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Austria for Certified and WSET Level 3

Austria one level deeper: the Pannonian effect, the DAC pyramid, the DACs and their grapes, Ausbruch and Strohwein, how Grüner Veltliner tastes blind, and the producers to know.

Alper Billik · Advanced Sommelier

Updated October 2026 · 5 min read · Edited with AI

This article may contain affiliate links.

On this page
  1. The Pannonian effect
  2. The DAC pyramid
  3. The DACs and their grapes
  4. Ausbruch
  5. Strohwein and Schilfwein
  6. Grüner Veltliner in the blind tasting
  7. Producers to know
  8. Quick quiz: Austria, Certified level
  9. Questions people ask

At Level 1 you learn that Austria means Grüner Veltliner. At Certified and WSET Level 3 you need the why: which climate, which soils, which DAC allows which grape, and how a Wachau Smaragd differs from a Weinviertel Grüner in the glass. If you are starting out, read Austria for Level 1 first.

The Pannonian effect

The Pannonian Plain is the great flat basin of Hungary and its neighbours. Its warm, dry continental air reaches into eastern Austria: Burgenland, the Weinviertel, Carnuntum and the Thermenregion. Summers are hot, autumns long and dry, so red grapes (Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, St. Laurent) ripen fully and botrytis forms around Lake Neusiedl.

Further west, along the Danube, the warm air meets cool air from the forested Waldviertel to the north. Hot days and cold nights give the Wachau, Kremstal and Kamptal their ripe but racy whites. In Styria, in the south, wetter weather and steep hills give aromatic, fresh whites.

The DAC pyramid

  • DAC (Districtus Austriae Controllatus) is Qualitätswein with regional typicity. Each DAC sets its own grapes, styles and rules. Weinviertel DAC was the first, in 2003.
  • Most DACs label by origin in three steps: Gebietswein (regional) → Ortswein (village) → Riedenwein (single vineyard, a Ried).
  • Wines from the same region that don't follow the DAC rules are sold under the wider state name, such as Niederösterreich or Burgenland.
  • On top of this sit the private vineyard classifications, such as 1ÖTW (see Erste Lage), and since 2023 the legal Erste Lage and Grosse Lage.

The DACs and their grapes

Weinviertel
StateNiederösterreich
Signature grapesGrüner Veltliner, peppery and fresh
Wachau
StateNiederösterreich
Signature grapesGrüner Veltliner and Riesling (only these two for Riedenwein)
Kremstal, Kamptal, Traisental
StateNiederösterreich
Signature grapesGrüner Veltliner and Riesling
Carnuntum
StateNiederösterreich
Signature grapesZweigelt and Blaufränkisch
Thermenregion
StateNiederösterreich
Signature grapesZierfandler and Rotgipfler (whites), Pinot Noir and St. Laurent
Leithaberg
StateBurgenland
Signature grapesWeissburgunder, Chardonnay, Neuburger, Grüner Veltliner; Blaufränkisch
Mittelburgenland, Eisenberg
StateBurgenland
Signature grapesBlaufränkisch
Neusiedlersee
StateBurgenland
Signature grapesZweigelt
Ruster Ausbruch
StateBurgenland
Signature grapesBotrytis sweet wine from Rust
Südsteiermark, Vulkanland, Weststeiermark
StateSteiermark
Signature grapesSauvignon Blanc, Morillon; Schilcher rosé in the west
Wiener Gemischter Satz
StateWien
Signature grapesA field blend of several varieties

Ausbruch

Ausbruch is the historic sweet wine of Rust, on the western shore of Lake Neusiedl. The name refers to "breaking out" the shrivelled, botrytised berries from the bunches. Today it is protected as Ruster Ausbruch DAC and the word Ausbruch belongs to Rust alone. In law it is, in essence, a Trockenbeerenauslese: botrytised grapes shrivelled on the vine, picked by hand, a must weight of at least 30 °KMW (Austria's must-weight scale) and at least 45 g/l of residual sugar. Expect apricot, honey, orange peel and bright acidity.

Strohwein and Schilfwein

Strohwein (straw wine) is made from ripe, healthy grapes dried after harvest, on straw or reed mats or hung on strings, for at least three months. When the grapes dry on reed (Schilf), it can be called Schilfwein. The grapes lose water, the sugar concentrates, and the wine tastes of dried apricot, raisin and honey. The idea is old and found elsewhere too: think of passito wines in Italy or vin de paille in the Jura.

