Germany Flashcards
When were Rheingau vineyards such as Schloss Johannisberg and Kloster Eberbach planted?
12th century
When did wine industry goes into decline because of the Thirty Years War?
What further progressed the decline?
17th century.
Switch to grain production for beer/bread on plains - pushed viticulture up slopes. Remains the distinction of German viticulture.
When were new wine laws introduced, based on the must weight of grapes, a principle which dominates German wine law to this day?
1830s
When did Germany becomes unified, so states can begin to trade amongst each other?
1871
Some of Germany’s wine institutes are founded e.g. Hochschule Geisenheim University in Rheingau and the Julius-Institute in Pfalz?
Late 19th and early 20th century
When did the inexpensive, medium-sweet wines labelled as Liebfraumilch - accounting for 60% of all German exports?
Late 20th century - by 1980.
When did the fifth German wine law is passed. This lays the foundation for modern German wine production, establishing protected geographical labelling and classification of wine styles base on must weights
1971
Explain what is meant by Flurbereinigung.
Flurbereinigung can be translated as land consolidation and is a program of vineyard restructuring that involves the consolidation of many small, fragmented vineyards. Fragmentation has been a result of equal division inheritance laws (similar to the Napoleonic inheritance laws in Burgundy). This endeavor was undertaken to improve access to hard to reach vineyards by building roads etc. This was also an exercise in reducing costs for producers by having their vineyards adjacent rather than smaller plots scattered over a large area. This has allowed for more economical management of the vineyards through increased mechanization.
Most of Germany’s vineyards are some of the most northerly in the world. Between which degrees latitude do most of the vineyards lie?
49-50 N
Briefly explain how the Rhine river and the Taunus and Haardt mountains effect grape growing in Germany.
The river Rhine is one of the key reasons why viticulture and particularly the successful ripening of Riesling is possible in this marginal climate and northerly latitude. Proximity to large bodies of water moderate temperatures and this is what the river Rhine does. The result being an extended growing season which is key for ripening Riesling and the vineyards closest to the river benefit the most. The river also reflects sunlight and heat back on the vineyards.
The Haardt mountains are a continuation of the Vosges mountains in Alsace located directly south. The Pfalz vineyards are mostly planted at the base of the Haardt mountains in a long thin strip. The mountains provide the same protection from westerly winds and the rain that comes with it, creating a dry, warm and sunnier climate than surrounding areas that are not protected by these mountains. The resulting wine styles in this region are generally dry as the climate ripens grapes fully.
The Taunus mountains are in the Rheingau wine region and they are located north of the vineyards, which gives protection from cold winds. The vineyards are sandwiched between the Taunus mountains in the north and the river Rhine to the south.
What are the general soil types of Mosel?
Dark-colored slate soils
What are the general soils of Ahr?
Dark-colored slate soils and greywaque
What are the general soils of Rheinhessen?
Calcareous soils
What are the general soil types of Baden?
Calcareous soils - but are generally varied.
What are the general soil types of Pfalz?
Calcareous soils
Considering vineyard establishment and management, identify four options that may improve the ripeness of the grapes.
- Plant on slopes that are south east or west facing.
- Plant near a river.
- Clonal selection to pick clones most suited for the environment.
- Summer pruning to remove excess foliage.
- Green harvesting to remove grapes that are unlikely to achieve full ripeness.
- Selective hand harvesting.
- Soils that retain/reflect heat.
What is the name of the German replacement-cane pruning system where the canes are arched in the trellis? The arching of the canes is thought to improve the flow of sap in the vine and increase the number of viable buds, in turn increasing yields.
Pendelbogen
Which two of Germany’s principal varieties are crosses?
- Dornfelder
- Muller-Thurgau
- Scheurebe
- Kerner
What are the typical characteristics of Riesling?
- Can produce dry to sweet wines.
- It has high acidity and often significant potential for aging.
- Wines can have pronounced intensity and fruit flavor range from green fruit to tropical, often with floral notes such as white flowers or honeysuckle.
- With age, the wines develop toast, honey and sometimes petrol-like aromas
what are the typical characteristics of Muller-Thurgau?
- Medium acidity
- simple floral and fruity aromas
- high yields
What are the typical characteristics of Dornfelder?
- deep in color
- high in acidity with floral and fruity notes
What are the typical characteristics of Silvaner?
- dry, medium-bodied wines
- medium to medium (+) acidity
- earthy characteristics
What percentage ABV enrichment does Zone A permit?
What about Zone B?
What regions of Germany are associated with both?
3% ABV
2% ABV
Baden is the only Zone B, rest Zone A.
True or false?
De-acidifaction is permitted in Germany but acidification is not.
False.
Acidification is permitted, but only in the hottest years. Both acidification and de-acidification only tend to be used for high volume, inexpensive wines.
What are the name of vessel size 1000L?
Fuder
