Germany Flashcards
What is Acolon?
German crossing of Lemberger and Dornfelder especially popular in Wurttemberg and the Pfalz
From which mountains does the Ahr River flow and in what direction?
flows east from the Eifel Mountains joining the Rhine
What are the main soil types of the Ahr?
Slate, Basalt, and clay-rich Greywacke
What is the main grape of the Ahr?
Spätburgunder
What factors intensify summer warmth in the Ahr?
The darkness of the soil color and the protection from northern winds by the slopes that form the valley.
Where is the Kloster Marienthal and what is it?
Located in the Ahr and is a star cooperative of the anbaugebiete producing excellent Spätburgunder.
For what level of quality in Germany is the Amtliche Prüfungsnummer used? How many digits does it consist of and what does each signify?
Qualitätswein
10-12 digits
First digit signifies what testing region the wine was tested in.
The next code signifies the location of the vineyard.
The next set is the bottlers own code which is a unique identification of the particular lot.
The final two digits signifies the year in which the wine was tested.
What is the crossing that produced Bacchus?
Riesling x Silvaner crossing and Muller-Thurgau
What grape is Bacchus most commonly blended with in Germany?
Muller-Thurgau
What is the German name for Lake Constance and where is this?
Bodensee; it is located on the south of Baden and Wurttemberg separating Germany from Switzerland
What are the top 3 grapes planted in Baden?
Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir)
Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris)
Weissburgunder (Pinot Blanc)
What is the term for grower’s cooperative in Germany?
Winzergenossenschaften
What two regions sell wine in the Bocksbeutel? What was the original purpose of this bottle from the 18th century onward prior to WWI?
Tauberfranken in the Baden and the Franken
The original purpose of this bottle was to guarantee the authenticity of Würzburger Steinwein.
What is the Anbaugebiet of Breisgau and what is the main grape?
Baden
Spatburgunder
What is the main soil type of Kaiserstuhl? What is the grape here? Anbaugebiet?
Volcanic soils that produce some of the country’s finest Spatburgunder.
Baden
What are the soil differences between Kaiserstuhl and Tuniberg?
Kaiserstuhl is mostly volcanic soils and Tuniberg is more Loess and calcareous soils.
Markgräflerland in Baden is known for what grape?
Gutedel (Chasselas)
What are the Oechsle levels for Beerenauslese?
110-128 degrees Oechsle depending on the Anbaugebiet
What is the traditional color of Mosel wine bottles? Rheingau?
Green for Mosel
Brown for Rheingau
When was Charta founded and to what anbaugebiet is it exclusive? What is paradoxical about this theoretically higher quality designation?
1984; Rheingau
Paradoxical because while it is in theory a higher designation of quality the specific vineyard name may not be labeled on the bottle of the wine and the wines are only allowed to be produced in either trocken or halbtrocken style.
What does the term Classic indicate on a bottle of German wine? When was this term legally sanctioned and what term was it meant to replace?
Indicates that the wine is a single varietal “harmoniously dry” (max 15g/L RS) wine with no mention of vineyard name and has a minimum alcohol of 12% (11.5% in the Mosel).
Term was legally sanctioned in 2000 and meant to replace the term halbtrocken.
What is the max RS for wines labeled “Classic” in Germany? Min abv?
Max 15g/L; min 12%abv (11.5% in Mosel)
What are three terms for a cooperative in Germany?
Winzergenossenschaft
Winzerverein
Winzervereinigung
Which anbaugebiete’ production is mostly from one cooperative? What is the name of this cooperative?
Baden
Badischer Winzerkeller
What is the top Winzergenossenschaft in Mosel?
Moselland of Bernkastel
What category replaced Tafelwein?
Deutscher Wein
What is the Deutsches Weinsiegel?
Also known as German Wine Seal and is a significant award made to superior bottlings assessed by blind tasting panels after the bottle has been given an official AP number.
German synonym for noble rot?
