Germany

Question 1

What percentage of Germany’s vineyards are planted to red varieties?

Answer 1

36%

Question 2

When did the Germans first start using sulphur?

Answer 2

1487.

Question 3

How many Grosslagen are there in Germany?

Answer 3

Approximately 160.

Question 4

How many Einzellagen are there in Germany?

Answer 4

More than 2700.

Question 5

How much residual sugar is necessary for a German wine to be labeled as sweet (süss or süβ)

Answer 5

More than 45 g/L

Question 6

What is the Ratskeller in Bremen known for?

Answer 6

Having a large number of old wines based on Riesling including from as early as 1653.

Question 7

What is a Weissherbst?

Answer 7

A rosé made from a single variety of at least Qualitätswein quality.

Question 8

What are the German wine regions known as?

Answer 8

Anbaugebiete

Question 9

What does Erzeugerabfüllung mean?

Answer 9

The German term for “producer bottling”. May be used for co-ops as well as estates.

Question 10

What is Schaumwein?

Answer 10

A simple, fruity, aerated sparkling wine in Germany.

Question 11

What is an Einzellage?

Answer 11

In theory, a single officially designated vineyard in Germany, but they’ve been cobbled together into new vineyards.

Question 12

What are the VDP classifications, from highest to lowest?

Answer 12

VDP Grosse Lage
VDP Erste Lage
VDP Ortswein
VDP Gutswein

Question 13

What is a halbsüβ wine?

Answer 13

Same as lieblich, half sweet, with 18-45 g/L residual sugar.

Question 14

What is a feinherb wein?

Answer 14

An off-dry wine (similar to halbtrocken - 9-18 g/L residual sugar, cannot be more than 10 g/L above the acidity level)

Question 15

What are the sub-categories of gU wines?

Answer 15

The sub-categoreis for gU wines are Qualitatswein and Pradikatswein (the highest quality level).

Question 16

Describe a wine that is halbtrocken.

Answer 16

It is off-dry, with 9-18 g/L residual sugar. The sugar level cannot be more than 10 g/L above the acidity level.

Question 17

What does gU stand for?

Answer 17

gU stands for geschutzte Ursprungsbezeichnung. This is the German PDO category.

Question 18

What is the most widely planted red grape variety in Germany?

Answer 18

Pinot Noir (Spätburgunder) is the most widely planted red grape in Germany.

Question 19

What does ggA stand for?

Answer 19

The abbreviation ggA stands for geschutzte geographische Angabe, which is the German PGI. It used to be referred to as Landwein.

Question 20

What does the term Grosse Lage mean?

Answer 20

Grosse Lage indicates that the wine comes from the highest level vineyards of a VDP estate.

Question 21

What does the term Grosses Gewächs mean?

Answer 21

Grosses Gewächs is a labeling term used for dry wines produced from a VDP Grosse Lage vineyard.

Question 22

What does VDP Erste Lage mean?

Answer 22

Erste Lage is the second highest level vineyard of an estate.

Question 23

What does the term “lieblich” on a German label mean?

Answer 23

The term “lieblich” on German labels means that the wine is half sweet with 18-45 g/L residual sugar.

Question 24

Which German wine region produces only 2% of the country’s wines, but has an excellent reputation for those wines it produces?

Answer 24

Rheingau has an excellent reputation for its wines although it only produces 2% of Germany’s wine.

Question 25

What is the Rudesheimer Apostelwein?

Answer 25

Believed to be one of the oldest wines still in existence, a Riesling made in 1727, stored in Bremen.

Question 26

What is Schloss Johannisberg?

Answer 26

A German wine estate in the Rheingau. Belongs to the Oetker family. Legend says it played an important role in the discovery of Noble Rot.

Question 27

What grapes are planted in Rheingau?

Answer 27

Riesling (75%)
Spätburgunder (15%)

Question 28

What one Bereich is located in Reingau?

Answer 28

Johannisberg

Question 29

Which German region has the most Einzellagen?

Answer 29

Mosel has the most (over 500) Einzellagen.

Question 30

What percentage of grapes grown in Mosel are red?

Answer 30

10%

Question 31

Besides Riesling, what grapes are grown in Mosel?

Answer 31

White - Müller Thurgau, Elbling and Grauburgunder
Red - Spätburgunder

Question 32

What German wine region is sometimes referred to as Palatinate?

Answer 32

Pfalz is sometimes referred to as Palatinate.

Question 33

Besides Riesling, what other grapes are grown in Pfalz?

Answer 33

Müller Thurgau
Grauburgunder
Dornfelder
Spätburgunder

Question 34

What percentage of planting in Pfalz are Riesling?

Answer 34

25%

Question 35

Where is the Hessische Bergstrasse?

Answer 35

The Hessische Bergstrasse is a very small anbaugebiete located just north of Baden.

Question 36

What wines are made in Hessische Bergstrasse?

Answer 36

Riesling (50%)
Other white wines

Question 37

What are the main grape varieties of Wurttemberg?

Answer 37

The main grape varieties of Wurtemberg are Trollinger, Schwarzriesling (Pinot Meunier), and Lemberger.

Question 38

What are the main grapes of Rheinhessen?

Answer 38

Riesling
Müller-Thurgau
Dornfelder

Question 39

Where is Nierstein?

Answer 39

Nierstein is in the Rheinhessen.

Question 40

What percentage of Nahe’s production is Riesling?

Answer 40

About 25%

Question 41

What wine is produced in Franken?

Answer 41

Silvaner
Müller Thurgau

Question 42

What region is considered the warmest district in Germany?

Answer 42

Kaiserstuhl Bereich in Baden

Question 43

What are the most planted grapes in Baden?

Answer 43

Spätburgunder
Müller Thurgau
Grauburgunder

Question 44

What type of wines are made in Ahr?

Answer 44

Mostly Red:
Spätburgunder
Dornfelder
Portugieser

Question 45

Why is Ahr able to produce red wines with relatively high tannins despite its northerly position?

Answer 45

The land surrounding the Ahr River has a lot of sheltered valleys, steep facing slopes, and dark slate/greywacke soils.

Question 46

What wines are made in Mittlerhein?

Answer 46

Mostly Riesling

Question 47

What wines are made in Sachsen and Saale-Unstrut?

Answer 47

Müller Thurgau
Riesling
Weissburgunder