Wachauer Marille g.U.

 
Record number: 7
 
Disclosure date
In 1509, first mention in the Wachau Region (Starhemberg Archive, Eferding). 
 
 

Photo: BMLFUW/A...

Title
Wachauer Marille g.U.
(Wachau Apricot PDO) 
 
 
Abstract or claim 
Tradition of cultivating local varieties since about 1890. The inimitable quality is the result of the regional selection of apricot varieties and specific regional climatic and soil conditions in the Wachau-Mautern- Krems Region of Lower Austria.
Produced according to the specification as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) pursuant to EC Regulation 1107/96 OJ.L 148/1ff/96.
  
Name of product, product class
Apricot, fruit 
 
Name of  region
Wachau, Lower Austria, Austria
  
Field of search
Food and agriculture 
 
Name(s) of information provider
Wachauer Marille Verein zum Schutz der Wachauer Marille
(Wachau Apricot Association for the Protection of the Wachau Apricot)
  
Names of applicant for title  
Arbeitsausschuss zur Förderung des Marillenanbaues in den Gebieten Wachau - Krems - Mautern 
  
Holder of knowledge or associated resources
Apricot producers in the Wachau Region
  
Grantee(s), holder(s), assignee(s) or owner(s) of title, if any
Arbeitsausschuss zur Förderung des Marillenanbaues in den Gebieten Wachau - Krems - Mautern 
  
Descriptors 
- History
The apricot originally comes from China, and varieties of apricots were already known in China around 3000 – 2000 BC. The varieties spread west via Chinese Turkestan to Central Asia, the Middle East, Armenia, Syria, Greece, Italy and the other countries of the Mediterranean and then all of Europe.
 
In contrast to Western Europe, where the apricot made its way via Italy, Spain and France, new research has shown that the apricot entered into the Danube countries via the Pontus and the Danube Route.
The apricot, which was first introduced to Italy in the second half of the 1^st  century, appeared in the Middle Danube Region at the same time, if not earlier.
Fruit was already being grown in the Danube Region of the Wachau during Roman times, as Eugippius’ biography of Saint Severin, which is generally known as “The Life of Saint Severin“, shows.
 
Charlemagne’s Capitulare de villis of 802 contains a list of all cultivated fruit varieties, but does not specifically mention apricots, because they were considered to be peaches from the 3^rd  to the 16^th  century. The Austrian term “Marille” for apricots probably refers to the Italian term “armellino”, which is derived from the scientific term “armeniaca” (= originating from Armenia).
 
The oldest mention so far of the term “Marille” (apricot) in the Danube Region comes from a collection of letters found in the Starhemberg Archive in Eferding near Linz. The name “Maryln” appears in a letter dated 23 July 1509. Master Ortulf of Bavaria (between 1390 and 1439) mentions the fruit “Amarellen” (apricots) in his pharmacopoeia.
 
The oldest mention of the apricot by name in the Arnsdorf (Wachau) Region comes from the archive of St. Peter’s Archabbey in Salzburg. On 15 April 1679, the lector of the monastery made a report on the trees in the orchards of St. Peter’s Abbey, which were located in Oberarnsdorf back then, and he listed: “Nut, peach, apricot, and almond”.
 
The Danube River, as a trade route, was also very important for the transport of fruit. Fruit barges from the Wachau Region could reach the capital, Vienna, in just one day. Flat-bottomed boats loaded with fruit could still be found occasionally on the Danube River all the way up to right before the Second World War.
 
The cultivation of local apricot varieties in the famous wine-growing region of the Wachau was occasioned by the devastation of vineyards by vine pest (phylloxera) around 1890.
Since then, apricot growing has been a traditionally important industry in this region.
 
In 2003, the Verein “Original Wachauer Marille” (“Original Wachau Apricot” Association) was established.
 
There are currently about 100,000 apricot trees on the area under cultivation.
 
