Austrian Wine Regions: Unique Classification Systems Explored

Austria's wine classification system is based on grape ripeness and is graded on the KMW Klosterneuberg Mostwaage scale. The country has a three-tier quality classification system, with the top tier being Prädikatswein, which is further subdivided into seven Prädikat. In 2002, Austria amended its appellation system to include DAC (Districtus Austriae Controllatus) to promote regionality. The DAC system has a quality hierarchy distinguishing three levels: Gebietswein, Ortswein, and Riedenwein.

However, the Wachau region has opted out of the DAC system and instead uses the terms Steinfeder, Federspiel, and Smaragd to indicate the quality and style of its wines.

The Wachau Wine Association, founded in 1983, introduced its own classification system to promote authenticity, individuality, and craftsmanship. To qualify, wines must be hand-harvested, not chaptalized, fermented to dryness, and not aged in wood.

The three levels of quality from lowest to highest are:

1. Steinfeder: symbolised by grass, these wines are light and meant to be enjoyed young.

2. Federspiel: symbolised by a falcon, these wines have delicate aromas and are ideal with food.

3. Smaragd: symbolised by a green lizard, these wines are intense and complex and often benefit from aging.

Austrian wine classifications

The Three-Tier System

At the most basic level, Austrian wines are classified into three tiers based on quality:

• Wein: This is the lowest quality level, indicating any wine made in Austria.
• Landwein: The second tier, indicating wine with a Protected Geographic Indication (PGI).
• Qualitätswein: The highest tier, indicating wine with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). Qualitätswein must undergo government inspection to ensure quality standards, and some bottles feature a cap with Austria's signature red and white stripes.

Prädikatswein System

In addition to the three-tier system, Austria also uses the German Prädikatswein system, which indicates the must weight (density of the grape juice) at the time of harvest. Generally, a denser must results in a sweeter wine. The Prädikatswein categories, from lightest to densest, are:

• Spätlese: 'Late harvest', made from grapes picked at least a week after the standard harvest, with a minimum must weight of 19 KMW (1 gram of sugar per 100 grams of grape must).
• Auslese: 'Selected harvest', made from ripe grapes affected by botrytis, with a minimum must weight of 21 KMW.
• Beerenauslese (BA): 'Berry selection', made from super-ripe grapes left on the vine until affected by botrytis, with a minimum must weight of 25 KMW.
• Ausbruch: Made exclusively from botrytis-affected berries.
• Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA): 'Dry berry selection', made from grapes left on the vine until they are raisin-like and highly concentrated, with a minimum must weight of 30 KMW.
• Eiswein: 'Ice wine', made from naturally frozen grapes with a minimum must weight of 25 KMW.
• Strohwein/Schilfwein: 'Straw wine' or 'reed wine', made from grapes air-dried on mats of straw or reeds, with a minimum must weight of 25 KMW.

DAC System

Introduced in 2001, the DAC (Districtus Austriae Controllatus) system is Austria's appellation system, similar to those used in France, Italy, and Spain. It goes beyond geographical indication by associating each DAC title with a specific region and its definitive wine style. There are currently 9 (according to one source) or 15 (according to another source) DAC regions in Austria, each with its own quality hierarchy:

• Gebietswein: Regional wine.
• Ortswein: Village wine.
• Riedenwein: Single vineyard wine.

Wachau Region

The Wachau region has opted out of the DAC system and instead uses its own three-tier classification:

• Steinfeder: Light wines with a maximum of 11.5% ABV, symbolised by grass and meant to be enjoyed young.
• Federspiel: Middleweight wines with delicate aromas and an ABV between 11.5% and 12.5%, symbolised by a falcon and ideal with food.
• Smaragd: Rich and full-bodied wines with a minimum of 12.5% ABV, symbolised by a green lizard and often benefiting from aging.

Vineyard Classification

In 2023, Austria introduced a nationwide vineyard classification system, the first of its kind outside of France. This system helps designate single-vineyard sites as Premier Cru (Erste Lage) or Grand Cru (Grosse Lage). The criteria for these classifications include the historical significance of the vineyard, homogeneity of the soil, climate, and geographic orientation, as well as the volume and value of the wines produced.

DAC system

The DAC (Districtus Austriae Controllatus) system is Austria's appellation system, introduced in 2001. It is a classification system for Austrian quality wines (Qualitätswein) that are typical of their regions. Each DAC title represents both a region and its definitive wine style. For example, the Kamptal DAC title is reserved exclusively for dry, aromatic white wines made from Gruner Veltliner or Riesling. In this way, the DAC system is more like the appellation system used in France, Italy and Spain than the traditional Germanic system.

The DAC system has a quality hierarchy distinguishing three levels: Gebietswein (regional wine), Ortswein (village wine), and Riedenwein (single-vineyard wine). Each DAC has two subtly different sub-styles: Klassik for lighter, fruit-driven wines and Reserve for slightly weightier wines, with a subtle influence of oak or botrytis.

The DAC system has not replaced the Prädikatswein system, which indicates the must weight at the time of harvest. In regions with a DAC title, this takes precedence over any consideration of Prädikat. As of July 2014, there were nine Austrian DAC titles, and by 2023, this number had increased to 18 DAC zones.