Edelfäule
What is the name of an individual vineyard site?
einzellage
What is the maximum temperature at harvest time for grapes picked for the production of Eiswein?
No higher than -7C
If grapes are picked in January or February for the production of Eiswein in Germany, what vintage date does the bottle carry?
The year of the growing season.
The minimum must weigh for Eiswein is the same for what other pradikat? What are the ranges of Oechsle for this?
Beerenauslese; 110-128 Oechsle
In what year did Erste Lage become recognized as the name for a top site according to the VDP? What is the name of this wine when produced legally trocken in style? When was term Grosse Lage created to replace Erste Lage effectively making Erste Lage equivalent of 1er Cru and Grose Lage equivalent to Grand Cru?
2006; called Grosses Gewächs when legally dry and from an Erste Lage site
In 2013, top vineyards became known as Grosse Lage and Erste Lage effectively became a designation equivalent to Premier Cru
The name for dry wines from top vineyard sites in the Rheingau between 1999-2013?
Erstes Gewächs
What is the german term for producer-bottled? Who can use this term?
Erzeugerabfüllung; producers and cooperatives
What is Federweisser?
In Germany it is a young wine popularly consumed before bottling, generally cloudy and still fermenting, and typically referred to Sturm in Austria.
In German-speaking Switzerland, it refers to a white wine produced from black grapes.
What does feinherb indicate?
Modest sweetness; legally accepted term that is meant to substitute for the term ‘halbrtocken’
What is Flurbereinigung?
The wholesale restructuring to which many of Germany’s vineyards have been subjected since the 1950s including the consolidation of fragmented vineyards and reconstruction, replanting, and altering of vineyard profiles.
What is the traditional bottle of Franken?
Bocksbeutel
What river flows through the region of Franken?
Main
What is the most famous vineyard for Silvaner in Franken?
the Stein vineyard in Würzburg.
Wine made in the Steigerwald refers to wine produced where? What is a top vineyard site here?
Southeast Franken; Julius-EchterBerg vineyard in Iphofen
What is the name of the vineyard famously associated with the Kloster Eberbach?
Steinberg
When was the term “cabinet” first used and where?
1716 at the Schloss Vollrads in the Rheingau
What organization is considered the precursor of the VDP and when was it founded?
Verein Deutscher Naturweinversteiger (VDNV) founded in 1910
What is Reblaus?
The German name for Phylloxera
What does the term Hochgewächs indicate on a bottle of German wine?
Indicates a Riesling that is of higher quality and meets higher standards than the minimums set for QBA but not qualifying for a Prädikat.
Term is rarely used but introduced in 1987
Grapes at harvest must be at least 10 Oechsle higher than the minimum and the wines must have an alcohol level that is 1.5% higher than the minimum set for QBA.
What percentage of vines in Germany are ungrafted? In what year was the planting of ungrafted vines banned to prevent the spread of phylloxera to these historic vines?
4-5%; banned in 2013
What is the most common methods fo preserving sweetness in German Riesling used today?
A combination of Chilling the Wine, Adding Sulphur, and bottling after Sterile Filtration
What is the volume size of a traditional Stück?
1200L
What is the volume of a Mosel Fuder?
1000L
What is the German synonym for Blaufrankisch?
Lemberger
What does Feinherb mean?
An unofficial designation for a wine that is similar to halbtrocken in sweetness.
What anbaugebiete are located within the state of Rhineland-Palatinate?
Ahr Mittelrhein Mosel Nahe Pfalz Rheinhessen
What is a Goldkapsel and what does it indicate regarding a bottle of German wine?
Golden foil capsule which is meant to signify superior quality.
Some producers will list the letters GKA instead of putting a golden capsule on the bottle.
lange Goldkapsel which suggest even finer quality and if the capsule isn’t present the abbreviation LGKA may be listed on the label.
What is a grape called in Germany?
Rebe
What is Rulander?
