German basics, law, grapes

Question 1

KERNER

Answer 1

Trollinger x Riesling

Question 2

MÜLLER-THURGAU

Answer 2

Geisenheim (1882)

Question 3

SCHEUREBE

Answer 3

Alzey (1916)

Question 4

BACCHUS

Answer 4

Siebeldingen (1933)

Question 5

HUXELREBE

Answer 5

Alzey (1927)

Question 6

German wine categories

Answer 6

Deutscher Wein
Landwein
Qualitätswein
(Qualitätswein "Erstes Gewächs" - Rheingau)
Prädikatswein
-Kabinett 
-Spätlese 
-Auslese 
-Beerenauslese 
-Eiswein 
-Trockenbeerenauslese

Question 7

Prädikatswein minimum must weights (in degrees Oechsle)

Answer 7

Kabinett Prädikatswein	70-85°	
Spätlese Prädikatswein	80-95°	
Auslese Prädikatswein	88-105°	
Beerenauslese Prädikatswein 	110-128°	
Eiswein Prädikatswein	110-128°	
Trockenbeerenauslese Prädikatswein	150-154°

Question 8

Most planted white grape varities

Answer 8

Riesling, Muller Thurgau, Silvaner

Question 9

Most planted red grape varities

Answer 9

Spatburgunder, Dornfelder, Portugeiser

Question 10

What does VDP stand for?

Answer 10

Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter

Question 11

VDP Classification (2012 forward) and corresponding maximum yields

Answer 11

Grosse Lage: “Grand Cru” Wines (max. 50 hl/ha)
Erste Lage: “Premier Cru” Wines (max. 60 hl/ha)
Ortswein: Village Wines (max. 75 hl/ha)
Gutswein: Regional Wines (max. 75 hl/ha)

Question 12

What does Grosses Gewächs mean?

Answer 12

VDP classification for dry wines from recognized vineyards, not allowed on bottles (will show up as “GG”)

Question 13

anbaugebiete

Answer 13

Germany’s thirteen quality wine regions

Question 14

Min. ABV for Prädikatswein

Answer 14

7% - Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese

5.5% - Beerenauslese, TBA, and Eiswein

Question 15

Maximum RS for Grosses Gewächs

Answer 15

9 g/l

Question 16

What is the largest anbaugebiet, and how many hectares planted?

Answer 16

Rheinhessen with 26,490 ha (in 2011)

Question 17

Which anbaugebiet is home to the highest quality Silvaner?

Answer 17

Franken

Question 18

Silvaner is a cross of which grapes?

Answer 18

Traminer (Savagnin) x Österreichisch-Weiss

Question 19

Arrange the following grapes in order of first to ripen to last - Riesling, Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau

Answer 19

Müller-Thurgau, Silvaner, Riesling

Question 20

Is Silvaner typically lower or higher in acid than Riesling? What about body?

Answer 20

Lower acid, fuller body

Question 21

What important soil types are found in the Pfalz?

Answer 21

Red Sandstone
Basalt
Limestone
Loess
Red Slate
Alluvial gravel and sand

Question 22

Discuss the “Roter Hang” and its significance.

Answer 22

-180 ha site in the Rheinhessen, between Nackenheim and Nierstein
-East-facing slope on the west
bank of the Rhine River
-250 million-year-old red iron-rich
clay slate (rotliegendschiefer)

Question 23

List the Grosse Lage sites of the Roter Hang

Answer 23

Nackenheimer Rothenberg
Niersteiner Pettenthal
Niersteiner Hipping
Niersteiner Brudersberg (Heyl zu
Herrnsheim monopole)
Niersteiner Ölberg
Niersteiner Glöck
Niersteiner Orbel

Question 24

In order, what are the countries with the most acres planted to Riesling?

Answer 24

Germany, Australia, France, USA, Austria

Question 25

Which anbaugebiet has the most plantings of Riesling?

Answer 25

Pfalz (5,567 ha vs 5,294 in the Mosel)

Question 26

In order, which countries have the most acreage devoted to Pinot Noir?

Answer 26

France 26,337
USA 15,802
Germany 11,756
New Zealand 4,650
Switzerland 4,449

Question 27

What are two of the best vintages of the 2000’s for Reisling?

Answer 27

2001 and 2007, but all the 2000’s were strong (2001-2012)

Question 28

What was the weakest of the vintages this century?

Answer 28

2000 - plagued by rain and rot