The famous Wachau region opted out of the DAC system and instead uses the terms Steinfeder, Federspiel, and Smaragd to indicate the quality and style of its wines.

Wachau region's classification system

The Wachau wine region in Austria has its own classification system, unlike most Austrian wines, which follow a similar system to Germany. The Wachau system was introduced by the Vinea Wachau Wine Association, founded in 1983, to promote authenticity, individuality, and craftsmanship.

The Wachau region is known for its full-bodied, pepper-tinged Grüner Veltliner and rich, steely Riesling. The three levels of quality from lowest to highest are:

Steinfeder

The lightest Wachau wines are fresh and tangy, with a maximum alcohol by volume (ABV) of 11.5%. The term "Steinfeder" means "stone feather", named after a wispy, feather-like grass that grows on the region's stony terraces. These wines are meant to be enjoyed young as an aperitif.

Federspiel

These wines are the middleweight category, with delicate aromas and an ABV between 11.5% and 12.5%. "Federspiel" means "falconry" or "feather game", paying homage to the historical pastime of falconry in the Wachau region. These wines are ideal with food.

Smaragd

The richest and fullest-bodied Wachau wines have a minimum ABV of 12.5% and often benefit from ageing. "Smaragd" translates as "emerald" and refers to a distinctive emerald-green lizard that basks on the region's sun-baked stone terraces. Top-end Smaragd wines can improve with 20+ years of cellaring.

In addition to the three quality tiers, Wachau wines are also classified by geography: Ried (single vineyard), Ortswein (from a defined municipality), and Gebietswein (across Wachau). The permitted grape varieties differ for each level of geographic classification.

Wine label information

Austrian wine labels traditionally follow a similar format to those of Germany, but the DAC (Districtus Austriae Controllatus) system introduced in 2001 represents a shift towards the appellation system developed in France. A good Austrian wine label will display the following information:

• The producer's name and location
• The wine's region/village/vineyard of origin
• Its sweetness
• The grape variety it's made from
• An indication of the grapes' ripeness level (Prädikat)

The three official tiers of Austrian wine quality are:

• Prädikatswein: the top tier, further subdivided into seven Prädikat. The term means 'distinction' and is based on grape ripeness (must weight). There are five Prädikats: Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese (BA), Ausbruch, and Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA).
• Qualitätswein: the second tier, meaning 'quality wine'. Qualitätswein comes from one of 35 permitted grape varieties and an officially recognised Austrian wine-growing region.
• Landwein: meaning 'country wine', similar to Vin de Pays.

The DAC system has a quality hierarchy distinguishing three levels:

• Gebietswein: regional wine
• Ortswein: village wine
• Riedenwein: single-vineyard wine

Additionally, the Wachau region has introduced its own classification system with three levels of quality:

• Steinfeder: light wines with a maximum ABV of 11.5%, meant to be enjoyed young
• Federspiel: wines with delicate aromas and an ABV between 11.5% and 12.5%, ideal with food
• Smaragd: intense and complex wines with a minimum ABV of 12.5%, often benefiting from aging

The ÖTW Vineyard Classification

The Österreichische Traditionsweingüter (ÖTW) introduced its own vineyard classification system in 2010, with the long-term goal of bringing it into Austrian wine law, which happened in 2023. The classification covers most Austrian wine regions and is land-based. It recognises three categories of origin:

• Riedenwein (single-vineyard wine)
• Ortswein (village wine from individual municipalities)
• Gebietswein (regional wine)

The ÖTW Quality Pyramid recognises two levels of vineyard classification:

• ÖTW.ERSTE LAGE (1ÖTW) or Erste Lage: vineyards producing the most vigorous and distinctive wines, equivalent to Premier Cru
• ÖTW.GROSSE LAGE (GÖTW) or Grosse Lage: the most distinguished vineyard sites, equivalent to Grand Cru

Austrian wine laws

Austria's wine laws were originally based on the German system, with two overarching categories: Qualitätswein (mostly dry wines) and Prädikatswein (mostly sweet wines). However, in 2002, Austria amended its appellation system to include DAC (Districtus Austriae Controllatus) to promote regionality. This is similar to France's AOC (Appellation d'origine contrôlée) or Italy's DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita).

The DAC system is an appellation system that focuses on terroir, permitting only select varieties, limiting alcohol levels, and defining specific guidelines for the individual styles of each region. It recognises regional wines (Gebietswein), village wines (Ortswein), and single-vineyard wines (Riedenwein or Rieds).

The three official tiers of Austrian wine quality are:

• Prädikatswein: the top tier, further subdivided into seven Prädikat. This term means 'distinction' and is based on grape ripeness, which is graded on the KMW Klosterneuburg Mostwaage scale.
• Qualitätswein: the second tier, or 'quality wine'. These wines come from officially recognised Austrian wine-growing regions and are made from one or more of 35 permitted grape varieties.
• Landwein: 'country wine', similar to Vin de Pays.

In addition, the Wachau region has opted out of the DAC system and instead uses the terms Steinfeder, Federspiel, and Smaragd to indicate the quality and style of its wines.

Frequently asked questions