German synonym for Pinot Gris principally used in Baden and Pfalz.
Typically used to denote a dessert sweet style of Pinot Gris when used in lieu of Grauburgunder.
What is the Grosser Ring?
the Mosel branch of the VDP that was founded in 1908 in Trier which sells a majority of its wines through the historical and famous Trier Auction each year.
Who is the president of the Grosser Ring?
Egon Muller-Scharzhof
What are the requirements that must be met to be a member of the Grosser Ring?
Must own top vineyard sites
Must be full-time wine growers
Must produce at least 80% Riesling out of total production.
Must produce a higher number of Pradikats than the average estate.
What is a Betriebsprufung?
This is an unannounced periodical “estate review” that takes place in the Mosel at VDP estates and is carried out by members of the Grosser Ring VDP or other members of the VDP branch there.
How does the Trier Wine Auctions influence the market for German Riesling?
These auctions help to set prices for the wines each vintage while also ensuring quality and integrity and a means to track provenance.
In the past prior to these auctions, powerful merchant houses would buy up wines at lesser prices than the grower could otherwise sell them and blend them with lesser wines which hurt both the grower and the consumer.
These auctions which are structured around the grower’s association help to prevent fraud and also to maximize return on their hard work.
What are three annual auctions that take place in Germany?
Bernkasteler Ring VDP Auction in Bernkastel-Wehlen
Grosser Ring VDP Auction in Trier
Rheinhau VDP Auction at the Kloster Eberbach
When was the Grosses Gewächs term first used?
2002
What is the max yield for Grosses Gewächs wine?
50hl/ha
What pradikat level of must weight must GG wine be?
Spätlese
Since what vintage has “GG” been embossed on bottles of Grosses Gewächs wine?
Since 2007
What are 3 requirements for GG wine?
Max yields of 50hl/ha
Must be hand-harvested
Must weight of at least Spätlese at the time of harvest.
Must be from a Grosse Lage site
WIne must be dry or “trocken” in style.
V.D.P. Grosses Gewächs will be listed on the capsule around the neck
The bottle must be embossed with the GG
Erstes Gewachs wine from the Rheingau would now be called what?
Grosses Gewachs
Match the large Grosslagen with the respective village
Gutes Domtal
Michelsberg
Badstube
Niersteiner Gutes Domtal
Piesporter Michelsberg
Bernkasteler Badstube
What is the german term for “estate-bottled”?
gutsabfüllung
What is the difference between erzeugerabfullung and gutsabfullung?
Erzeugerabfullung means “producer bottled”
Gutsabfullung means “estate-bottled”
Gutsabfullung is generally considered of higher quality as it refers to a grower producer rather than what could have been a cooperative which is implied by erzeugerabfullung
What is the range of RS for wines labeled Halbtrocken?
Between 5-18g/L RS depending on the total acidity.
Max RS in g/L = to g/L of total acidity + 10; up to 18g/L
What is the anbaugebiete of Bergsträsser Winzer and what is significant about this producer?
Hessische-Bergstrasse; produces a majority of the anbaugebiete’s annual output.
What is the most famed estate in the Hessische-Bergstrasse?
Hessische Staatsweingüter
What is a rotling? What is this called in Wurttemberg?
A rotling is a rosé produced by blending red and white grape must prior to fermentation. This is called Schillerwein in Wurttemberg.
What is Schillerwein?
This is the term in Wurttemberg for a rotling, or rosé produced by blending red and white grape must prior to fermentation.
What are two names for a rosé produced in Germany from 100% Red grapes? What is this called when it is produced from a single varietal?
Roséwine when produced by 100% Red grapes.
Weissherbst when it is produced by a single varietal.
What is the Deutsches Weingesetz?
1971 German Wine Law
In what decade was sterile filtration discovered?
1950s
Before the 1971 German wine law, the terms feine, feinste, and hochfeine were language that existed historically to indicate what?
Reserve wines within a larger category of wine.
