The middle category in the ripeness classification of white wines in Austria’s Wachau Valley. Federspiel-designated wines are made from medium-ripe grapes, and have mandated alcohol levels between 11.5 and 12.5 percent.
What does Smaragd mean in wine?
[smah-RAHG] Austrian wine quality level. This is the top level. Smaragd wines are made from the ripest grapes and must have an alcohol content of at least 12.5 percent. These full-bodied wines have excellent aging potential, sometimes of 20 years or more.
What are the quality categories in Austria?
The three official tiers of Austrian wine quality are:
- Prädikatswein: the top tier of Austrian wine quality classification, further sub-divided into seven Prädikat.
- Qualitätswein: Austria’s second tier of wine quality classification.
- Landwein: means ‘country wine’, just like Vin de Pays.
What is the most widely planted red grape in Austria?
Zweigelt
Zweigelt. Zweigelt is Austria’s most popular red grape, and its chief characteristic is a lively, juicy red cherry note. Think of it as a red counterpart to Grüner Veltliner.
What does Federspiel mean?
Federspiel Name Meaning South German and Swiss German: metonymic occupational name for a falconer, from Middle High German vederspil ‘bird of prey (trained for hunting)’.
What wine is Austria known for?
Grüner Veltliner is the quintessential wine of Austria, but there’s more to discover. Most of the wine in Austria comes from the eastern side of the country by Vienna. Get to know more about Austrian wine by seeing the country’s layout and learning about its 3 top grape varieties.
What wine is Austria famous for?
Austria’s main white grapes are Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, grown mostly in the region of Niederösterreich in the north-east corner of the country around Vienna. This region is home to the country’s most famous white wine producing zones – Kamptal, Kremstal, Wachau, Wagram and Weinviertel.
What is the best Australian red wine?
Top 4 red wines in Australia
- Cape Mentelle Shiraz. The Cape Mentelle Shiraz is a Margaret River gem, and a popular choice amongst our red wine options.
- Helen & Joey Estate Layla Pinot Noir.
- Jim Barry’s Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.
What does Ried mean Austrian wine?
Single-vineyard
Single-vineyard wines must now be labelled Ried X, where Ried means ‘vineyard’ and X is the name of the vineyard site that has been legally defined. This will outlaw the fantasy names used by some producers to give the impression of site specificity.
What is the Vinea Wachau?
The Vinea Wachau is an organization of Wachau producers who united in 1983 to create a trade association that will not only promote Wachau wines worldwide but also protect the image and integrity of the Wachau wine region.
What are the three classification levels for Wachau wine?
The three classification levels for Wachau wine include Steinfeder for wines up to 11.5% alcohol level, Federspiel for wines between 11.5–12.5% and Smaragd that must have a minimum of 12.5% alcohol level.
What to drink in Wachau?
Wachau wine. Wachau is one of Austria’s most established and notable wine regions, specializing in dry wines made from Riesling and Grüner Veltliner.
What is the history of Wachau wine?
The first written account to specifically mention wine production in the Wachau region was the writings of Eugippus in his biography of St. Severin, where the 5th-century Roman wine production at the Roman fort near the town of Mautern in the Wachau.
