D3 Germany Flashcards
What is Liebfraumilch? Rules?
Legally defined term
Medium dry white wine of Qualitaswein level
At least 18 g/L residual sugar
Must contain at least 70% riesling, Silvaner, Muller/Thurgau and Kerner
In practice, Muller-Thurgau tends to dominate the blend
Grapes must come from one of four regions
Majority of wines come from Rheinhessen and Pfalz but some are produced in Rheingau and Nahe
What are some of the famous brand names of Liebfraumilch?
Blue nun
Black tower
By the 1980s how much of the ones on the export markets were Liebfraumilch?
60% of all German wine exports
Name two famous German Vineyards which date back to the middle ages
Schloss Johsnnisberg
Kloster Eberbach
What led to the rapid expansion of the German export market in the 16th century?
Proximity to the river Rhine. One of the most important waterways in Europe.
What led to vines being planted onto the steeper slopes in Germany?
Because of the 30 years war. The flatter Valley plains where vines had originally been planted were taken over for the more lucrative grain production, for bread and beer.
When did the wine laws based on must weight of grapes get established?
In the 1830s.
Name two Wine Institute formed in the 19th and early 20th century which have played a vital role in modernizing the German wine industry and making it one of the most technologically advanced.
Hochschule Geisenheim University (Rheingau)
Julius Kühn-Institut (Pfalz)
Why did the area under vine halve in the 50 years to 1945?
Because of phylloxera and mildew and then the two world wars
What effects did the wars have on Germany’s wine industry and wine styles?
The wars had a devastating effect on the economy and its exports.
- High volumes of inexpensive branded wines started to be produced.
- Grapes that could ripen reliably year on year such as Muller Thurgau were usually a key part of the blend
- and grapes would be sourced from multiple regions to ensure volumes
What is Flurbereinigung?
Vineyard restructuring that involved the consolidation of many small, fragmented Vineyards and the building of access roads, both aimed at increasing efficiency, making mechanize station easier and so reducing the cost of viticulture.
Which wine law (and in what year) laid the foundation for modern German one production? What did it establish?
The fifth German wine law
In 1971
Established protected geographical labeling and classification of wine styles based on must weights.
Around what latitudes do most German one regions lie?
49 to 50° north
Making them amongst the most northerly in the world
What is the general climate in the German wine regions?
Cool and continental
Which moderating influence the most German wine regions rely on?
Rivers
Most of Germany’s vineyards are situated along the river Rhine and its tributaries
What benefits do you Rivers have on the growing environment in Germany?
Radiating heat
Moderating temperature
Extending the growing season
How is the risk of frost mitigated?
By planting on steep slopes by the rivers.
When does most of the rain fall in Germany? What does that mean for grape growing?
In summer
Increase in the risk of fungal disease
Dilution of grapes
Hail
And why are the long and dry autumns important?
Because they allow for long ripening periods during which grapes can develop the high levels of natural sugar required for Prädikstswein.
What allows botrytis to develop?
Early morning mist along the rivers
Name two important mountains. What do they provide?
Taunus
Haardt
They provide shelter to the Vineyard areas from cold winds and the worst of the rain
Which German wine region is very different in terms of growing climate?
Baden
It is further south, stretching towards the Swiss border
Noticeably dryer, warmer and sunnier
What type of soil is found in the Mosel and Ahr? Why is this important?
Dark colored slate
It retains heat during the day and radiates it out again at night, helping with ripening
Where can significant pockets of calcareous soils be found? Which grape varieties are usually planted on these?
Baden
Pfalz
Rheinhessen
Spätburgunder
Weissburgunder
Chardonnay
Silvaner (in Franken)
What type of soil does Grauburgunder prefer?
Heavier clay soils
Why are there high costs involved with Vineyard maintenance?
Because of soil erosion
Owners are regularly forced to winch soil and rocks back up the slopes
What are the average Yields in regions like Rheinhessen and Pfalz? For Deutscher Wein? For Qualitätswein?
Over 100 hL/ha
150 hL/ha
105 hL/ha
What has led to vintage variation reducing in recent years?
Climate change
What has led to improved ripening over recent years?
