Germany Flashcards
What is the word for Wine Region in Germany?
Anbaugebiete
What are the Anbaugebiete of Germany?
Ahr Baden Franken Hessische-Bergstrasse Mittelrhein Mosel Nahe Pfalz Rheingau Rheinhessen Saale-Unstrut Sachsen Wurttemberg
What is the grape specialty of the Ahr region?
What makes it special?
Spatburgunder (85%)
It is one of the few slate-grown examples of Pinot Noir. The weathered Devonian slate and greywacke store heat producing an almost Mediterranean mesoclimate.
Who are some notable producers within the Ahr region? What wines are they best known for?
Meyer-Nakel, Spatburgunder “Dernhauer Pfarrwingert”
Deutzerhof, Spatburgunder “Mayschosser Monchberg”
Jean Stodden, Spatburgunder “Recher Herrenberg”
What happened to the Meyer-Nakel winery in 2021?
The estate was almost completely destroyed by floods, though the vineyards were relatively undamaged.
What is Fruhburgunder?
Where is it likely to be found?
What is a notable bottling?
It is likely an early ripening clone of Pinot Noir (Precoce).
It tends to be grown in the Ahr and Franken regions.
Rudolf Furst, Bergstadter Centgrafenberg, Franken, Germany
Where was Germany’s first wine cooperative formed?
In the Ahr
Mayschosser Winzerverein
Rising taxes and lower prices for grapes led many producers in the Ahr to migrate to America in the early 19th century. Mayschosser was formed from the remaining producers.
What is Germany’s northernmost growing region?
What is Germany’s southernmost growing region?
Saale-Unstrut
Baden
Describe the general climate and features of the Ahr
It lies along the Ahr River, though the river is too small to truly impact temperature. The low Eifel mountains create a rain shadow
Slopes are steep, up to 60-70% grade.
In the East, the lower-Ahr meets with the Rhine River, and has more clay soils, is lower altitude, and is warmer and more densely planted.
In the West, the upper-Ahr has more slate soils, higher altitude, and older vines. Phylloxera has a hard time taking hold here.
What parallel is generally held as the northern most limit for the production of quality red wine?
the 51st
The Ahr is located just north of the 50th.
At what city do the Mosel and Rhein rivers meet? Where is it located?
Koblenz
It is located in the Mittelrhein
What is the dominant grape of the Mittelrhein?
Riesling
Who are some notable producers in the Mittelrhein?
What are their notable sites?
Weingut Toni Jost-Hahnenhof
-Bacheracher Hahn (monopole)
Weingut Ratzenberger
-Bacheracher Wolfshohle
Matthias Muller
-Bopparder Hamm Feuerlay
West to East, what are the Bereiche/sub-regions of the Mosel?
Moseltor Obermosel Saar Ruwertal Bernkastel (Mittelmosel) Burg Cochem (Terrassenmosel)
What are some qualities about Riesling that make it suitable for cultivation in Germany?
- Hard wood protects the vines during cold winters.
- It is a late-budding varietal, so it is less likely to be affected by Spring frosts.
- It is a mid to late-ripening grape, so it can take advantage of longer daylight hours in autumn.
- It is drought resistant and prefers poor soils with good sunlight exposure: hence, South facing slopes with high grades of incline.
What is likely Germany’s most famous site for Spatburgunder?
Assmannshauser Hollenberg in Rheingau.
It is a South-South-West Facing site with steep mica schist soils.
What does the term “weissherbst mean?
White harvest, it is an old fashioned term for a rose
What is “rotling” wine?
White and red grapes co-fermented to produce a pale pink wine.
What is “schillerwein” and where would you find it?
It is rotling wine, or red and white grape co-fermented wine.
It is traditionally found in Wurttemberg
What is “Badisch Rotgold” and where is it produced?
Co-fermented Spatburgunder and Grauburgunder from Baden.
How did the term Sekt originate?
A mistranslation of sack, or sherry.
How were the 1980, 1984, and 1987 vintages?
Very bad, with acidity levels up to 20 g/l.
These may be the last of the so-called horror vintages of underripe Riesling.
What bereiche of Germany has the highest average temperature? Where is it?
What is significant geologically?
Kaiserstuhl in Baden
It is the site of an extinct volcano.
What are the top Anbaugebiet for the production of red wine in Germany?
Ahr (84%)
Wurttemberg (70%)
Baden (42%)
Pfalz (37%)
What are the flagship red grapes of Wurttemberg in declining order of planting?
