12 Intro to Germany

Question 1

Germany Wine Region

Answer 1

• Southwestern Germany, near France, Belgium, & Switzerland
• Vineyards planted at 49°N & can get to 51°N
• Climate: Cool & continental with lots of influence from rivers
• Soil: Heat-reatining soils like slate are critical
• Grapes: White = 70% of production
• Viticulture: Planted on steep, south-facing slopes (critical to ensure cool air doesn’t settle & faces sun)
• Vinification: Stainless steel or large vats, quality wines don’t use chapitalization

Question 2

German grapes

Answer 2

White
- Riesling
- Müller-Thurgau
- Silvaner

Red
- Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)

Question 3

German wine classification

Answer 3

No geographic indicatin
- Wein

Geographic Indication
- Landwein (PGI) - regional, rarely exported
- Qualitätswein(PDO) - 13 regions, this wine becomes interesting
- Prädikatswein(PDO) - subset of quality wine, categorizes grapes by ripeness at harvest

Question 4

Prädikat Levels

Answer 4

(Least to most ripe)
Measures sugar level at harvest

1 Kabinett - used to be top tier, keep in a cabient
2 Spätlese - late harvest, means picked later
3 Auslese - out harvested, means specific clusters are picked for optimal ripeness, could have botrytis influence
4 Beerenauslese (BA) - specific berries picked, not full clusters (always sweet)
5 Eiswein - grapes frozen and water crystalizes and gets pressed out (always sweet)
6 Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) - dried berries picked out, basically just rasins (always sweet)

Question 5

German classifications

Answer 5

VDP
- Top quality dry riesling

GG
- Great Growth
- Dry / Trocken Wine
- From top vineyard in VDP

Question 6

German wine regions

Answer 6

• Mosel
• Rheingau
• Rheinhessen
• Pfalz
• Baden
• Franken

Question 7

Mosel Stats

Answer 7

• Location: Northern limit of viticulture (49º), along Mosel River
• Climate: Cold & Continental, moderated by river
• Topography: steepest vineyards in world - faced south to capture warmth
• Soil: Slate that is porous, but retians heat
• Grape: Riesling (very acidic)
• Vinification: Stainless stell, some residual sugar left to combat acidity, low alcohol in finished wine

Question 8

Rheingau Wine Stats

Answer 8

• Location: South of Mosel on Rhine River, near Taunus Mountains
• Climate: Continental, protection from mtns, Rhine reflects light
• Grapes get riper vs. mosel & so are less acidic & easier to vinify as a dry wine
• Soil: Slate & Other
• Topography: South-facing Slope
• Grapes: Riesling & Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir)
  –> one of few regions that is famous for something other than Riesling

Question 9

Rheinhessen Stats

Answer 9

• Location: Sprawling area south of Rheingau
• Climate: Continental
• Topography: Flat, fertile farmland
• Soil: Red sandstone
• Viticulture: Best vineyards on small strip along west bank of the Rhein

Question 10

Rheinhessen Grapes

Answer 10

• Riesling - highest quality, not most planted
• Müller-Thurgau
• Silvaner

Question 11

Pfalz Wine Stats

Answer 11

• Location: Continuation of Alsace (separated by Rhine river), Haardt Mountains are extension of Vosges Moutnains - major influence weather
• Climate: Sunny & dry - one of warmest areas in Germany
• Soil: Limestone, Basalt, Sandstone
• Vinification: Focus on dry wines b/c ripening isn’t a concern

Question 12

Pfalz Grapes

Answer 12

White
- Riesling
- Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc)
- Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris)

Red
- Spätburgunder (PInot Noir)

Question 13

Baden Stats

Answer 13

• Geography: Large area along French & Swiss borders
• Climate: Warmest growing area in Germany
• Grapes: Spätburgunder & Müller Thurgau

Question 14

Franken Stats

Answer 14

• Geography: Along Main River near Frankfurt
• Grape: Known for Silvaner, also has Spätburgunder & Müller Thurgau
• Vinification: Bocksbeutel (special bottle)