- Significant advances in Vineyard management techniques, led by various research institutes
- Better clonal selection, especially amongst black grapes varieties
- Summer pruning
- Green harvesting
- Selective hand harvesting
Why is good canopy management essential?
Maximize sun exposure
Improve air circulation in order to reduce the risk of disease caused by the wet summers
On slopes, how were vines traditionally trained? Why is this changing? What is it changing to?
Staked individually with canes tied at the top
Method is labor-intensive and requires skills which are gradually being lost
As a result of flurbereinigung, all but the steepest Vineyards now use single and double replacement can pruning with VSP trellising or Pendelbogen
Describe Pendelbogen. Why is it used?
Replacement cane pruning with the canes arched in the trellis.
The arching of the canes is thought to improve the flow of sap in the van and increase the number of viable buds, intern increasing Yields
what percentage of vineyards are certified organic? Why isn’t it higher?
9%
Germany is not widely suited to organic and biodynamic viticulture. Because of the risk of disease, growers still have to spray their crops regularly. In steep areas like Mosel sometimes helicopters have to be used for spraying which would drift on the neighboring Vineyards.
What grape variety is grown on the steepest slopes? Why?
Riesling
-Mechanization is difficult or even impossible
-In some cases, so steep that equipment and workers have to be winched up and down
All of this increases cost significantly
-Often only riesling can command appropriate sustainable prices.
Why are labor costs often higher than in other wine producing regions, other than because of steep slopes?
- German wine law requires grapes for Beerenauslese level and above to be hand harvested
- Many producers still hand harvest for other Prädikstswein to ensure healthy, fully ripe fruit
Why has quality of red wines increased significantly?
Better clones (particularly Dornfelder and Spätburgunder)
Better vineyard management
Better one making techniques
Increasing temperatures
Do grape varieties need to be stated on the labels?
No, but they usually are.
List the top seven grape varieties grown in Germany.
Riesling Mueller-Thurgau spätburgunder Dornfelder Grauburgunder Weissburgunder Silvaner
Why has Riesling been so successful?
- It can survive the cold German winters
- It is late budding with thick wood so it is relatively frost resistant
- It can produce high-quality wines in a full range of styles, from dry to sweet
- It retains high acidity even when fully ripe, which provides balance in sweet wines and ageability
- susceptible to botrytis, so ideal for sweet wines
What are the disadvantages of Riesling, or things that make it difficult?
It is late ripening and needs good sun exposure and dry items
Cooler years and cooler sites it may not ripen fully
Why did plantings of Riesling fall in the 1970s and 80s?
Because growers turned to the more reliable German crosses which could readily achieve the must weights required by law.
What has led to more consistency of ripening of riesling and to plantings of Riesling to recover and continue to grow?
Improved Vineyard management techniques
Rising temperatures
What is a synonym of Müller Thurgau?
Rivaner
Why was Muller-Thurgau an attractive grape variety? What was it widely used for in the 1970s and 80s?
It’s earlier ripening then riesling
Can produce high-yields in almost any conditions
Was widely used in inexpensive blends such as Liebfraumilch
Why have plantings of Muller Thurgau more than halved?
As the popularity of wines like Liebfraumilch have fallen
It has much lower acidity then riesling
Gives ones with less structure and character
Describe a typical one made with Muller Thurgau
Generally medium acidity
Wines with a tractive but relatively simple floral and fruity aromas for early drinking
What is Germany’s most planted black grapes? In which region does it particularly thrive?
Spätburgunder
Warmer areas such as Baden
What can reduce the need for new oak in the production of Spätburgunder?
The use of whole bunches in the fermentation
The tenants from the stems contribute to tenants without needing new Oak.
What is the most significant of the black German crosses?
Dornfelder
What 2 styles of wine does Dornfelder produce?
Deep colour
High acid
Fruity and floral
Fruity easy drinking sometimes with residual sugar, sour cherry, blackberry
More complex, age worthy, from lower yields with greater focus on tannins and structure, fermented or aged in oak.
In which regions has Dornfelder been particularly successful?
Rheinhessen
Pfalz
It’s most planted black grape, ahead of Spätburgunder
What are the characteristics of wines made with Silvaner?
Lower in acid and less aromatic than Riesling
Large amounts of simple, inexpensive wines
Subtle fruit aromas ranging from green to tropical
Which region produces high quality silvaner from lower yields? Describe the wines.