Trollinger (2200ha)
Lemberger (1666ha)
Schwarzriesling (1539ha)
Spatburgunder (1300ha)
What are the following grapes more popularly known as?
Trollinger
Lemberger
Schwarzriesling
Schiava (Italy)
Blaufrankisch (Austria)
Pinot Meunier (France)
What is the highest elevation point in Baden?
Totenkopf Hill in Kaiserstuhl at 550m
Who are some notable producers of Spatburgunder in Baden?
Weingut Franz Keller
Weingut Dr. Heger
Weingut Bernhard Huber
What other notable winegrowing regions does Baden run parallel to?
Alsace and Pfalz
The Vosges Mountains also act as a rainshadow here too
What German Bereiche accounts for almost all Gutedel growing?
Markgraflerland in Baden
Gutedel is also known as Chasselas
What soil characterizes the Bereiche of Breisgau?
Who makes a notable wine from here, and from where?
Weathered limestone (Muschelkalk)
Bernard Huber
Schlossberg or Wildenstein Spatburgunder Grosses Gewaches
How much of the world’s Riesling is grown in Germany?
Almost 50%
What religious order introduced the cultivation of Pinot Noir and Riesling to Germany?
The Cistercians
What was the “Flurbereinigung?”
A post WW2 campaign to consolidate parcels of land divided by generations of inheritance.
Also to physically restructure vineyards so they could be more easily farmed.
What is an “Einzellagen?
A single vineyard site.
What was one of the damaging, unexpected consequences of the 1971 German Wine Law?
It compacted 30,000 Einzellagen into roughly 2,700.
What is the minimum size for an Einzellagen under the 1971 German Wine Law?
5 ha
What is a “Grosslagen?
A collective vineyard site under the 1971 German Wine Law
What does a Goldkapsule indicate?
A special reserve bottling of Spatlese or Auslese with a higher level of sweetness.
It may also be an indicator of less botrytis imprint (a legal Beerenauslese declassified to Auslese Goldkapsule because it has more varietal definition.)
What is the Star System? Where is it used?
A system using 1 to 3 stars to indicate reserve bottlings within a Pradikat.
It is used in the Mosel.
What are the quality levels of German wine under the 1971 Wine Law?
Wein: Formerly Tafelwein, also called Deutscher Wein if made from German grapes. No geographic mention: just variety and vintage.
Landwein: PGI Category. Trocken or Halbtrocken wines grown in one of 26 German regions.
Qualitatswein: PDO Category. Generally used for dry wines.
Pradikatswein: PDO Category. Generally used for sweet wines.
What is a major difference for a Qualitatswein that has a Pradikat versus one that doesn’t?
Pradikatswein cannot be Chaptalized.
What is Sussreserve? What rules govern it?
Sterilized fresh grape must that is still sweet
May be added at up to 15% of volume for any Pradikatswein under 1971 Law.
What does “feinherb” indicate on a wine bottle?
Off-dry, equivalent to halbtroken
What is the minimum acquired ABV for Qualitatswein compared to EU Regulations?
7% ABV
vs.
8.5% ABV
True or False: All wines covered by the VDP must be estate grown?
True
What is the insignia of the VDP called? What is it?
The Traubenadler, an eagle gripping a grape bunch.
Historically, what did the term “Natur” mean on a German wine label?
That the wine was not Chaptalized
What are the quality tiers for VDP wine production?
Gutswein: Regional Wine
Ortswein: Village Wine, or may be labeled by special soil type (Kalkstein, Blauen Schiefer, etc.)
Erste Lage: Premier Cru
Grosse Lage: Grand Cru
What level of quality are the VDP’s wines in the eyes of German Wine Law?
Qualitatswein, meaning they can be chaptalized.
It is routinely practiced with Pinot Noir.
What Anbaugebiete do not use the VDP’s Erste Lage classification?
Ahr, Mosel, Rheinhessen
Johannisberger is a new-world synonym for what grape?
Riesling
What is the name and size of the classic German fermentation vessel?
Stuck: 1,200-liter oval cask
Doppelstuck: 2,400-liter
Halbstuck: 1,200-liter
Muller-Thurgau is a crossing of what two grapes?
Riesling and Madeline Royale
What countries are the top 3 producers of Pinot Noir?
- France
- United States
- Germany
What wines are labeled as “Rulander?”
Sweet, botrytized Grauburgunder
What country is the world’s leading producers of Pinot Blanc?
Germany, especially in Baden and Pfalz
Scheurebe is a crossing of what two grapes?
Riesling and Bukettrabe
Mostly found in the Rheinhessen and the Pfalz
What are the Bereiche of Rheingau?
