Germany

Question 1

Describe the quality ladder in Germany.

Answer 1

1. Deutscher Wein
2. Landwein
3. Qualitätswein
4. Pradikätswein

Question 2

What are the requisites for Deutscher Wein?

Answer 2

• Wine without geographical indication.
• grapes grown in Germany.
• alcohol level between 8.5%-15%.
• can be produced in any style.

Question 3

What are the requisites for Landwein?

Answer 3

• Equivalent to PGI.
• 85% of the grapes must be from the Landwein region on the label
• alcohol levels between 8.5% - 15%
• in most regions, only trocken or halbtrocken styles allowed (in few, sweeter styles allowed too)

Question 4

What are the requirements for Qualitätswein?

Answer 4

• Grapes 100% from one of the 13 Anbaugebiete.
• Minimum alcohol 7% to allow for sweeter, lower alcohol styles.
• Wines can be made in all styles.
• Wines must undergo lab analysis and a blind tasting before market.
• Mostly cheap, high volume wine made in this category.

Question 5

What are the requirements for Pradikätswein?

Answer 5

• PDO equivalent.
• Grapes must come from a Bereich (40, smaller than Anbaugebieten), name doesn’t need to be on label.
• Higher must weights.
• Enrichment not allowed.
• Can be produced from any grape (particularly associated with Riesling)

Question 6

List 6 Prädikats in order of must weight.

Answer 6

1. Kabinett
2. Spätlese
3. Auslese
4. Beerenauslese
5. Eiswein
6. Trockenbeerenauslese

Question 7

What are the requirements for a
Kabinett.

Answer 7

• Lowest must weight for a Prädikatswein.
• Lightest in body and highest in acid.
• Can be dry to medium-sweet.
• Minimum alcohol 7%, dry can reach 12%.

Question 8

Describe the style of a Kabinett.

Answer 8

• Kabinett Riesling is light-bodied, has high acidity and aromas of green and citrus fruit.

Question 9

What are the requirements for a Spätlese.

Answer 9

• Made from fully ripened grapes, usually picked 2 weeks after Kabinett.
• Higher in alcohol at same sugar level.
• Minimum alcohol 7%.

Question 10

Describe the style of a Spätlese.

Answer 10

• Greater concentration compared to Kabinett.
• Riper fruit flavours - typically stone fruit for Riesling.
• Higher alcohol levels than Kabinett and fuller body.

Question 11

What are the requirement for an Auslese?

Answer 11

• Specially selected, extra-ripe bunches of grapes.
• Hand-harvesting not compulsory, but sorting is.
• Last category at which wines can be dry. Most of the best are sweeter.
• Minimum alcohol 7%.

Question 12

Describe the style of an Auslese.

Answer 12

• Riper and more concentrated flavours than a Spätlese.
• Often have honey character and some grapes might be affected by botrytis.
• Balance between sweetness (if so) and acidity, potential for bottle-ageing.

Question 13

What are the requirements for a Beerenauslese?

Answer 13

• Individually selected berries -> hand-harvested.
• High must weight, so always sweet.
• Fermentation stops always early, so minimum alcohol is 5.5%.
• Botrytis not a requirement but is often the case.

Question 14

Describe the style of a Beerenauslese.

Answer 14

With Riesling, typical flavours are very ripe and dried stone fruit. Sweet, with low levels of alcohol, often with botrytis influence.

Question 15

Rheinessen key points.

Answer 15

• Home to just under 1/4 of German vineyards.
• Most of production planted on flatter, warmer, more fertile valley floors.
• White grapes dominate. Riesling, Muller-Thurgau.
• Dornfelder dominant red variety.

Question 16

What’s the main area for high quality wines in Rheinessen and why.

Answer 16

• The Rheinterrasse is a stretch of steeply-sloping vineyards on the west bank of the river, near Nierstein and Oppenheim.
• The vineyards are East facing, having the warm morning sun in the coolest part of the day.
• The river and its moderating influence mean grapes have longer ripening times.

Question 17

Tasting notes of a high quality Riesling from Rheinessen.

Answer 17

Ripe lemon and peach flavours.

Question 18

Pfalz key points.

Answer 18

• It is the extension of Alsace in Germany, and enjoys the same benefits.
• The Haardt mountains (continuation of the Vosges) act as a rain shadow, so Pfalz is the driest region, and the only one risking drought.
• Planted area slightly smaller than Rheinessen, dominated by white.
• Dornfelder most planted red, followed by Spatburgunder (esp. in the south).

Question 19

Pfalz notable areas?

Answer 19

Mittelhaardt, in the northern part of Pfalz. Vineyards are south- or east-facing, on steep slopes in the foothills of the Haardt mountains.

Question 20

Soils in Pfalz.

Answer 20

Wide variety of soils:
- Limestone
- Sandstone
- Basalt
- Clay
giving wines of very different character.

Question 21

Style of a high quality Pfalz Riesling.

Answer 21

Due to warmer temperatures, Pfalz wines tend to be fuller-bodied with riper fruit compared to Rheinessen.