German Wine Law

Question 1

What is an alleinbesitz?

Answer 1

A Monopole

Question 2

What is anreicherung?

Answer 2

Enrichment (chaptalization)

Question 3

What is the mandatory minimum size for einzellagen in Germany, and as of when?

Answer 3

5ha; as of the vineyard reorganization and registration of 1971.

Question 4

What are the exceptions to the 5ha rule?

Answer 4

Doctor (Bernkastel)
Freundstück (Forst)
Kirchenstück (Forst)
Schloss Vollrads (ortsteil, Rheingau)

Question 5

When was the auslese category introduced?

Answer 5

1787

Question 6

Where and when was the Geisenheim Wine Institute founded?

Answer 6

1872 in Geisenheim, Rheingau

Question 7

Name three important crossings in Germany

Answer 7

Müller-Thurgau (riesling x madeleine royale)
Kerner (riesling x trollinger)
Scheurebe (riesling x silvaner)
Dornfelder

Question 8

What is schwarzriesling?

Answer 8

Pinot Meunier

Question 9

What is weissherbst?

Answer 9

Single-varietal saignée rosé of at least QbA quality.

Question 10

Define abfüller

Answer 10

bottler or shipper who assumes the responsibility for the origin and quality of a wine

Question 11

Define edelfäule

Answer 11

Noble Rot

Question 12

Define erzeugerabfüllung

Answer 12

Wine grown and produced by the same grower or cooperative

Question 13

Define gutsabfüllung

Answer 13

Wine grown, produced, and bottled by the same person/estate

Question 14

Define füder

Answer 14

1000L cask (common in the Mosel)

Question 15

Define stück

Answer 15

1200L cask (common in the Rheingau)

Question 16

Define Kellerei

Answer 16

wine cellar or wholesaler

Question 17

Define lieblich

Answer 17

Medium sweet

Question 18

Define Rotling

Answer 18

Rosé produced from a mix of red and white varieties, with a pale or clear red color

Question 19

Define Schneewein

Answer 19

Snow wine: ice wine made from grapes gathered when snow covered the vineyards

Question 20

Define Winzergenossenschaft

Answer 20

Co-operative

Question 21

What is Deutscher Wein?

Answer 21

The lowest quality level in Germany. 100% of grapes must be from the country

Question 22

What is Landwein?

Answer 22

Grown in one of 26 landweingebiete; trocken or halb-trocken in style

Question 23

What is Qualitätswein?

Answer 23

Produced from approved varieties sourced from a single anbaugebiete. MAY BE CHAPTALIZED.

Question 24

May Prädikatswein by chaptalized?

Answer 24

NO

Question 25

What is Erstes Gewächs?

Answer 25

A legally defined term applying to Riesling and Pinot Noir from classified sites in the Rheingau, harvested at a max of 50hl/ha and aged before release. Must be trocken.

Question 26

What is the minimum abv for Kabinett through Auslese?

Answer 26

7.00%

Question 27

What is the minimum abv for Beerenauslese through Trockenbeerenauslese?

Answer 27

5.50%

Question 28

Kabinett Öchsle

Answer 28

70-85

Question 29

Spätlese Öchsle

Answer 29

80-95

Question 30

Auslese Öchsle

Answer 30

88-105

Question 31

Beerenauslese Öchsle

Answer 31

110-128

Question 32

Eiswein Öchsle

Answer 32

110-128

Question 33

Trockenbeerenauslese Öchsle

Answer 33

150-154

Question 34

How is Sekt typically made?

Answer 34

Charmat

Question 35

What is Deutscher Sekt?

Answer 35

Sekt comprising only german grape varieties

Question 36

May sekt be bottled at QbA quality?

Answer 36

Yes, if produced from traditional grapes from one of the 13 anbaugebiete

Question 37

Why does the term Grosses Gewächs appear as GG on german wine labels?

Answer 37

Because the term is legally barred from appearing on wine labels

Question 38

As of 2012, what terms have been established?

Answer 38

Grosse Lage - Grand Cru | Erste Lage - Premier Cru

Question 39

May dry wines from Erste Lage sites be labeled Grosses Gewächs?

Answer 39

No, they must be labeled trocken

Question 40

Is the new Erste Lage tier mandatory?

Answer 40

No, it is adopted (or not) by individual anbaugebiete

Question 41

What is Ortswein?

Answer 41

Village wine (within one gemeinde)

Question 42

What is Gutswein?

Answer 42

Regional wine (within one anbaugebiet)

Question 43

Is estate bottling mandatory for VDP members?

Answer 43

YES

Question 44

What does Classic entail?

Answer 44

Max 15 g/L RS; no mention of vineyard.

Question 45

What does Selection entail?

Answer 45

Max 9g/L RS (12g/L for Riesling); hand harvested, single vineyard, single varietal, harvested at auslese ripeness.

Question 46

When did Classic and Selection come into use?

Answer 46

The 2000 vintage

Question 47

What is Charta?

Answer 47

An organization founded in 1984, committed to advance dry styles of riesling, notated by its three arches icon.

Question 48

What is frühburgunder?

Answer 48

An early ripening strain of pinot noir.

Question 49

What is the German word for vintage?

Answer 49

Jahrgang

Question 50

As of 2013, which anbaugebiete will participate in the new 4 tier VDP system?

Answer 50

``` Rheingau Pfalz Franken Baden Württemberg Sachsen Saale-Unstrut ```