Johannisberg
Who began making Cabinet wines? When?
Who began making Spatlese wines? When?
Kloster Eberbach in 1712
Schloss Johannisberg in 1775
What are some of the noble aristocratic estates of Rheingau?
Schloss Schonborn
Schloss Vollrads
Schloss Reinhartshausen
Who are some of the more recent quality minded producers in Rheingau?
Peter Jakob Kuhn
Josef Leitz
George Breuer
Kunstler
When was the Charta organization founded?
Who were some of the founding members?
1984
George Breuer
Schloss Vollrads
Robert Weil
Kloster Eberbach
What are some famous monopoles in the Rheingau?
Schloss Johannisberg - Schloss Johannisberg
Hattenheimer Steinberg - Kloster Eberbach
Hattenheimer Pfaffenberg - Schloss Schonborn
Rauenthaler Nonnenberg - George Breuer
What is a famous site owned in part by Robert Weil?
Kiedricher Grafenberg
What is a famous site owned in part by August Kessler?
Assmannshauser Hollenberg
This is a Spatburgunder site
Berg Schlossberg, Berg Rottland, and Berg Roseneck are all associated with what town in the Rheingau?
Rudesheim
What mountain range forces a turn in the Rhine river from north-south to east-west?
The Taunus mountains, to the north
What were the goals of the Charta movement?
Promote a dry style of Riesling
Link quality to site rather than to must-weight
What iconic blend comes from George Breuer?
What sites does it blend from?
“Terra Montossa”
Berg Roseneck
Berg Rottland
Berg Schlossberg
Rauenthaler Nonnenberg
What grapes may be marketed as Erstes Gewachs?
Riesling and Spatburgunder
both dry and sweet
In what French AOP does the Mosel River begin?
Moselle AOP
Which Bereich of the Mosel holds two-thirds of the region’s vineyard area?
Bernkastel
What special vine training system is unique to the Mosel?
Why was it invented?
What are it’s drawbacks?
The single-post system, with vines trained upright with no wires.
It was invented to make steep vineyards more traversable.
In order to improve airflow and reduce botrytis, leaf removal is necessary. This, however, leads to more sunburn and TDN.
What is the trademark soil type of the Mosel?
Devonian Slate
There are both dark-blue and red variations
What are the famous sundial vineyards of the Mosel?
Wehlener Sonnenuhr
Zeltinger Sonnenuhr
What are some of the most famous vineyard sites of the Bernkastel Bereiche?
Bernkastler Doctor Piesporter Goldtropfchen Erdener Pralat Graacher Himmelreich Urzinger Wurzgarten
Who is the star producer of the Burg Cochem Bereiche?
What is his premier growing site?
Heymann-Lowenstein
Winninger Uhlen
What is the main grape of the Obermosel?
What is the main soil of the Obermosel?
Name a producer.
Elbling
Calcareous soil similar to Chablis/Champagne
Weingut Matthias Hild
What are some notable producers in Ruwertal?
Maximin Grunhaus
Karthauserhof
Why don’t most vineyards line the Saar river?
It flows north to south, so vineyards couldn’t benefit from south-facing exposures
What are some of the most famous sites in the Saar?
Saarburger Rausch
Kanzemer Horecker
Kanzemer Altenberg
Scharzhofberger
Who are some notable producers of Scharzhofberger?
Egon Muller
Van Volxem (specifically a GG)
Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt
What vineyard is famous for its “Rotschiefer” soils?
Urzinger Wurzgarten
Rotschiefer is red slate
What is the difference between Piesporter Goldtropfchen and Piesporter Michelsberg?
Piesporter Goldtropfchen is a Gross Lage of 66ha that is a quality growing site.
Piesporter Michelsberg is a grosslage, or collection of vineyards at 1,100ha, and is not distinguished.
What scandal in 1985 rocked German wine?
Diethylene Glycol was added to some wines to mimic the viscous mouthfeel of high-quality sweet wines.
What were Germany’s first single-vineyard PDOs?
Where are they located, and who spearheaded the process?
Uhlen Blaufusser
Uhlen Laubach
Uhlen Roth Lay
Heymann-Lowenstein in Winningen got them passed in 2018. He is in the Terrasenmosel/Berg Cochem.
What are some of the major vineyards of Dr. Loosen?
Bernkastler Lay Graacher Himmelreich Wehlener Sonnenuhr Erdener Treppchen Urzinger Wurzgarten Erdener Pralat
What are some of Dr. Loosen’s non-Mosel projects?
