14 Germany

Question 1

What is the german word for sparkling wine?

Answer 1

Sekt

Question 2

When and why is the Sekt production increased

Answer 2

• after the mid-1950s
• base wines could be sourced within the European Union

Question 3

How much of the Sekt is an inexpensive style?

Answer 3

90% is inexpensive, high-volume brands

Question 4

How big is the demand of inexpensive sparkling wine in Germany per capita per year?

Answer 4

• 3,5l / 4,5 bottles
• highest demand in the world

Question 5

Name different categories of Sekt

Answer 5

• Sekt
• Deutscher Sekt
• Deutscher Sekt bA
• Winzersekt

Question 6

Name the facts of Sekt

Answer 6

• tank method wines
• no mention of grape variety or vintage
• made from a range of base wines sourced from inexpensive regions of southern Europe
• made sparkling in Germany
• can only be sold six months after second fermentation
• minimum of 90 days on the lees or 30 days if lees are stirred

Question 7

How big is the amount of Sekt within the sparkling production?

Answer 7

90%

Question 8

Describe the style of Sekt

Answer 8

• light intensity
• no autolytic notes
• typically Brut or Extra Dry
• noticeable residual sugar
• medium acidity
• acceptable to good quality
• inexpensive priced

Question 9

Name facts of Deutscher Sekt

Answer 9

• grapes must be grown in Germany
• tank or traditional method
• vintage or non-vintage
• one variety (minimum 85%) or multiple varieties
• fruits come from a number of different German regions
• wine cannot state its region of origin on the label

Question 10

Name facts of Deutscher Sekt bA

Answer 10

• grapes must come from one of the 13 defined wine-growing regions
• tank or traditional method
• bA = bestimmter Anbaugebiete = of defined region
• name of the region must appear on the label

Question 11

Name facts of Winzersekt

Answer 11

• estate bottled sparkling wine
• only estate grown grapes are allowed
• traditional method
• minimum of 9 month on the lees
• typically made from Riesling (other varieties are also used)
• vintage, grape variety and producer’s name must appear on the bottle

Question 12

Describe the style of Winzersekt (Riesling)

Answer 12

• medium intensity
• aroma of apple and peach
• toasty, smoky, autolytic notes
• high acidity
• typically Brut style
• very good to outstanding quality
• mid- to premium-priced

Question 13

Name the facts of Perlwein

Answer 13

• more commonly known as Secco
• tank method or carbonation
• inexpensive base wines
• less than three bar pressure
• cheaper in Germany than fully sparkling wine due to no attract tax

Question 14

Where are the grapes grown for Sekt?

Answer 14

in high-volume production areas of southern Europe (Italy, Spain and France)

Question 15

Which grape varieties are used for Sekt production

Answer 15

low aromatic varieties

Question 16

Describe the climatic conditions

Answer 16

• cool continental climate
• produces grapes with low potential alcohol and high acidity

Question 17

Which grape varieties are typically used for Deutscher Sekt, Deutscher Sekt bA and Winzersekt?

Answer 17

• Chardonnay (mainly)
• Pinot Noir (mainly)
• Riesling (mainly)
• Pinot Blanc
• Pinot Gris
• Silvaner
• some aromatic varieties (e.g. Scheurebe)

Question 18

Why is the tank method a good solution for the production of Sekt?

Answer 18

large volumes of sparkling wines can be produced in relatively short production cycles, reducing cost and prices

Question 19

Why is the time on lees, at a Riesling Winzersekt, often different?

Answer 19

• some producers prefer the floral notes of Riesling and take the minimum of 9 month on the lees
• some producers prefer the development of smoky notes of longer lees aging (e.g. 18 month)

Question 20

How can the CO2 be produced for Sekt?

Answer 20

• within a second fermentation
• CO2 can’t be injected

Question 21

Which are the minimum alcohol and pressure of Sekt?

Answer 21

• minimum alcohol of 10%
• minimum CO2 pressure of 3,5bar

Question 22

How can the CO2 be produced for Perlwein?

Answer 22

• injection of CO2
• tank fermentation

Question 23

How long is the time on lees and the duration till release for transfer method?

Answer 23

• minimum of 3 month on the lees
• release after 9 month

Question 24

Name the three market segments of Sekt

Answer 24

• low-end, price-driven sparkling wines up to 4€ (account for over alf of all sales)
• standard-quality sparkling wines up to 8€
• high-quality sparkling wines at higher prices (promising development in recent years)

Question 25

How big is the government tax for Sekt?

Answer 25

1,02€ (introduced in 1902)

Question 26

Which are the larges producers of Sekt in Germany?

Answer 26

• Rotkäppchen-Mumm
• Henkel & Co
• Schloss Wachenheim

Question 27

Which production size are account from these large producers?

Answer 27

around 80%

Question 28

Which is the leading producer of wine and sparkling wine in Germany

Answer 28

Rotkäppchen-Mumm

Question 29

Why is Rotkäppchen so popular in Germany?

Answer 29

due to its relatively high quality at low price

Question 30

Which is the most lucrative sales segment?

Answer 30

economy segment

Question 31

How is the domestic sales and the export split?

Answer 31

• 90% domestic sales
• 10% export

Question 32

When were the VDP Sekt statutes introduced?

Answer 32

2018

Question 33

Name requirements for VDP Sekt

Answer 33

• estate grown grapes of the VDP member
• especially produced for the Sekt production
• early picked
• hand harvested
• whole cluster pressed
• made by the traditional method

Question 34

When was the new classification of VDP Sekt introduced?

Answer 34

2020

Question 35

Name the lees aging requirements of VDP Sekt

Answer 35

• non-vintage VDP Sekt: 15 month
• vintage VDP Sekt: 24 month
• VDP Sekt Prestige: 36 month

Question 36

Which grape varieties can be used for VDP Sekt?

Answer 36

• each region can determinate its own allowed grape varieties
• typically used: Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris or other characteristic varieties of an individual region