C22 - Germany (reviewed) Flashcards
Discuss climate of Germany’s vineyard areas
- Cool continental (with the associated viticultural challenges)
- Wet summers with rain declining in autumn
- Noticeably warmer in Baden in the far south
- The long, cool ripening period allows grapes to reach sugar ripeness while retaining acidity
- Great variance from year to year due to high variations in annual water conditions
- Implication: Small differences in vineyards can have a large impact on the wines produced - best sites: steep, often stony slopes, southerly aspect
Describe grape-growing practices in Germany
Worked on by hand
In steepest parts, equipment is manoeuvred into place by winches
Vines are head-pruned, individually staked with canes tied in at the top of the stakes to maximise grape exposure to light and air circulation
What might the benefit be to a vine’s proximity to rivers in Germany?
- Reflected sunlight can help grapes to ripen
- Air movement caused by flowing water can help to protect against frosts
By which oenological characteristic are grapes classified in Germany? What effect does this have on the growing season and harvest?
By must weight (level of sugar in grape juice)
Harvest can be spread out over weeks and months
It is possible to make a range of Qualitätsweine and Prädikatsweine each year from an individual vineyard
Pickers will pass several times to get the ideal grapes for each category of wine - or they may be sorted and categorised after each picking
What is the style trend in Germany? What has dictated this?
For dry wines
The demands of the local market
How may the red and white wines (of varying quality) of Germany be sold?
As Qualitätsweine
They arelargely the preserve of white wines
In terms of vineyard plantings and quality, what is the most important wine grape of Germany?
Riesling
Which grape must be used for Prädikatsweine?
There are several options
What is the style of Riesling wines in Germany?
It varies due to differences in soil and climate
- From delicate and floral ►richer peachy fruit character
- Bone dry ► lusciously sweet
How can dry styles of Riesling in Germany often labelled?
- Qualitätsweine
- Very best dry Rieslings labelled Grosses Gewächs (GG)
- Can be made in dry style up to Auslese category
Discuss Prädikatsweine
Most of them will have some residual sugar
Up to which category is possible to make a wine in a dry style?
Auslese
What is the key to understanding Prädikatsweine?
To think of them as an indicator of style
Discuss Kabinett
- Most delicate of the Prädikatsweine styles
Style
- Light in body, high acidity
- Green apple / citrus fruit, balanced with residual sweetness
- Sweet styles will have an alcohol level of 8-9% abv
- Drier styles can reach 12% abv
Can made sweet by stopping fermentation early (better quality wines bc better sugar/acid balance) or by adding sugar after fermentation (Süssreserve)
Describe Spätlese wines
Made in the same way as Kabinett wines,
- more concentrated, riper and with a little more body, alcohol and sometimes sweetness
- Citrus and stone fruit aromas (peach or apricot)
Describe Auslese wines
- Made from individually selected extra-ripe bunches
- Richer and riper than Spätlese wines
- Noble rot can be involved
Describe Beerenauslese (BA) and Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) wines
Some of the best sweet wines in the world
Flavours of honey, dried stone fruit, candied peel and flowers
Noble rot
- Essential for TBA to achieve required must weights
- Not essential for BA, but noble rot still typical
Some sites more suitable than others, but these styles not necessarily produced every year
Volumes vary considerably when produced Sweet and low in alcohol
Describe Eiswein
- Genuinely rare and made infrequently
- Very sweet
- Flabour focus: Pure varietal fruit flavours
- Best examples achieve acidity - sweetness balance
- Carefully selected yeast, handling juice with care and avoiding MLF, new oak and other processes which can mask the flavours of the grape
Discuss Müller-Thurgau
- Also called Rivaner
- Second most widely planted white grape variety
- Crossing between Riesling and Madeleine Royale
- Compared to Rieslings - ripens earlier, but does not have the same level of acidity or intensity of flavour
- Attractive floral and fruity flavours
- Rarely high quality
- On a steep decline - market for inexpensive medium-dry/medium-sweet Qualitätsweine has declined
Discuss Silvaner
- Third most widely planted white grape variety
- Particularly Rheinhessen and Franken
- Made into dry and sweet styles, can be high quality on the right sites
- Less acidic and less overly fruity than Riesling
- Sometimes have an earthy quality