| German | Vakuumverdampfung | .wav | .mp3 | .rm |
| English | vacuum evaporation | 357kB | 17kB | 61kB |
| Definition | Method of removing water and concentrating wine or grape juice by way of low temperature (20°C/68°F) evaporation under vacuum. Used by some of Austria' top wineries in good years that suffered rain at harvest. | |||
| German | Verbesserung (aufbessern) | .wav | .mp3 | .rm |
| English | chaptalization | 231kB | 12kB | 40kB |
| Definition | The common practice in cooler climates of adding sugar to the must before or during fermentation to increase alcoholic strength. EU officials would like to see this done with RCGM from the European wine lake. Chaptalization is not permitted for "kabinett" and "prädikat" wines in Austria. | |||
| German | Veredelung | .wav | .mp3 | .rm |
| English | grafting | 210kB | 11kB | 40kB |
| Definition | The only effective means of protecting vinifera vines from Phylloxera is to graft them to resistant rootstocks. | |||
| German | Verrieselung | .wav | .mp3 | .rm |
| English | poor fruit set | 252kB | 13kB | 40kB |
| Definition | Poor fruit set due to cold or rainy weather at flowering can cause drastic yield losses. | |||
| German | Verschneiden | .wav | .mp3 | .rm |
| English | blending | 242kB | 12kB | 40kB |
| Definition | The process of combining different wines with complimentary characteristics to create a blended wine. (Have no fear, even the great wines of Bordeaux are blended!) | |||
| German | Wachau | .wav | .mp3 | .rm |
| English | Wachau | 200kB | 10kB | 40kB |
| Definition | 1,390 hectares of vines are planted in a soil of weathered primary rock and, lower down the slopes, sand and loess. This district consists of the 35 km gorge along the Danube river between Stift Melk and the outskirts of Krems. The steep, terraced vineyards are home for the world-famous Smaragd Rieslings. Other grape varieties here are Grüner Veltliner, Neuburger, Chardonnay and Weissburgunder. The primary rock and slate soils together with the fjord-like climate give the wines a very special character, often with pleasant mineral notes and good acidic structure. | |||
| German | Weinbeere | .wav | .mp3 | .rm |
| English | grape | 263kB | 13kB | 40kB |
| Definition | Grape or berry. | |||
| German | Weinland Österreich | .wav | .mp3 | .rm |
| English | 252kB | 13kB | 40kB | |
| Definition | Austrias largest wine region in terms of vineyard acreage. Weinland consists of the political provinces Burgenland and Niederösterreich (lower Austria). | |||
| German | Weinviertel | .wav | .mp3 | .rm |
| English | Wine Quarter | 252kB | 13kB | 40kB |
| Definition | The Weinviertel is Austrias largest wine growing area producing nearly a third of the country's wine. The district's variety and sheer beauty make it a land of discoveries. This "Wine Giant embraces some 16,000 hectares under vines. Loess, loam, primary rock and black earth are dominant among the soils. The main varietals are Grüner Veltliner, Welschriesling, Weissburgunder, Riesling, and Zweigelt. Chardonnay and Blauer Portugieser are a regional specialty. Many of the base wines for Austrian sparkling wine stem from this area. | |||
| German | Weißer Burgunder | .wav | .mp3 | .rm |
| English | Pinot Blanc | 284kB | 14kB | 40kB |
| Definition | Austrian synonym for Pinot Blanc. Often over looked because of its more subdued aroma, the powerful body and creamy texture of this variety makes it one of Austria's most versatile food accompaniments. | |||
| German | Weißfäule (Hagelkrankheit) | .wav | .mp3 | .rm |
| English | white rot | 231kB | 12kB | 40kB |
| Definition | Coniella diplodiella fungus | |||
| German | Welschriesling | .wav | .mp3 | .rm |
| English | white Riesling, Italian Riesling | 315kB | 15kB | 51kB |
| Definition | This grape makes up 9% of Austrian vineyards and is usually used to make dry white wines with fresh green apple and sweet blossom aromas (drink young), but is also used to make late harvest wines with tremendous aging potential. | |||
| German | Weststeiermark | .wav | .mp3 | .rm |
| English | West Styria | 305kB | 15kB | 40kB |
| Definition | 70% of 430 ha of vineyard are planted with the rare autochthon variety Blauer Wildbacher. Gneiss and slate soils dominate. Blauer Wildbacher is usually vinified to make an extremely acidic, grassy rosé called Schilcher. | |||
| German | Wien | .wav | .mp3 | .rm |
| English | Vienna | 179kB | 9kB | 40kB |
| Definition | Vienna is the only capital in the world with a wine region within city limits. Much of the wine produced here never leaves the city and is consumed in Heuriger (wine taverns). 680 hectares of vines are growing around Vienna, mainly on slate, gravel, loam, and loess soils. The main varietal is the Grüner Veltliner. Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, and Riesling are also cultivated. Red varieties such as Zweigelt and Cabernet Sauvignon are rarities. | |||
| German | Zapfenschnitt | .wav | .mp3 | .rm |
| English | spur pruning | 252kB | 13kB | 40kB |
| Definition | A form of winter pruning often used in Austria. | |||
| German | Zierfandler | .wav | .mp3 | .rm |
| English | rare indigenous Austrian grape variety found nearly only in the Thermal Region | 273kB | 14kB | 40kB |
| Definition | This autochthon grape produces extremely full bodied, spicy wines. The late harvest Zierfandlers retain enough acidity to ensure excellent aging potential. | |||
| German | Zweigelt | .wav | .mp3 | .rm |
| English | Zweigelt | 231kB | 12kB | 40kB |
| Definition | See Blauer Zweigelt. | |||