Franken
Dry, medium bodied, medium to medium plus acidity and distinctive earthy characteristic
Which 2 varieties have now overtaken plantings of Silvaner, as they have grown in popularity since the 1990s. Where are there good size plantings?
Grauburgunder
Weissburgunder
Baden
Also Rheinhessen and Pfalz
What are sweeter wines from Grauburgunder often labeled as?
Ruländer
Since when has Chardonnay been allowed in Germany? Where are quality examples being produced?
1990
Warmer areas such as
southern Pfalz
Kaiserstuhl in Baden
Name 4 less widely planted varieties which produce mainly simple fruity wines for drinking young. Especially from where? Higher quality examples made where?
Portugieser
Scwarztriesling (Pinot Meunier)
Trollinger (Schiava)
Lemberger (Blaufränkisch)
Württemberg
What was one of the earliest German crosses? When?
Müller-Thurgau
1880s
When did the number of new crossings increase rapidly? Why?
Mid 20th Century
Drive for producing high yields of grapes with high must weights was encouraged by German wine laws.
Which 2 German crosses have proved themselves as producing good quality wines?
Scheurebe
Kerner
Describe wine made from Scheurebe.
Full body
Intense aromas ripe grapefruit and peach
Lower acid than Riesling but still high enough for aging and some high quality sweet wine
Describe wine made with Kerner.
High acid
Some of the fruity and floral characteristics of Riesling
Who has driven a lot of the research and development in both the Winery and the Vineyard?
- The country’s research institute
- Winemakers gaining experience from elsewhere in the world
What has helped some winemakers return to a more traditional one making methods? Such as natural fermentation, reduced filtration and finding.
Better harvests and healthy, ripe grapes
Are the musts in Germany enriched?
Yes, it is relatively common practice.
It is not permitted for Prädikstswein.
Most regions allowed up to 3% abv
Baden 2% abv
But becoming increasingly rare outside of bulk wine production
Is acidification or de-acidification permitted?
Yes for both
De-acidification only in the hottest years
Only tends to be for high volume, inexpensive wines.
What were German wines traditionally fermented in? Why?
In large old oak tasks to allow for some oxygenation
Name some of the traditional casks found around Germany’s wine regions.
Fuder
1000 L
Mosel
Stück
Oval shape
1200L
Used along the Rhine
What oak is used in the barrels of Germany?
German oak, especially from Pfalz, for larger vessels. Also from Central Europe.
French common for smaller vessels like barriques.
What vessels have become the norm for fermentation in the last few decades?
Stainless steel.
For what type of wines is stainless steel used for fermentation?
Inexpensive wines where east of temperature control and cleaning are important as well as the ability to purchase extremely large vessels.
Also, it does not introduce any oxygen or at any flavors, so still a common choice for mid priced a premium riesling to maintain primary flavours.
When is new oak used?
Not for riesling
In smaller barriques for red ones as well as Grauburgunder, weissburgunder and Chardonnay
What is süssreserve? Rules of production?
Unfermented or partially fermented grapes must.
Must be produced from grapes of the same region and the same quality level as the one to which it is added.
Common for it to come from the same must. Producers take a small proportion of must pray for mentation, clarify, chill and protect it with S02 so it remains fresh, and then add this must back to the fermented one to create the desired level is sweetness.
In the 1960s and 1970s, how are ones made sweet? (Except for maybe the finest ones with residual sugar).
Wines were initially fermented to dryness but then sweetness post fermentation, even at Prädikstswein level. This was done by the addition of sis reserve
Other than sweetening the wines, what other impact can süssreserve have on the wine?
It can reduce the alcohol, depending on the volume added. This is because süssreserve contains minimal or no alcohol.
But it is thought to give less balanced wines.
How do you quality conscious winemakers produce sweet wines?
By stopping the fermentation with S02 when the desired level of sweetness is attained. Then racking or filtering.
For what level of wine is RCGM allowed?
Deutscher Wein
Name the different methods of obtaining sweet wines in Germany.
- Stopping fermentation with S02 then racking or filtering
- Adding sussreserve to the fermented one before bottling
- Sweetening with RCGM
- Using grapes with such high must weights that fermentation will stop naturally because of high sugar levels
What levels of alcohol are often found in ones with very high must weights? For example BA, TBA and eiswein?
