Germany Flashcards
Describe key points in the German history (1830, quality of wines produced)
- 1830s: introduction of new wine laws based on must weight of grapes
- High volumes of inexpensive wines were produced that could reliably ripen
- Vineyard area was restructured to make it more efficient (several smaller plots abandoned)
- Increased focus on quality in the last 30 years (however, still dominated by bulk wine production)
What are the two extremes the German wine world is known for
- Riesling (25% of vineyards)
- Liebfraumilch
What is Liebfraumilch?
- Germany as synonym for inexpensive, medium sweet wines
- Often from Müller-Thurgau and Kerner
- Accounted for 60% of German exports in the 1980s
- Sales plummeted as consumers turned towards drier styles
What is the climate in Germany?
Cool continental
Describe the location of vineyards and the effect on grape growing
- Located at 49-50° (the most northerly in the world)
- Proximity to river Rhein (radiating heat, moderating temperature, extending the growing season)
- Steep south-facing slopes of up to 70% gradient (max sun exposure)
- Mostly low lying (below 200m)
What is the rainfall amount and pattern in Germany?
- 500-800mm
- Mostly during summer
What are the associated risks with rainfall?
- Fungal disease
- Dilution of grapes
- Heavy storms
- Hail
What German region is an exception in terms of growing envirovment and what is the difference?
Baden (warmer, drier, sunnier)
What favorable conditions are in autumn and winter and what are they good for?
- Long and dry autumns (development of botrytis for Prädikatswein)
- Very cold winters (major frost risk for production of ice wines)
What are the three main soil types?
- Dark colored slate
- Calcerous soils
- Clay
Where is dark colored slate found and what are its benefits?
- Mosel, Ahr
- Retains heat and radiates during the night
Where is calcerous soil found and what varieties are grown on it?
- Baden, Pfalz, Rheinhessen (Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, and Chardonnay)
- Franken (Silvaner)
What grape variety is grown on clay soil?
Grauburgunder
What is the German area under vine and the total production (in hL)?
- 100,000 ha under vine
- 9mn hL
What are the max yields for Deutscher Wein/Landwein, Qualitätswein, and high-quality producers
- 150 hL/ha for Deutscher Wein and Landwein
- 105 hL/ha for Qualitätswein
- Much lower for high-quality producers
How is the strong vintage variation reduced over recent years?
- Better clonal selection
- Summer pruning
- Green harvesting
- Hand harvesting
What was the traditional trellising system and what is used nowadays?
- Traditionally: staked individually with canes tied at the top (now only on steepest vineyards as labor intensive)
- Today: Mostly single or double Guyot with VSP OR Pendelbogen (form of replacement cane pruning)
How many vineyards are farmed organically or biodynamicly?
- Germany not widely suited for organic or biodynamic viticulture (only 9% of vineyards are organic)
- Growers have to spray regularly because of disease pressure (in steep vineyards in Mosel even by helicopter)
What are the disadvantages of steeper slopes?
- No mechanization possible
- In some cases so steep that workers and equipment have to be winched up the slope
- Requires much more labor than flatter sites
- Higher costs (only Riesling can command the higher prices)
What is an advantage and disadvantage (in Germany) of flatter land?
- Advantage: Can be mechanized at a large scale
- Disadvantage: Still higher costs compared to other countries
How has the planting ratio of white and black varieties changed compared to 1980s.
- In 1980s: 90% white varieties
- Now: 60% white varieties
What factors contributed to a significant improvement of German red wines?
- Better vineyard management
- Winemaking techniques
- Increasing temperatures
What other varieties (besides Riesling and Pinot Noir) increased their plantings since 1990s?
- Pinot Gris
- Pinot Blanc
- Chardonnay
What are the 7 most planted grape varieties in Germany? (order descending in vineyard area)
- Riesling
- Müller-Thurgau
- Spätburgunder
- Dornfelder
- Grauburgunder
- Weissburgunder
- Silvaner
What 5 other varieties are planted in Germany?
- Chardonnay
- Portugieser
- Schwarzriesling (Meunier)
- Trollinger (Schiava)
- Lemberger (Blaufränkisch)
What are the plantings and budding/Ripening time of Riesling?
- 23% of plantings
- Late-budding, thick wood -> relatively frost resistant
- Late-ripening -> may not ripen fully (therefore, plantings fell in 1970s & 80s, but increased again with more consistent ripening now)
Describe the Riesling variety’s style: sweetness, acidity, intensity, aromas, ageing potential
- Dry to sweet
- Retains high acidity even when fully ripe
- Pronounced intensity
- Flavors range from green to tropical
- Aromas with age: toast, honeyed, and petrol-like aromas
- Significant potential for ageing
What is Riesling susceptible to?
Botrytis
What is the ripening time of Müller-Thurgau compared to Riesling?
Earlier than Riesling
Is Müller-Thurgau low or high yielding?
High yields in almost any conditions
For what is Müller-Thurgau widely used?
For production of inexpensive blends (e.g., Liebfraumilch)
Describe the style of Müller-Thurgau
(acidity, aromas, ageing potential)
- Lower acidity and structure than Riesling
- Relatively simple aromatic
- Made for early consumption
What are the plantings of Spätburgunder?
11.5%
Where is Spätburgunder mostly grown?
In warmer climates, esp. Baden
Is popularity of Spätburgunder increasing oder decreasing?
Rapid rise in popularity
What factors led to the production of high-quality, complex, and dry Spätburgunder? (with oak ageing)
- Better vineyard management
- Higher quality clones
- Canopy management
- Perfect selection of harvest date (balance alcohol, acidity and ripeness of fruit and tannins)
What is the style of Dornfelder? (color, acidity, aromas)
- Deep color
- High acidity
- Fruity and floral notes
Describe the two styles of Dornfelder
- Easy drinking with often residual sugar
- More complex style with ageing potential and higher focus on tannins and structure (oak)
In what two regions is Dornfelder the most grown black variety?
Rheinhessen and Pfalz
What is Silvaner’s acidity and aromatic compared to Riesling?
Lower in acidity and less aromatic than Riesling
What is the typical/most common style of Silvaner? (quality, price, aromas)
- Simple, inexpensive wines
- Aromas of green fruit to tropical
What is the style of Silvaner if yields are controlled (esp. in Franken)? (quality, sweetness, body, acidity, special aromas)
- High-quality
- Dry
- Medium-bodied
- Medium to medium(+) acidity
- Distinct earthy character
Where are the most plantings of Grau- and Weißburgunder?
- Rheinhessen
- Pfalz
- Baden
What is the typical style of Grauburgunder? (sweetness, acidity, body, aromas)
- Dry
- Medium acidity
- Medium body
- Stone fruit, tropical fruit, and honey
What is a “Ruländer”?
A sweeter and full-bodied style of Grauburgunder
What is the typical style of Weißburgunder? (acidity, aromas)
- Medium (+) acidity
- Delicate citrus and stone fruit aromas
Since when is Chardonnay allowed and are plantings high or low?
- 1990s
- Still low plantings
What two regions are known for high-quality, often oaked Chardonnay wines?
- Southern Pfalz
- Kaiserstuhl in Baden