What does a goldkapsule indicate?
Higher level of sweetness and distinction than what a labeled pradikat suggests.
In what anbaugebiete is the goldkapsule used?
Mosel and Rheingau
In what anbaugebiet is the star system used to indicate higher levels of distinction for wines?
Mosel
What do the 5 sets of numbers in an AP number indicate?
1st Set: Location of Examination Board
2nd Set: The Village in which the wine was produced
3rd Set: The Producer
4th Set: The unique number of the bottling
5th Set: The year in which the wine was tested which is typically one calendar year after the vintage.
For what levels of wine quality must German wine carry an AP number?
Qualitatswein and Pradikatswein
In what year did Eiswein become a pradikat according to German wine law and when was the category of Landwein introduced?
1982
What are three vineyards that are exceptions to the minimum 5ha requirement for a German vineyard?
Forster Kirchenstuck
Bernkasterler Doctor
Kiedricher Turmberg
What are the max RS levels for Classic and Selection wines according to the German Wine Law?
Classic: Max 15g/L
Reserve: Max 9g/L (max 12g/L for Riesling)
What are three requirements for German wine labeled “Reserve”?
Hand-harvested
Single Varietal
From a Single Vineyard
Max yields of 60hl/ha
Must weights at harvest are equivalent to Auslese.
What is the min abv for German wines labeled “Classic”?
Min 12% (11.5% in the Mosel)
What is the German name for a PDO?
gU or geschütze Ursprungsbezeichnung
What is the equivalent of IGP in Germany? For what styles of wine does this category apply?
Landwein; trocken and halbtrocken wines produced from one of the 26 Landweingebiete
What is the min abv for German Qualitatswein and each level of Pradikatswein respectively?
Qualitatswein: min 7%
Pradikatswein: min 7% for all pradikat except for BA, TBA, and Eiswein which is 5.5%
What pradikat would fruit used for Rheingau Erstes Gewachs qualify for in regards to ripeness?
Auslese
According to the VDP which wines must be produced from hand-harvested fruit?
All single vineyard wines and for any pradikat wines of Auslese pradikat and above.
What is the only statement of origin permitted for VDP Gutswein?
The Anbaugebiet in which it’s produced
What statement of origin would you find on a bottle of VDP Ortswein? What other terms might you find on these bottles?
The village in which the vineyards are located. You may additionally find terms for a particular soil type the vines are planted to such as Kalkstein (limestone).
What are the aging requirements for Grosses Gewachs white and red wine respectively?
White may not be released until September 1st of the year after harvest.
Red wines may not be released until September 1st of the 2nd year following harvest and must spend 12 months in wood prior to bottling.
Is Chaptalization legal for VDP dry wines?
According to the VDP no, but the German Wine Law sees all levels of dry VDP wine as Qualitatswein so legally it is permitted and often practiced particularly with GG Spatburgunder.
What are the max yields for each level of VDP German Wine category?
Gutswein and Ortswein: Max 75hl/ha
Erstel Lage: 60hl/ha
Grosse Lage: 50hl/ha
What is an example of a VDP Grosse Lage wine produced with yields exceeding the max of 50hl/ha?
Grosse Lage Kabinett is sometimes produced at higher yields and this is tolerated because higher yields are more suitable for that style of wine.
What are the top 3 anbaugebiet in regards to Spätburgunder plantings in Germany?
Baden
Pfalz
Rheinhessen
What is Fruhburgunder?
Early-maturing identical grape to Pinot Noir. Called Pinot Noir Precocé in France.
What are the top three producing countries for Pinot Noir in the World?
France
United States
Germany
Henkel, Rotkappchen, and Sohnlein-Brillant are all producers of what?
German Sekt
Name three producers of German Sekt?
Sohnlein-Brillant Leitz Rotkappchen Henkel Volker-Raumlan
What was the first German wine house to focus exclusively on sparkling wine?
Volker-Raumland in the Rheinhessen