Between 5.5 and 8% ABV
In the past, what was sweetness often used for?
To mask high acidity and bitterness from under ripe grapes.
How are inexpensive red wines design for early consumption often fermented? Why?
Using thermovinification.
For the quick extraction of color and flavor.
The one can then be fermented off the skins to produce a fruity red with low tannins.
Typically not oak matured.
How are higher quality red wines, most particularly Pinot Noir, fermented?
Cold maceration is typical.
Whole bunch fermentation
Maturation in Oak
Is much rose wine produced in Germany?
Relatively small
Almost 11% of domestic sales
Tend to be sold domestically and at inexpensive price points, often below the price of whites and reds.
What is the fundamental principle of German wine law?
Classifying Grapes according to their must weight at harvest
There are other rules regarding grape growing or one making. But there are very limited restrictions on yields.
What are the four quality levels of German one in increasing order of must weight?
Deutscher Wein (4% of production)
Landwein (tiny percentage of production)
Qualitätswein
Prädikstswein (usually about half of production volume compared to Qualitätswein, but in best vintages, can be around the same)
What are the rules around Deutscher Wein?
- Covers wine without a geographical indication
- Made exclusively from grapes grown in Germany
- Must be between 8.5% and 15% ABV
- Can be produced in any style
- enrichment permitted
What are the rules around Landwein?
- At least 85% of the grapes must originate in the Landwein region named on the label
- 8.5% to 15% ABV
- can only be produced in a trocken or halbttocken style in most regions
- enrichment permitted
- German equivalent of PGI
What are the rules around Qualitätswein?
- Less stringent regulations than that of Prädikstswein
- Grapes must come exclusively from one of 13 designated quality wine regions Anbaugebiete
- Name of the Anbaugebiete must appear on the label
- can be made in all styles
- Minimum alcohol level is lower at 7% ABV to allow for sweeter wines
- No maximum alcohol level
- Enrichment is permitted
What are the rules around Prädikstswein?
- Grapes must come exclusively from a Bereich, one of 40 recognized wine producing districts, smaller than Anbaugebiete
- The name of the Bereich does not need to be on the label
- Name of the Anbaugebiete must be on the label
- Wines produced from grapes with the highest must weights
- Enrichment is not permitted
- Can be produced from any grape variety although particularly associated with riesling
What does the word Prädikat mean?
Distinction
Name the six Prädik levels.
Kabinett Spätlese Auslese Beerenauslese Eiswein Trockenbeerenauslese
Style of wine and alcohol levels for Kabinett?
Produced from the grapes with the lowest must weights
Lightest in body and highest in acid
Can be dry to medium sweet
Those with RS can have alcohol levels as low as 7% ABV
Legal minimum 7% ABV
Dry wines can reach 12% ABV
Light bodied with high acidity and aromas of cream and citrus fruit
Style of wine and alcohol level for Spätlese?
- Produced from fully ripened grapes, usually picked about two weeks later than Kabinett
- More concentration of riper fruit flavors
- Typically stone fruits
- Slightly higher alcohol levels at comparable levels of RS and fuller body than Kabinett
- Can range from dry to sweet
- Minimum abv 7 percent
Describe the style and minimum alcohol of Auslese.
- Made from specially selected, extra ripe bunches of grapes
- Even riper and more concentrated flavors than spätlese
- Often have honey characteristics
- Some of the grapes may have been affected by botrytis
- Last category of wine which can be dry
- Balance of sweetness and acidity that gives them potential for long bottle edging
- Minimum alcohol is 7% ABV, which might be the case for the sweeter styles of wines
How are the grapes harvested for Auslese?
Can be done by machine as hand harvesting is not compulsory
Although bunches should be carefully selected, sorting can be done by hand at the winery after machine harvesting.
Which Prädikstswein category covers a particularly wide must weight range and producers will also sometimes use additional labeling term to indicate sweetness level?
Auslese
How are the grapes harvested for Beerenauslese? Why?
By hand
Because the wines are made from individually selected berries
Describe the style of wines labeled Beerenauslese. Minimum alcohol level?