Villa Wolf - Pfalz
Eroica - Washington State (in partnership with Chateau Ste. Michelle)
J. Christopher - Oregon
What are some of the major vineyards of Joh. Jos. Prum?
Wehlener Sonnenuhr
Zeltinger Sonnenuhr
Graacher Himmelreich
Bernkastler Badstube
What vineyard is Forstmeister Geltz-Ziliken best known for?
Saarburger Rausch
What vineyard is most closely associated with Clemens Busch?
Pundericher Marienberg
What is the steepest vineyard in the Mosel, and possibly the world?
Calmont Hill in the Terrassenmosel
Bremmer Calmont
Ellerer Calmont
What is the characteristic soil of Urzinger Wurzgarten?
Rotliegend
A reddish-colored volcanic rock
What makes the Goldtropfchen vineyard so special?
It is south-facing and shaped like an amphitheater catching sunlight
Who producer is known as “Herr 300 Puntke?”
Weingut Markus Molitor
It translates to “Mr. 300 Points,” in reference to three of his 2013 Auslese Rieslings receiving 100-point scores from Wine Spectator.
What are some notable vineyards of Markus Molitor?
Whelener Sonnenuhr Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Bernkastler Doktor Erdener Pralat Erdener Treppchen Urzinger Wurzgarten
What is the largest wine growing region in Germany?
The Rheinhessen
A quarter of Germany’s vineyards are here
What are the Northernmost and Southernmost cities in Rheinhessen?
Mainz in the north
Worms in the south
What is the regional home of Liebfraumilch?
The Rheinhessen
Specifically, the city of Worms
What are some production requirements of Liebraumilch?
Min. 70%: Riesling, Sylvaner, Kerner, Muller-Thurgau
Min. 18 g/l RS
Varietal labeling is not allowed
What is the “Roter Hang?” Where is it located?
A “red hill” of weathered red sandstone that lies between Nierstein to the south and Nackenheim to the north
What are the important Einzellagen of the Roter Hang?
Nackenheimer Rothenberg Niersteiner Brudersberg Niersteiner Pettenthal Niersteiner Hipping Niersteiner Olberg
Who produces the “G-Max” dry Riesling?
Keller
From undisclosed sources in the Wonnegau Bereiche
What Anbaugebiet plays host to the “Message in a Bottle” group?
The Rheinhessen
Where is the most Silvaner in the world grown?
The Rheinhessen
What are some important vineyard sites for Keller?
Westhofen Morstein Westhofen Kirchspiel Westhofen Brunnenhauschen Dalsheim Hubacker Dalsheim Burgel
What are some important vineyard sites for Gunderloch?
Nackenheimer Rothenberg
Niersteiner Pettenthal
Niersteiner Hipping
What wine of Gunderloch’s has received 100 point Wine Spectator scores? In what vintages?
Nackenheimer Rothenberg TBA
1992, 1996, 2001
In what Anbaugebiete is Wittmann located?
What are some important vineyard sites?
Rheinhessen
Westhofener Morstein
Westhofener Kirchspiel
Westhofener Brunnenhauschen
Westhofener Aulerde
In what Anbaugebiete is Wagner-Stempel located?
What are some important vineyard sites for them?
Rheinhessen
Siefersheimer Heerkretz
Siefersheimer Hollberg
What are some important vineyard sites for Kuhling-Gillot?
Niersteiner Pettenthal
Niersteiner Hipping
What is Niersteiner Gutes Domtal?
A grosslagen/collective vineyard that diluted the reputation of the Roter Hang and Rheinhessen with cheap wine.
What do the following terms denote:
Gutswein
Ortswein
Lagenwein
Gutswein: Estate wine
Ortswein: Village wine (may also be identified by a soil-type)
Lagenwein: Wine from an individual site
Who is Germany’s most respected producer of sparkling wine? Where are they located?
Sekthaus Raumland
Florsheim-Dahlsheim in the Rheinhessen
What grapes are authorized for VDP Grosse Lage bottlings in the Pfalz?
Riesling
Spatburgunder
Weissburgunder
Who are some quality producers in the Pfalz?
Reichsrat von Buhl
Burklin-Wolf
Basserman-Jordan
Koehler-Ruprecht
Muller-Catoir
Weingut von Winning
What was the Sudliche Weinstrasse historically known for?
What changed its fortunes?
Warm, sunny corner of the Pfalz that used to contribute bulk wine that would end up in Mosel negociant blends.
The 1971 German Wine Law pushed regional wines to the head of the quality pyramid, and the region fell into disrepair and disuse.