The other sweet styles: Beerenauslese, Trockenbeerenauslese (both usually botrytis) and Eiswein (grapes frozen on the vine). More on noble rot in botrytis cinerea.

Grüner Veltliner in the blind tasting

  • Sight: pale to deep straw.
  • Nose: green apple and pear, citrus, and a herbal-vegetal streak (celery, radish, lentils) with white pepper. Riper sites add peach, yellow apple and honey.
  • Palate: very dry, medium to high acid; from light and racy (Weinviertel, Steinfeder) to rich and weighty (Wachau Smaragd).
  • On the Certified grid: Grüner Veltliner is one of the white grapes listed, and Austria shares a country box with Germany. See the Certified practice test.

Producers to know

Wachau
ProducersF.X. Pichler, Rudi Pichler, Prager, Knoll, Hirtzberger, Alzinger, Domäne Wachau (cooperative)
Kamptal
ProducersBründlmayer, Schloss Gobelsburg, Hirsch, Loimer
Kremstal
ProducersNigl, Salomon Undhof, Stadt Krems
Burgenland
ProducersMoric (Blaufränkisch), Prieler (Leithaberg), Kracher (sweet wines), Feiler-Artinger and Heidi Schröck (Rust)
Steiermark
ProducersTement, Sattlerhof, Gross, Polz, Neumeister
Wien
ProducersWieninger, Mayer am Pfarrplatz

For the Wachau's sites and styles in depth, read the Wachau guide.

Quick quiz: Austria, Certified level

Certified practice test

Take it as a real test

6 questions, one at a time. The answer and why after each one, then your score and your weakest topics.

Question 1

Which grape is the focus of Mittelburgenland DAC?

  1. a)Zweigelt
  2. b)Blaufränkisch
  3. c)St. Laurent
  4. d)Pinot Noir
Show answer

b) Blaufränkisch. Mittelburgenland, like Eisenberg, is Blaufränkisch country.

Question 2

Zierfandler and Rotgipfler are signature grapes of which region?

  1. a)Thermenregion
  2. b)Wachau
  3. c)Südsteiermark
  4. d)Carnuntum
Show answer

a) Thermenregion. These two white grapes belong to the Thermenregion, south of Vienna.

Question 3

Which two grapes may be used for Wachau DAC Riedenwein?

  1. a)Grüner Veltliner and Riesling
  2. b)Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc
  3. c)Grüner Veltliner and Weissburgunder
  4. d)Riesling and Chardonnay
Show answer

a) Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. Single-vineyard Wachau DAC is reserved for Grüner Veltliner and Riesling.

Question 4

Strohwein is made from grapes that are:

  1. a)Frozen on the vine
  2. b)Affected by noble rot
  3. c)Dried after harvest on straw or reed
  4. d)Picked late without botrytis
Show answer

c) Dried after harvest on straw or reed. The grapes dry for at least three months after picking.

Question 5

What is Schilcher?

  1. a)A Wachau dry white style
  2. b)A sharp rosé from Blauer Wildbacher in Weststeiermark
  3. c)A sweet wine from Rust
  4. d)Vienna's field blend
Show answer

b) A sharp rosé from Blauer Wildbacher in Weststeiermark. Schilcher is the pink speciality of Weststeiermark.

Question 6

In the Leithaberg DAC, which red grape is allowed?

  1. a)Zweigelt
  2. b)Pinot Noir
  3. c)Blaufränkisch
  4. d)St. Laurent
Show answer

c) Blaufränkisch. Leithaberg reds are Blaufränkisch; the whites are Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Neuburger and Grüner Veltliner.

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Questions people ask

What is the Pannonian effect in Austrian wine?

The warm, dry continental air of the Pannonian Plain that reaches eastern Austria. It helps red grapes ripen in Burgenland and the east, and helps botrytis form around Lake Neusiedl.

What is the difference between Ausbruch and Trockenbeerenauslese?

In law, Ruster Ausbruch DAC is in essence a Trockenbeerenauslese from the town of Rust. The word Ausbruch is reserved for Rust; elsewhere the same level is called Trockenbeerenauslese.

Which Austrian grapes should I know for the Certified Sommelier exam?

Grüner Veltliner and Riesling first, then Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch and St. Laurent for reds, Welschriesling and Sauvignon Blanc from Styria, and Zierfandler and Rotgipfler from the Thermenregion.

Is Austrian wine on the WSET Level 3 exam?

Austria is part of the WSET Level 3 wine syllabus. Expect Grüner Veltliner and Riesling from the Danube regions, the Wachau styles, Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt from Burgenland, and the sweet wines of Neusiedlersee.

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