German Winemaking Terms Flashcards
Abfuller
bottler or shipper who assumes the responsibility for the origin and quality of a wine
Absetzen
The process settling of solids (dead yeast cells, leftover grape skin fragments, etc.) to the bottom of a vat of wine or must.
Alleinbesitz
A vineyard which is owned by only one owner (similar to a monopole in France).
Alte Reben
Old vines
Amtliche Prufungsnummber
commonly referred to as the AP#; a quality control number on all QbA and QmP wines. The number contains the Exam Board number, commune number, producers registered number, an application number and the year of the application. Some producers use the application number as a sequential indication of sweetness.
Anreicherung
Broad term for sweetening must before or during fermentation. Whereas chaptalization means the addition of sugar only, enrichment also includes the addition of grape must, concentrated grape must, and RCGM.
Badisch rotgold
A rotling from the Baden region. Made from Grauburgunder (min. 51%) and Spatburgunder grapes. Composition must be declared on label.
Biologische Saureabbau
Malolactic fermentation
Deutscher Sekt
sparkling wine made by any method from grapes grown in Germany
Edelfaule
noble rot
Einzellage
single vineyard
Einzelpfahlerziehung
A vine individually trained to a single stake . Used on very steep slopes such as the Mosel.
Erste Gewachs
legal term used for dry wines in the Rheingau from the best vineyards
Erzeugerabfüllung
grown and produced by the same grower or cooperative
Federweisser
Unfiltered must containing CO2 and yeast that is still in the process of fermenting. An autumn specialty served with onion quiche or roasted chestnuts
Feinherb
half-dry, no legal definition
Flaschengärung
bottle-fermented sekt
Flurbereinigung
restructuring of German vineyards
Füder
1000-liter cask common in the Mosel
Gerbstoff
tannin
Grosses Gewächs
VDP classification of dry wines from the best vineyards, must be Spätlese ripeness
Grosslage
a collection of vineyards; misleading term for inexpensive wines
Grosser Ring
Mosel growers association
Gutsabfüllung
grown, produced and bottled by the same person/estate
Halbtrocken
half-dry, generally less than 18 g/L residual sugar
Handgerüttelt
Hand Riddled
Hauptlese
the main harvest
Kellerei
wine cellar (or wholesaler)
Kelter
Wine press.
Keuper
clay and slate soil
Lehm
loam soil
Leiblich
medium-sweet
Mergel
heavy loam
Mostgewicht
Must weight which is the weight of sugar in the grapes at the time of the harvest
Reinzuchthefen
Pure culture yeasts. Used by growers afraid of risk, hence stuck fermentations
Restzucker
RS
Rotling
Rosé wine that is produced from a mixture of red and white varieties. A Rotling must have pale red or clear red color
Rotliegendes
reddish slate
Stück
1200 liter cask commonly used in the Rheingau
Schneewein
Snow wine; a term used to describe an ice wine made from grapes gathered when snow covered the vineyards.
Schielerwein
A rotling from Sachsen
Schillerwein
A rotling from Württemburg
Schloss
German word for castle; on a wine label it is equivalent to the French word “Chateau.”
Schotter
gravel
Sonnenuhr
A sundial often very large on steep vineyard sites.
Spontangärung
German tasting term for wines made by spontaneous fermentation versus wines inoculated by cultured yeasts. The former has an earthiness versus the cleaner fruit-forward smells of selected yeasts.