Always sweet
Low levels of alcohol
Minimum alcohol level is 5.5% ABV
No need for berries to be botrytized but it is typical
With riesling, typical flavors are very ripe and dried stone fruit
Why are Beerenauslese wines expensive?
Only produced in years with suitable conditions
Made in very small quantities
Yields are very low
Wines are very labor-intensive to produce
The wines are therefore rare
When was eiswein given its own Prädikat category?
1982
At what temperature must eiswein be picked? When does this take place?
-7°C
Any time from December (or occasionally November) to February of the following year
What are some of the risks associated with eiswein production or things that make them rare and expensive?
Crop can be lost to either disease or predators while waiting for them to freeze
Low yields
Conditions aren’t right every year
Which Prädikat category can only be made from grapes which have been affected by botrytis? Why?
Trockenbeerenauslese
Because the required must weights are so high, they can only be achieved with grapes affected by botrytis
Fermentation and alcohol levels of TBA?
High must weights mean fermentation is long and slow and rarely continues beyond 8% ABV
What are the German labeling terms relating to levels of sweetness? What are the RS levels for each?
- Trocken (Maximum 4 g/L, or up to 9 g/L where RS does not exceed total acidity by more than 2 g/L)
- Halbttocken (4-12 g/L, or up to 18 g/L where RS does not exceed total acidity by more than 10 g/L)
- Lieblich (12 to 45 g/L)
- Süss (more than 45g/l)
Explain how to wines labeled with the same sweetness labeling term can sometimes taste quite different.
Because the labeling term is based on the level of RS and not necessarily based on how dry or sweet the wine tastes. High acid riesling will taste dryer then Müller Thurgau with same amount of RS because of the difference in acidity.
In which types of regions are trocken wines most widely seen?
In warmer regions, for example in Baden.
Which sweetness category has been dropping in popularity in recent years? Why?
Halbtrocken
Potential negative connotations.
How are many halbttocken wines being labeled now?
feinherb (fine dry)
What is feinherb?
A labeling term which is not defined by law.
Used for wines which fall within the legal definition of halbtrocken but also extends to those with slightly higher levels of RS
Used instead of halbtrocken because it doesn’t have a negative connotation
What is Goldkapsel?
Translates to gold capsule
Designates wines that are characterized by botrytis
In some cases, a shorter capsule indicates wines with higher levels of concentration than what is expected of Auslese and longer capsule a further level above that
When was the precise boundaries of all German vineyards established?
In 1971 along with the wine laws
What is a Bereiche?
A wine producing district
What is an Einzellage?
An individual Vineyard site (which sits within a Bereiche)
There are over 2000 of these
They range in size from less than one hectare to over 200 ha, but the average is around 38 ha.
Most of them are split between a number of different owners
What is a Grosslage?
Collective Vineyard site
Much larger than Einzellagen
There are 167 registered
Which levels of German wine can have the Einzellage or Grosselage named on the label? What other rule is there relating to labeling when it comes to having the name of these on the label?
Only Qualitätswein and Prädikatswein
They usually have to be preceded by the name of the village where the Vineyard or vineyards are located. This is unless the name of the property is so well knowing that it is officially allowed not to
As well as Einzellage and Grosslage, what can now be registered and added to the name of the Bereich in the state of Rheinland-Pfalz?
The names of individual plots within a vineyard site
What does VDP stand for?
Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter
What is the VDP? What do they do?
Founded by a group of producer from Rheingau, rheinhessen, Pfalz and Mosele
Wanted to promote wines made without must enrichments
Focus on a higher standard than Prädikstswein for their members
Have 200 members across all of Germany’s main producing regions
Split into a number of regional associations
They have established stricter regulations regarding great growing in one making then those imposed by the German one laws
This includes lower maximum Yields, higher minimum must weights and growing predominantly the traditional grape varieties for their particular region
Members must abide by the rules and they are audited by the VDP every five years
They encourage sustainable viticulture
How must VDP dry wines be labeled?
Qualitätswein trocken
Prädikat level wines of VDP members dry or sweet?
Sweet. Predicate levels are to be used only for wines with residual sweetness
What are the four categories of VDP wines?
VDP Gutswein
VDP Ortswein
VDP Erste Lage
VDP Grosse Lage
