14 Germany Flashcards
What is the german word for sparkling wine?
Sekt
When and why is the Sekt production increased
- after the mid-1950s
- base wines could be sourced within the European Union
How much of the Sekt is an inexpensive style?
90% is inexpensive, high-volume brands
How big is the demand of inexpensive sparkling wine in Germany per capita per year?
- high domestic demand for 3.4 litre size bottle
- highest demand in the world
Name different categories of Sekt
- Sekt
- Deutscher Sekt
- Deutscher Sekt bA
- Winzersekt
- VDP Sekt
- vintage vdp sekt
- vdp sekt prestige
Name the facts of Sekt
- 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
- least 10% abv & 3.5 bar
- can only be sold six months after second fermentation
- minimum of 90 days on the lees or 30 days if lees are stirred
How big is the amount of Sekt within the sparkling production?
90%
Describe the style of Sekt
- light intensity
- no autolytic notes
- typically Brut or Extra Dry
- noticeable residual sugar
- medium acidity
- acceptable to good quality
- inexpensive priced
Name facts of Deutscher Sekt
- 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
Name facts of Deutscher Sekt bA
- 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
Name facts of Winzersekt
- 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
Describe the style of Winzersekt (Riesling)
- 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
Name the facts of Perlwein
- more commonly known as Secco
- tank method or carbonation
- inexpensive base wines
- semi sparkling 1-2.5 bar pressure
- cheaper in Germany than fully sparkling wine due to no attract tax
- often sweeter than Sekt
Trocken up to 32gL
Halbtrocken 33-50 gl
Mild more than 50 gl - can be made from a quality wine from a specific region (qualitatsperlwein bA)
Where are the grapes grown for Sekt?
in high-volume production areas of southern Europe (Italy, Spain and France)
Which grape varieties are used for Sekt production
low aromatic varieties
Describe the climatic conditions
- cool continental climate
- produces grapes with low potential alcohol and high acidity
Which grape varieties are typically used for Deutscher Sekt, Deutscher Sekt bA and Winzersekt?
- Chardonnay (mainly)
- Pinot Noir (mainly)
- Riesling (mainly)
- Pinot Blanc
- Pinot Gris
- Silvaner
- some aromatic varieties (e.g. Scheurebe)
Why is the tank method a good solution for the production of Sekt?
large volumes of sparkling wines can be produced in relatively short production cycles, reducing cost and prices
Why is the time on lees, at a Riesling Winzersekt, often different?
- 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)
How can the CO2 be produced for Sekt?
- must be produced through a second fermentation
- CO2 can’t be injected
Which are the minimum alcohol and pressure of Sekt?
- minimum alcohol of 10%
- minimum CO2 pressure of 3,5bar
How can the CO2 be produced for Perlwein?
- injection of CO2
- tank fermentation
How long is the time on lees and the duration till release for transfer method?
- minimum of 3 month on the lees
- release after 9 month
Name the three market segments of Sekt
- 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)
How big is the government tax for Sekt?
1,02€ (introduced in 1902)
Which are the larges producers of Sekt in Germany?
- Rotkäppchen-Mumm
- Henkel & Co
- Schloss Wachenheim
Which production size are account from these large producers?
around 80%
Which is the leading producer of wine and sparkling wine in Germany
Rotkäppchen-Mumm
Why is Rotkäppchen so popular in Germany?
due to its relatively high quality at low price
Which is the most lucrative sales segment?
economy segment
How is the domestic sales and the export split?
- 90% domestic sales
- 10% export
When were the VDP Sekt statutes introduced?
2018
Name requirements for VDP Sekt
- 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
When was the new classification of VDP Sekt introduced?
2020
Name the lees aging requirements of VDP Sekt
- non-vintage VDP Sekt: 15 month
- vintage VDP Sekt: 24 month
- VDP Sekt Prestige: 36 month
Which grape varieties can be used for VDP Sekt?
- 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
