11. Germany Flashcards
All of Germany’s main wine producing regions are at which latitude except for which region?
1) 49-50 north
2) Baden
What is Germany’s overall climate?
Cool continental
Along which river are most of Germany’s vineyards situated?
The Rhine and its tributaries
In what season does most rain fall in Germany?
Summer - warm but wet (500-800mm)
What soil plays an important role in Mosel and Ahr?
Dark slate that retains heat and reflects warmth at night
What is pendelbogen?
Replacement cane pruning with the can arched to the trellis
In which three regions can pockets of calcareous soil be found?
1) Baden
2) Pfalz
3) Rheinhessen
What four varieties tend to be planted on the calcareous soils?
1) Pinot Noir/Spatburgunder
2) Chardonnay
3) Pinot Blanc/Weissburgunder
4) Sylvaner (Franken)
On what soil is Pinot Gris commonly planted?
Clay-dominant
What is the advantage of pendelbogen?
The arching is thought to improve sap flow and increase the number of viable buds
What are the five leading white plantings?
1) Riesling
2) Muller-Thurgau
3) Grauburgunder
4) Weissburgunder
5) Silvaner
What are the two leading black plantings?
1) Spatburgunder
2) Dornfelder
What aspect of vineyard maintenance adds to the cost of Mosel and Rheingau vineyards?
Erosion - vignerons need to winch soil and rocks back up the slops
Describe Riesling in the vineyard (4)
1) Late budding
2) Thick wood
3) Late ripening
4) Frost resistant
When does Muller-Thurgau ripen and what is an advantage of this?
1) Earlier than Riesling
2) High yields in almost any conditions
Describe the wine characteristics of Muller-Thurgau (3)
1) Lower acidity than Riesling
2) Earlier drinking
3) Fruity, floral, simple
What has led to the rise in Spatburgunder plantings? (3)
1) Higher quality clones
2) Perfecting canopy management
3) Selecting harvest dates for ripeness, alcohol and acid
What two styles of wine is Dornfelder made into?
1) Fruity, easy drinking with some r/s
2) Ageworthy, lower-yielding and oak matured
What style of wine does Dornfelder produce? (3)
1) Deep colour
2) High acid
3) Fruity, floral
In which two regions is Dornfelder particularly successful?
1) Rheinhessen
2) Pfalz
Where is Silvaner likely to produce higher quality wines?
Franken
There are sizeable plantings of Grauburgunder and Weissburgunder in which three regions?
1) Rheinhessen
2) Pfalz
3) Baden (most important)
What international variety has been permitted since 1990?
Chardonnay
What are the nine key wine producing regions of Germany?
1) Ahr
2) Mosel
3) Rheingau
4) Nahe
5) Rheinhessen
6) Franken
7) Pfalz
8) Wurttemburg
9) Baden