German Regions Flashcards
What is the fundamental principle of historic German wine law?
Classification of grapes according to their must weight at harvest.
What are the alcohol requirements of Kabinett, Spatlese and Auslese?
7% ABV
What is the alcohol levels of Beerenauslese, Eiswein, and Trockenbeerenauslese?
5.5% ABV
Why might a German, off-dry wine be labelled as ‘feinherb’?
Wines with residual sugar have fallen in popularity in recent years, and consumers are buying more dry wines. Feinherb is not a legally defined term but falls within the legal definition of halbtrocken but extends to wines with slightly higher levels of residual sugar. It literally translates as ‘fine dry’; this may lead consumers to believe these sweeter wines are more like popular dry styles.
What are the four largest wine producing regions in Germany?
- Rheinhessen
- Baden
- Wurttemberg
- Pfalz
Which states is the driest German wine-producing region and the only one where drought can be a concern?
Pfalz
The vast majority of the region’s production comes from the central co-operative, Moglingen. Which region is this?
Wurttemberg
Which region is the most continental climate?
Franken
Explain why the number of growers in Germany has decreased in recent years.
For vineyards on the steeper slopes in particular, the high cost of labour and low yields, particularly for sweeter wines, coupled with vintage variation result in high production costs. Although such wines often command higher prices, for some growers the cost of farming the land is unsustainable against the prices customers are prepared to pay, hence the reduction in the number of growers in recent years. Younger generations are also less likely to take agricultural jobs.
Explain why co-operatives are important to German wine business.
Wine cooperatives allow small producers to compete with larger, wealthier producers as costs of machinery, expertise and general production costs are shared. This share of resources is necessary in a country like Germany were there are many fragmented vineyards and more than half of growers owning vineyards of 3 ha or less.
What are the main villages of Rheinhessen?
- Nierstein
- Oppenheim
- Nackenheim
What is the soil of Roter Hang?
Rotliegenden soil, an iron-rich red soil consisting of slate, clay and sandstone
Which villages Roter Hang lays between?
Nierstein and Nackenheim
Who are the significant producers of Rheinhassen?
- Weingut Gunderluch on Rheinterrasse
- Weingut Keller close to Worms
What is the mountain ranges influence Pfalz?
the Haardt Mountains
What are the main villages of Pfalz?
Bad Durkheim
Wachenheim
Forst
Deidesheim
Ruppertsberg
What are the major soils of Mittlehaardt in Pfalz?
limestone, sandstone, basalt, and clay
What are the major soils of the Sudliche Weinstrasse of Pfalz?
fertile sandstone soils
Who are the significant producers of Pfalz?
- Dr. Burkling-Wolf
- Winzerverein Deidesheim, co-op
Which region is the warmest in Germany?
Baden
What are the most planted varieties in Baden?
- Spatburgunder
- Mullerthurgau
- Grauburgunder
- Weissburgunder
- Chardonnay