22. Germany Flashcards
Most of the wine regions in Germany have…. climate
Cool continental
The long and cool ripening period gives the grapes…
Time to reach sugar ripeness while retaining their acidity
In which wine regions of Germany botrytised wine can be produced?
All regions
The best sites of grape production are found on:
Steep and often stony slopes with a southerly aspect
How are the vines on the slopes trained?
Head pruned, individually staked and canes tied at the top to maximize the exposure to sunlight
What is the main criteria in the classification of wines in Germany?
Must weight (the level of sugar in the grape juice)
How can one producer produce a Qualitatswein and a Pradikatswein from the same vineyard?
By picking grapes at different times
Are there any red wines under Pradikatswein category?
Pradikatsweine are largely the preserve of white wines
Can other white grapes other than Riesling be used to make Pradikatsweine?
Yes
Name the 5 most widely planted grapes in Germany in descending order
- Riesling (W)
- Müller-Thurgau (W)
- Pinot Noir (R)
- Dornfelder (R)
- Silvaner (W)
Name the first 5 biggest wine growing regions in Germany in descending order
- Rheinhessen
- Pfalz
- Baden
- Wüttenberg
- Mosel
Although nearly all the wines labelled as Pradikatsweine have residual sugar, up to which category, can the German wines be dry?
Auslese
Which category of German wines can not be produced without noble rot?
Trockenbeerenauslese (however noble rot is typical for Beerenauslese)
Müller-Thurgau is a crossing of
Riesling x Madeline Royale
Compare Müller-Thurgau with Riesling
- It ripens earlier than Riesling
- Does not have the same high levels of acidity and flavour intensity
- Rarely produces wines of high quality
- Decrease in planted areas due to decrease demand to inexpensive medium dry/medium sweet Qualitatswein
Compare Silvaner with Riesling
- Both dry and sweet styles
- Less asidic
- Less overtly fruity
- Can sometimes have earthy quality
Which grapes are permitted for GG wines in Mosel?
Only Riesling
Compare the tasting notes of Mosel Riesling with Rieslings from Rheingau, Rheinhessen and Pfalz
- Floral and green fruit flavours predominate
- Lighter in body
- Lower in alcohol
- More acidic
Typically, what kind of wines are produced from German black grape varieties?
- Light bodied
- Fruity
How is the color of the wines produced from Dornfelder grape?
Deep colored
In which German wine regions Pinot Noir (Spatburgunder) is important?
- Pfalz
- Baden
In which area of Mosel region, the wine production is concentrated?
Middle Mosel
Name the 3 best known villages in Middle Mosel
- Piesport
- Bernkastel
- Wehlen
In cooler vintages in Mosel, what happens if the grapes even from the best sites fail to ripen fully?
They are used in sparkling wine production
Where are the best vineyards located in Nahe?
On the banks of River Nahe between the villages of Schlossböckelheim and Bad Kreuznach
Which grapes are permitted for GG wines in Nahe?
Only Riesling
Describe the style of Riesling in Nahe
- It lies between the style in Mosel and fuller bodied Rieslings from Rheingau, Rheinhessen and Pfalz
- Pronounced acidity as Mosel but slightly riper fruit character due to warmer climate
Between which rivers are the most vineyards located in Rheingau?
- River Rhein (west)
- River Main (east)
On which bank of Rhein and Main rivers, are the most vineyards located in Rheingau?
- North banks (southerly aspect)
Which mountain protects Rheingau from the north?
Taunus
The majority of the vineyards in Rheingau lies:
On the slopes to the west of the region and surround the villages Johannisberg and Rüdesheim
What are the characteristics of Rieslings from Rheingau?
- Medium to full body
- Distinct ripe peach character
Why are Germany’s best BA and TBA wines are produced in Rheingau?
Due to the humidity generated by River Rhine
The vineyards to the east of Rheingau region on River Main are located around which village?
Hochheim
Compare the Rieslings from east of Rheingau with the ones from the west
Due to the slightly warmer climate Rieslings from the east can be riper and fuller bodied
Which grapes are permitted for GG wines in Rheingau?
- Riesling
- Pinot Noir (Spatburgunder)
What are the 2 mostly planted grape varieties in Rheinhessen?
- Riesling
- Müller-Thurgau
What are the 3 mostly planted black grape varieties in Rheinhessen and how many percent of plantings do they make up?
- Pinot Noir (Spatburgunder), Dornfelder, Portugieser
- 30 %
Name the area in Rheinhessen which produce some of the fullest bodied Rieslings in Germany
- Rheinterrasse (steepy sloping vineyards on the west bank of Rhine centered around the village Nierstein.
Which grapes are permitted for GG wines in Rheinhessen?
- Riesling
- Pinot Noir (Spatburgunder)
Pfalz lie to the east of which mountains?
Haardt mountains (continuation of Vosges mountains)
Plantings of which varieties are increasing in Pfalz?
- Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris)
- Weissburgunder (Pinot blanc)
Name the second most widely planted grape in Pfalz
Dornfelder
Which wine growing regions of Germany is driest in climate?
Pfalz
Name the 3 most widely planted black grapes in Pfalz
- Dornfelder
- Spatburgunder
- Portugieser (for the local market)
The most established quality vineyards is around which villages in Pfalz?
Forst and Diedesheim (area referred to as “Mittelhaardt”)
The fullest bodied German wines with the highest alcohols is produced in which region? Why?
Baden, because it is the warmest wine growing region in Germany
Nearly 1/3 of plantings in Baden are concentrated around:
Kaiserstuhl and Tuniberg (situated opposite to Colmar in Alsace)
What is the most widely planted grape in Baden?
Pinot Noir (Spatburgunder)
Which grapes are permitted for GG wines in Pfalz?
- Riesling
- Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder)
- Pinot Noir (Spatburgunder)
The best vineyards of Baden are situated:
On the south facing slopes of Kaiserstuhl (extinct volcano)
Which grapes are permitted for GG wines in Baden?
A range of black and white varieties
What is the most widely planted grape in Franken?
Silvaner
What is the most important climate hazard for Silvaner? Why?
Spring frost, because it is a early flowering and ripening grape
The best vineyards of Franken are situated:
On the south-facing slopes of Würzburg
Which grapes are permitted for GG wines in Franken?
- Silvaner
- Riesling
- Weissburgunder
- Grauburgunder
- Spatburgunder