- Region
The Wachau-Mautern-Krems Region is located at the southern edge of the Waldviertel Region in the Province of Lower Austria. It runs along the Danube River up to the northern part of the Dunkelstein Forest. Vineyards can be found on stone terraces in the narrow Danube Valley. Apricots and other fruit are cultivated on the flat areas along the Danube River.
 
Only apricots from the following municipalities may call themselves Wachauer Marille g.U. (Wachau Apricot PDO): Aggsbach-Markt, Albrechtsberg, Bergern im Dunkelsteinerwald, Droß, Dürnstein, Furth, Gedersdorf, Krems, Maria Laach, Mautern, Mühldorf, Paudorf, Rohrendorf bei Krems, Rossatz-Arnsdorf, Senftenberg, Spitz, Stratzing, Weinziel am Wald, Weißenkirchen, Schönbühel-Aggsbach, and Emmersdorf.
 
Climate and soil conditions:
The warm Pannonian climate comes from the east and extends into the Wachau Region. Moderate Atlantic air enters the region from the west. And to top it off, cool, often humid masses of air come down from the north and make their way through the Wachauer Gräben (small, forested tributary valleys) into the Danube Valley. One of the largest tributary valleys is the Spitzer Graben. The interaction of these three climates means that the air is constantly circulating in the region.
 
Average yearly temperature: 8.8 ° C
Average yearly precipitation: 470 mm
 
Soil: The rocky slopes are mainly covered by weathered, primitive rocky soil, which is mixed with loamy soil in lower lying areas. The valleys also contain patches of sandy soil. Stone terraces with dry stone walls are characteristic of the Wachau Region.
 
- Wachauer Marille g.U. (Wachau Apricot PDO):
The apricot (Prunus armeniaca), along with the plum, belongs to the subgenus Prunophora (Prunus, to be more precise), of the genus Prunus, which is part of the rose family.
 
Apricot trees:
The stock plants are apricot seedlings, myrobalans and other plums specially adapted to the regional soil conditions.
The most common method of cultivation is that of a metre high stem with a round, pyramid-shaped or hollow crown. (Plant spacing 5 - 7 m x 4 - 6 m, 250 – 500 trees/hectare).
The round crown and enough space between the plants ensure good exposure to light, which reduces their susceptibility to disease and has a beneficial effect on the ripeness and taste of the fruit.
 
Blossoms and fruit:
Depending on the weather, the apricot trees are in full bloom between March and mid-April.
 
The species groups of the fruit are “Kegelmarillen” (cone-shaped apricots), “Ovalmarillen” (oval apricots; or “Rosenmarillen” (rose apricots)) and “Ananasmarillen” (pineapple apricots).The main variety cultivated is the local variety Klosterneuburger Marille (Kegelmarille species group). 
 
The apricot is medium-sized, weighs 45 to 60 g, and generally has a specific gravity of more than 1.0. The apricot is cone-shaped or pointed, shorter on one side, the fruit is deep, the lips are wide open, and the sinus is mostly round, and on rare occasions triangular. The skin of the apricot is fine woolly, the base colour is honey-yellow, half or more of the fruit is reddened, and it often has brown or red patches.
The flesh has an even orange to reddish orange colour, is firm and juicy, but not mealy.
 
The Wachauer Marille g.U. (Wachau Apricot PDO) is high in pectin, acid and sugar.
The pectin content of the Wachau quality apricot means that fewer additives are needed to produce jams and marmalades.
 
Harvesting:
The fruit is harvested by hand from mid-July to mid-August and the process is very labour intensive, which means that each farm has to limit the area under cultivation. The fruit's pattern of ripening means that frequent harvesting is required, up to 5 times a year. Only tree-ripe or fully ripe fruit are picked on each occasion, depending on how they are going to be marketed (direct sales/wholesale).
 
Most of the time, a traditional picking basket, which is known as a Wachauer Marillenzistel, is used for the harvest. The characteristic feature of this picking basket is that its bottom comes to a point. This shape makes it easier to work in the tangle of branches, and also reduces the pressure on the apricots at the bottom of the basket.
 
