AUSTRIAN WINES(3)
Various Burgenland Producers
| Alzinger | Christian Rainprecht |
| Emmerich Knoll | Gesellmann |
| Harald & Christine Kraft | J & E Holler |
| Josef Jurtschitsch | Michlits-Stadlmann |
| Paul Triebaumer | Rebhof Sommer |
| Schlosskellerei Halbturn | Weinbau Kraft |
LEGAL QUALITY CODES
Austria has specific laws in place to strictly control wine quality and ensure each wine’s origin, authenticity, and style. Austrian wine law standardizes wine labels with regard to:
1. Origin
2. Varietal
3. Vintage
4. Quality designation, determined by the sugarcontent of the grape according to the Klosterneuburger Mostwaage (KMW) system:
• Prädikatswein - “Certified” wine.
• Qualitätswein - Wine of quality.
• Tafelwein - Table wine.
5. Alcohol content
6. Residual sugar
7. Official control number
8. Producer
9. Bottler
In 2003, Austria launched a new appellation system called Districtus Austria Controllatus (DAC), which is similar to France’s AOC system. The goal of this system is to simplify the current system that gets a little cuckoo with complicated sugar weight classifications. The DAC breaks Austrian wine labels down to the important aspects like flavor and character.
To be donned with DAC classification, wines must have the following:
1. A minimum of 12 percent alcohol.
2. A clean, crisp, peppery-spice character.
3. No discernable wood flavor.
