIONAL CHARACTER DAC wines are Qualitätsweine (quality wines) from demarcated wine-growing areas that display regional typicity and place of origin. The names of the DAC wine-growing areas are defined by EU legislation as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). Since the year 1999, Austria has been working on specifications for the classification of wine according to demarcated origins with typical corresponding style along the lines of Romanic wine laws (as in France, Italy, Spain). This means that specific wine-growing areas will become better known on the market for a specific style typical for the region. This does not mean that the diversity of varieties and wine styles will be neglected; wines that are produced from other grape varieties and styles will be marketed under the name of the generic area (federal state). Thus, the consumer shall be able to associate a specific 32 falstaff WINE GUIDE 2023/24

WINE LAW | CATEGORIES wine type/style with the name of a demarcated region. Branding wines with demarcated origins is preferable to branding with grape varieties; grape varieties can be planted anywhere, but specific places of origin are irreplaceable. The development of DAC regulations is the responsibility of Regional Wine Committees made up of representatives from wineries, wine trade, cooperatives and sparkling wine producers according to their significance in the wine-growing area. The coordination and technical control of this wine-growing political development is regulated by the joint composition National Wine Board, in which member experts of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Austrian Wine Marketing Board have an advisory role. Typical wines of demarcated origin proposed by the National Committee are legally established by the Agriculture Minister by regulation. The wine label contains the term “Districtus Austria Controllatus” (abbreviated to DAC), and is placed next to the name of the demarcated origin. A dual strategy continues to ensure the preservation of diversity: Austria has managed to square the circle by employing the benefits of both the Romanic system of classification according to origin and the Germanic system according to Prädikat (predicate). PRÄDIKATSWEIN – QUALITY WINES WITH PREDICATE In Austria, Qualitätsweine of a special ripeness and harvest method can be categorized in predicates. Prädikatsweine (predicated wines) carry their wine-growing area of origin on the label. There are currently no DACs for Prädikatsweine, but it is imaginable that one could be created in the future. The system for Prädikatswein – i.e. to distinguish wines with a higher, natural residual sugar level and different harvest and maturation techniques – is a Germanic wine tradition. The declaration of a Prädikatswein based on the quality of the grapes harvested must be confirmed in the presence of a federal wine inspector. Chaptalization of the grape must is prohibited and the residual sugar may only come from the premature arrest of the fermenting must (but not by the addition of grape must to the wine). OVERVIEW OF QUALITY LEVELS Wine without origin: minimum of 10,7° KMW (see conversion table). No specific region of origin is permitted, only the description of “Österreich” or “Österreichischer Wein” or similar. Landwein (land wine): minimum 14° KMW. A more specific region of origin declaration than the wine-growing region or larger sites is not permitted on the label. Qualitätswein /quality wine/DAC: minimum 15° KMW. Grapes may only come from the list of classified Austrian varieties and only from one wine-growing area. Kabinettwein: minimum 17° KMW. Regarded as a Qualitätswein, but must not be chaptalized. Maximum alcohol content total is 13%. Prädikatswein: Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Eiswein, Stohwein/Schilfwein, Ausbruch, Trockenbeerenauslese Must not be chaptalized. A Spätlese cannot be sold before March 1 following the harvest, other Prädikatswein not before May 1. Spätlese: minimum 19° KMW. Grapes must be fully ripe. Auslese: minimum 21° KMW. All faulty or unripe grapes must be excluded. Beerenauslese (BA): minimum 25° KMW. Produced from overripe grapes or grapes with noble rot. Ausbruch: minimum 27° KMW. Exclusively from overripe grapes, naturally shrivelled and affected by noble rot. Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA): minimum 30° KMW. Produced from overripe grapes, naturally shrivelled and affected by noble rot. Eiswein: minimum 25° KMW. Grapes must be frozen when harvested and pressed (contents are concentrated; water remains in the pressed grape skins). Strohwein /Schilfwein: minimum 25° KMW. Produced from overripe grapes which are stored and airdried on straw or reeds for at least three months (similar to Vin Santo). 33