Taste:
Sugar and acidity of the Wachauer Marille g.U.:
The combination of high sugar and acidity gives the fruit its unique aroma and taste.
 
Nutrition:
Apricots have a wide variety of ingredients, which are important for the health of the human body. Apricots contain more provitamin A (carotene) than any other fruit. They are also a good source of vitamin B1, B2, C and minerals.
 
Quality assurance and labelling:
The method of integrated cultivation is used to nurture and care for the trees.
180 Wachau apricot farmers use the Wachauer Marille g.U. label to guarantee the origin and the unique quality of the aroma and taste of the Wachau apricot.
 
- Utilisation
Only fresh quality apricots from the region are used to produce apricot jam, fruit nectar, apricot brandy (apricot spirit drink), apricot dumplings etc.
These products are made using old recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation.
 
Connection with the geographical area and traditional knowledge:
The inimitable quality of the Wachauer Qualitätsmarille (Wachau quality apricot) is the result of the regional climate and soil and a century of cultivation (selection and combination of varieties and the grafting stock used). The interaction of various climates (Pannonian and Waldviertel climates, right next to the Danube River - the so-called “aroma belt”), together with the great differences between day and night temperatures, particularly when the apricots are ripening, has a significant influence on the taste, aroma and nutrient content of the fruit. In addition to its commercial value, apricot farming in the Wachau is also very important for tourism, as the spring landscape is characterised by wide expanses of flowering apricot trees.
 
- Marketing:
All the punnets on sale have the same label.
 
- Protection:
The description of the specification for the registration as PDO is located at the Austrian Patent Office. (National application no: 1233-GR/95) 
 
Key words
Food and agriculture, traditional knowledge, Austria, Lower Austria, region, Wachau, apricot, Wachauer Marille g.U., Wachau apricot PDO
  
Bibliogrphy/ References
- Aprikose
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aprikose  
- Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92. Application for Registration: Art 17,
  PDO (National application No.1233-GR/95).
- Eppel, F. Die Wachau, Nibelungen- und Strudengau. Band 2. Verlag
  St. Peter - Reinhard Dippelreither. Wachauer Marille. 1989 Pichler Verlag.
  ISBN: 3854311621
http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodrin/foodname/fruitveg/austria/wachauer.htm  
- Die Wachauer Marille
http://www.wachauermarille.at/  
- Die Wachauer Marille: Kultur und Kulinarik
http://www.oesterreichnews.de/die-wachauer-marille-kultur-und-kulinarik/73  
- Genuss Region Österreich
www.genuss-region.at 
- Original Wachauer Marille
http://www.tiscover.at/at/guide/54825at,de,SCH1/objectId,IND939076at,curr,EUR,parentId,RGN147at,season,at1,selBlk,RBLOCKBLK,selElem,BKE1YSJat/intern.html
- Verordnung (EG) Nr. 510/2006 des Rates zum Schutz von geografischen
  Angaben und Ursprungsbezeichnungen für Agrarerzeugnisse und Lebensmittel
  „WACHAUER MARILLE“
  EG-Nr.: AT/PDO/017-1473
http://www.patentamt.at/Home/Markenschutz/Herkunftsangaben/HA1_07_ED_WachauerMarille_1.pdf  
- Weinbau in Österreich
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weinbau_in_%C3%96sterreich
 
All internet references last accessed on 14 March 2011. 
 
Language code
German
 
Product of www.genuss-region.at 
Yes
 
Regional contact 
Wachauer Marille Verein zum Schutz der Wachauer Marille Wachau
(Apricot Association for the Protection of the Wachau Apricot)
Chairman Franz Reisinger
3620 Spitz/ Niederösterreich; Mitterndorf Nr 1
Phone:02713 2855
E-mail: info@obsthof-reisinger.at
www.wachauermarille.at
 
Authors: Mag. Eva Sommer, Dr. Erhard Höbaus
 

23.02.2012, Lebensministerium III/4