GENERAL

Question 1

Where are most of Germany’s vineyard areas located?

Answer 1

In the SW of the country on the Rhine (and its tributaries Ahr, Nahe, Main, and Neckar)
and Mosel rivers between Cologne and the Swiss border (48 - 50 degrees North)

Question 2

Where are the vineyards located that lie out of SW Germany and what river(s) are they located on??

Answer 2

In Eastern Germany: Saale-Unstruut is near Leipzig on the rivers of the same name and Sachsen is on the Elbe river near the Czech border.

Question 3

What climate does Germany have?

Answer 3

Germany’s climate is northern continental with mild summers, cold winters, and moderate precipitation

Question 4

What role do the rivers play in Germany’s marginal climate for grape growing?

Answer 4

The flowing water moderates local climates and reflects sunlight back onto the vineyards, helping to warm the vines.

Question 5

What role does soil play in the Mosel and Rheingau?

Answer 5

These areas’ dark blue and red slate-based soils are ideal for absorbing solar heat during the daytime and radiating it back at night.

Question 6

How many states are in Germany, what are they called in German and what are the primary winegrowing regions?

Answer 6

Germany is divided into 16 states called “Länder”. The winegrowing regions are primarily in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, and Rhineland-Palatinate.

Question 7

What percentage of total production does white wine account for and what are the primary grape varieties?

Answer 7

2/3

Riesling (20% of vineyard area), Muller-Thurgau

Question 8

What are the leading red grape varieties?

Answer 8

Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir),
Dornfelder, deeply-hued, renowned for its floral aromas
Blauer Portugieser, much of which is used in light red wines or rosé.

Question 9

What are the quality levels according to German wine law?

Answer 9

Wein (ex-Tafelwein). Can be chapitalized and/or imported from another country
ggA/PGI (geschützte geographische Angabe. Chapitalization permitted; 85% must be from one of Germany’s 26 “landwein” regions
gU/PDO (geschützte Ursprungsbezeichnung). Wines must be produced using grapes from one of the 13 Anbaugebiete (specified winegrowing regions) and denote a place-name on the label (with 100% of the grapes sourced from the named place).

Question 10

What are the two levels of German PDO wines (“gU”) and how do they differ?

Answer 10

Qualitatswein: Lower level/largest proportion of German wine output. Chapitalization permitted.
Pradikatswein: Highest level. No chapitalization. One of six levels must be stated on label.

Question 11

What are the six levels of Pradikatswein and what do they indicate/ensure?

Answer 11

Pradikat levels ensure a minimum level of ripeness - they are not necessarily a hierarchy of quality. Kabinett, Spatlese, Auslese
Beerenauslese, Eiswein, Trockenbeerenauslese.
Kabinett wines are certainly the most basic of the Prädikat wines, but after that the differences are more stylistic and a matter of taste than indicative of an absolute scale of quality. The three dessert wines, Beerenauslese, Eiswein, and Trockenbeerenauslese, make up a very small fraction of production.

Question 12

What is botrytis in German?

Answer 12

Edelfaule

Question 13

What is “oechsle”?

Answer 13

A system that measures the amount of sugar present in degrees based on the density or must weight of the juice (the more solids, primarily sugar, in the juice, the denser the liquid will be).

Question 14

What is the formula for Oechsle?

Answer 14

Oechsle = (density – 1.0) × 1,000 Must with a density reading of 1.074 is said to measure 74° Oechsle. values can range from the 40s (seriously underripe) to well over 150 in dried grapes. Kabinett grapes may range from 70° to 85° Oechsle.

Question 15

What is the hierarchy of geographical indications for German PDO wines from least specific to most specific?

Answer 15

Anbaugebiete (aka “region”). 13
Bereiche (aka “regional appellation”) 140. Similar to an AOC appellation in France, All Anbaugebiete have at least one Bereiche.
Grosslagen: ( aka “ “) ~160. A Grosslage is a grouping of numerous vineyards into a convenient administrative package.
Einzellagen: (aka “single vineyard”). > 2,700. An Einzellage is, in theory, a single vineyard, but this ignores the fact that these areas were created by cobbling together tiny vineyards (there were once 30,000 Einzellagen) into new vineyards with a minimum of 5 hectares (12.4 acres).

Question 16

What is the minimum size of an einzellage?

Answer 16

5 hectares (12.4 acres).

Question 17

What is the role of the German appellation system in German wine production?

Answer 17

It is meant only to provide additional geographical/location information to accompany the quality classifications and Prädikat designations based on ripeness levels. German regulations are more like those for New World appellations than French ones,

Question 18

What typically precedes the terms “Grosslage” or “Einzellage” on a German wine label?

Answer 18

It is typically preceded by a village name, which is helpful because many of the Grosslagen and Einzellagen stretch across several towns—such as the famous Sonnenuhr vineyard that encompasses Wehlener Sonnenuhr (in the village of Wehlen) and Zeltinger Sonnenuhr (in the adjacent village of Zeltingen).
Unfortunately, it is often difficult to tell a Grosslage from an Einzellage on the label, as neither word is likely to appear on it.

Question 19

What do the terms “Erzeugerabfüllung”, “Gutsabfüllung” and “Abfüller” mean on a German wine label?

Answer 19

Gutsabfüllung means “estate bottled.” Erzeugerabfüllung means “producer bottled” and includes cooperatives of growers.
Abfüller indicates a wine produced at a commercial winery that buys grapes from other sources.

Question 20

What is the AP number on a German PDO wine?

Answer 20

The # is issued after government approval after government approval and identifies the wine and the specific testing center where it was approved, as well as the village of origin, winery of origin, and other information.

Question 21

What is the German VDP classification and what are its 4 levels?

Answer 21

A classification system for vineyards using Burgundy as a model.
Gross Lage, Erste Lage, Ortswein, Gutswein

Question 22

What are the German terms for sweetness levels from driest to sweetest?

Answer 22

Trocken (9g/L)
Halbtrocken (9-18 g/L)
Feinherb (similiar to halbtrocken)
Lieblich aka "Halbsuss" (18-45g/L)
Suss (>45g/L)

Question 23

What is the minimum temperature for harvesting grapes for use in Eiswein?

Answer 23

-8C/18F

Question 24

What are the Oechsle readings at harvest for Germany’s 3 levels of sweet wine?

Answer 24

110° to 125° Oechsle for BA and Eiswein and between 150° and 154° Oechsle for TBA.

Nickles, Jane. 2021 Certified Specialist of Wine Study Guide (p. 382). Kindle Edition.

Question 25

In what regions are German red wines most likely to be found?

Answer 25

In the warmer south of the country, particularly in Württemberg and Baden.

Question 26

What is a Weissherbst wine?

Answer 26

A rosé made from a single variety of at least Qualitätswein

Question 27

What is German sparkling wine known as and how is it produced?

Answer 27

Sekt, which is typically produced via by the tank method.

Question 28

What is Schaumwein?

Answer 28

Simple, fruity aerated sparkling wine produced by carbonation.