What are 3 producers closely associated with the Roter Hang?
Gunderloch
Kuhling-Gillot
Schatzel
When was “G-Max” first made?
2001
Where would one expect to find Basalt soils in Pfalz?
Forst Pechstein
But it is also present in:
Forst Jesuitgarten
Forst Kirchenstuck
Forst Ungeheuer
What is DC Pfalz, and what grapes are eligible for it?
Districtus Controllatus Pfalz, a quality designation.
Riesling Grauburgunder Weissburgunder Spatburgunder Dornfelder
What notable site is owned almost entirely by A. Christmann?
Koningsbach Idig in the Pfalz
What is a notable alleinbesitz of Dr. Burklin-Wolf?
Ruppertsberg Gaisbohl
Wachenheimer Rechbachel
What wine producer uses a Premier Cru/Grand Cru labeling system?
What are some of the Grand Crus?
Dr. Burklin-Wolf
Forster Kirchenstuck
Forster Jesuitgarten
Forster Pechstein
Forster Ungeheuer
What would the term “naturwein” denote in German winemaking?
The absence of chaptalization or addition of sussreserve.
What are some of the top vineyard holdings for Okonomierat Rebholz?
Birkweiler Kastanienbusch
Siebeldinger Im Sonnenschein
Im Sonnenschein “Ganz Horn” Parcel
An “R” labeling on an Okonmierat Rebholz bottle indicates what?
Barrique agning
Generally seen for Spatburgunder and Chardonnay
What is a notable alleinbesitz of Muller-Catoir?
Haardt Burgergarten
What is the most notable vineyard in the Sudliche Weinstrasse?
Who are some producers?
Birkweiler Kastanienbusch
A south facing slope in the Haardt hills
Dr. Weirheim
Okonomierat Rebholz
What is the Reinheitsgebot?
1516 Bavarian Beer Purity Law
It limited the ingredients that could be used for beer production to Water, Hops, and Barley.
What are some notable vineyards of Basserman-Jordan?
Deidesheimer Kalkofen Deidesheimer Hohenmorgen Forster Jesuitgarten Forster Pechstein Forster Ungeheuer Forster Freundstuck Forster Kirchenstuck
What is the only Anbaugebiet where Muller-Thurgau is still the most widely planted variety?
Franken
What is the climate of Franken like?
Cool continental
Brief hot summers, bracingly cold winters
What wine would you expect to find in a Bocksbeutel?
Franken Silvaner
What river crosses through Franken?
The Main River
What vineyard is the most well known in Franken?
Wurzberger Stein
Who is the most notable producer of Spatburgunder in Franken?
Rudolf Furst
Who is a notable producer of Silvaner in Franken?
Hans Wirsching
Horst Sauer
Weingut am Stein
What is the most notable vineyard in Iphofen?
Julius-Echter-Berg
What UNESCO designated site attracts visitors for its Baroque architecture and is the heart of Franken?
Wurzberg
What are some important vineyards for Rudolf Furst?
Burgstadter Centgrafenberg
Burgstadter Hundsruck (small plot within Centgrafenberg)
Klingenberg Schlossberg
What is Germany’s driest winegrowing region?
The Nahe
Who are some of the most notable producers of wine in the Nahe?
Shafer-Frolich - Bockenau
Emerich-Schonleber - Monzingen
Donnhoff - Oberhausen
Schlossgut Diel - Burg Layen
What are some of the notable vineyards of Donnhoff?
Niederhauser Hermannshohle
Oberhauser Bruke (alleinbesitz)
Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg
What vineyard is the source of Donnhoff’s Eiswein production?
Oberhauser Bruke
What are some of the notable vineyards of Schafer-Frohlich?
Bockenauer Felseneck
Monzinger Halenberg
Schlossbockleheimer Felsenberg
Schlossbockleheimer Kupfergrube
What are some notable vineyards of Emrich-Schonleber?
Monzinger Halenberg
Monzinger Fruhlingsplatzchen
Auf der Lay (A.de.L.) parcel in Halenberg as well
What is Germany’s smallest Grosse Lage?
Who is a producer?
Traisener Bastei (1.44 ha) in the Nahe
Dr. Crusius
What are some of the notable vineyards of Schlossgut Diel?
Burg Layner Schlossberg
Dorsheimer Pittermannchen
Dorsheimer Goldloch
Dorsheimer Bergberg
What is the smallest Anbaugebiet in Germany?
Hessische-Bergstrasse
What Anbaugebiet were created with the unification of Germany in 1990?
Sachsen
Saale-Unstrut
