Wine Quality Terms
The majority of dry Austrian wine is classified either as classic, medium bodied style (DAC, Klassik, Kabinett, Federspiel) or as the more weighty, opulent wine with cellaring potential (Reserve, DAC Reserve, Spätlese trocken, Smaragd, Lagen wine or Cuvées, blends).
The wide range of Austrian wines also include sensational sparkling wines, light-bodied young wines, fruity rosé wines, as well as luscious and delicately sweet classed 'Prädikat' wines (Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese, Ausbruch, Trockenbeerenauslese, Eiswein (ice wine) and Schilfwein or Strohwein (air dried wines).
Austrian wine classifications are Wein (previously table wine), Landwein (Land Wine) and Qualitätswein (Quality wine), including the regionally typical quality wines (DAC) and the Prädikatswein (high quality, mostly sweet wines). This is a designation of the origin of the grapes, and indication of the maximum permitted yield, the ripeness of the grapes at time of harvest, confirmation of State control or inspection, and in the case of the regionally typical wines (DAC) and the sweet wines, information regarding the style of the wines.