Germany Flashcards
Name the Anbaugebiete of Germany
Ahr
Baden
Franken
Hessische Bergstraße
Mittelrhein
Mosel
Nahe
Pfalz
Rheingau
Rheinhessen
Saale-Unstrut
Sachsen
Württemberg
What is an Einzellage(n)?
a legally registered single vineyard
What is a Grosslage(n)?
a legally registered assemblage of single vineyard sites (typically indicates slightly lower quality than an einzellage wine)
What is a Bereich?
Political district, used as an Anbaugebiete sub-region.
What are the Bereich of the Mosel?
Burg Cochem, Bernkastel, Saar, Ruwertal, Obermosel, Moseltor
What is an Anbaugebiete?
One of Germany’s 13 growing regions
At what latitude are Germany’s wine regions found?
51.3° (Saale-Unstrut) - Northernmost
49.6° (Mosel/ Nahe/ Rhingau/ Franconia)
47.3° (Württemberg) - Southernmost
Why are most German vineyards south facing?
Cool climate prohibits grape ripening without the temperature influence and sunlight hours of south facing vineyards
What is the most important soil type of the Mosel?
Slate (Devonian slate, blue slate, red slate)
What is the most planted and most important white grape variety of Germany?
Riesling
What is the most important red grape variety of Germany?
Spatburgunder
Which quality levels allow for Chaptilization?
Deutscher Wein
Landwein
Qualitätswein
Describe the QbA vs Prädikatswein
QbA - Qualitätswein bestimmer Anbaugebiete
(Third quality tier)
Quality wine from a defined region
-receives AP number
-permits chaptalization
Prädikatswein (formerly QmP)
(Highest quality tier)
Quality wine with a special attribute (refers to ripeness levels)
-receives AP number
-does not permit chaptalization
What are the Prädikatswein levels in sequence from lowest must weight?
Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, Beerenauslese/ Eiswein, Trockenbeerenauslese
What is trocken?
“Dry” or “No Sugar”. Legally the max residual sugar is 9 g/L. Corresponds to acidity level +2 g/L.
What is halbtrocken?
Wines between 5 g/L and 18 g/L of Residual Sugar. Term is being replaced with “Feinherb” (popular in the Mosel: 10 g/L - 20 g/L) and “Classic”.
What is Sekt?
Sparkling wine made in Germany at multiple quality levels.
What are the quality levels of Sekt?
Deutscher Sekt
Sekt bestimmer Anbaugebeite (Sekt b.A.)
Winzersekt
Perlwein
What are the regulations for Deutscher Sekt?
Grapes must come from Germany. No vintage, grape, or quality regulation.
What are the regulations of Sekt bA?
Grapes must come from an Anbaugebeite. Mostly Charmat wines, but some Traditional Method wines.
What is Winzersekt?
Single vintage
Single grape variety or pinot cuvée
Traditional method
Aged on lees for at least 9 months
Perlwein
Not a protected term, but typically very slightly carbonated wine (1-2.5 atmosphers of pressure). May have PDO designation. Broad quality levels
What were the 1971 Wine Law changes?
-Establishment of 4 quality tiers (Detscher Wine, Landwein, Qba, QmP)
-Emphasis on ripeness (implementation of Oeschle)
-Reorganization of 30k einzellagen into 2600 registered vineyards
-Created grosslage
-Established minimum vineyard size (5ha)
When and how did the vine arrive in Germany?
Vitis Vinifera arrived in Germany through the Romans in the 3rd Centrury.