Germany

Question 1

Widespread region between Mosel and Rheinhessen.

Answer 1

Nahe. Best vineyard on banks of River Nahe. Schlossböckelheim village

Question 2

Small but prestigious region on North bank of River Rhine & Main. Protective element & 2 notable regions.

Answer 2

Rheingau - Taunus hills help ripen. Johannisburg & Rüdesheim.

Question 3

Largest vine-growing region in Germany. Reputable growers located where?

Answer 3

Rheinhessen - Best growers on steep West Bank of Rhine near Nierstein.

Question 4

1) German region specializes in production of Silvaner
2) Best vineyard region

Answer 4

1) Franken
2) Wurzburg

Question 5

Halbtrocken & it’s alternative labeling

Answer 5

Off-Dry or Medium. Feinherb

Question 6

Erstes Gewachs / Grosses Gewachs

Answer 6

Dry. Single vineyard wines made with strict regulations. GG particularly strict

Question 7

Verband Deutscher Pradikatsweinguter (VDP)

Answer 7

-Association of German wine producers who classified their vineyards as VDP
-Includes majority of best vineyard sites in Germany
-Identified by icon of an eagle on bottle cap

Question 8

Verband Deutscher Pradikatsweinguter Grosses Gewachs (VDP GG)

Answer 8

-Dry wines from the very best vineyard sites.
-GG embossed on neck of bottle

Question 9

Climate of Germany

Answer 9

Cool Continental. Lots of variation in weather

Question 10

Combat difficulty ripening grapes in Germany

Answer 10

-Long cool ripening season means:
-Careful site selection
-Vineyard management
-Strategically timed harvesting

Question 11

German slopes & benefits

Answer 11

• Best vineyards on steep stony slopes with southerly aspect
  -Max exposure to sunlight, good drainage, protection from frost

Question 12

German vine training/pruning

Answer 12

Usually head-trained, individually staked, canes tied at the top to maximize exposure to light & air circulation

Question 13

Benefits of rivers (2)

Answer 13

-Reflected sunlight for ripening
-Air movement protects against spring frosts

Question 14

German Harvest timing

Answer 14

Similar to Alsace - October - Dec??

Question 15

1) Second largest growing region in Germany often considered a continuation of Alsace.
2) Protective element

Answer 15

1) Pfalz
2) Haardt Mountains (Continuation of Vosges)

Question 16

1) Driest region in Germany
2) Most established vineyards in this region

Answer 16

1) Pfalz
2) Forst & Deidesheim

Question 17

1) German region furthest south. Warmest region.
2) Wine style
3) Two notable regions

Answer 17

1) Baden
2) Fullest body & highest alcohol
3) -Kaiserstuhl (extinct volcano)
-Tuniberg

Question 18

Riesling profile & 5 notable regions

Answer 18

-Delicate/floral to richer peachy fruit
-Mosel, Nahe, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Pfalz

Question 19

3 ways to produce sweet wines

Answer 19

1) Stop fermentation early
2) Use grapes with noble rot
3) Freezing grapes on vine

Question 20

Hybrid of Riesling & Madeline Royale. Notable regions.

Answer 20

Muller-Thurgau / Rivaner. Rheinhessen, Pfalz

Question 21

Muller Thurgau (Rivaner)

Answer 21

-Ripens earlier than riesling
-Does not develop same high levels of acidity or flavor intensity
-Can have floral/fruity but not typically used to produce high quality wines

Question 22

Silvaner

Answer 22

-Dry or sweet
-Less acidic/fruity compared to Riesling
-Can have earthy quality
-Rheinhessen & Franken

Question 23

Grauburgunder / Rulander

Answer 23

Pinot Gris

Question 24

5 German White Varietals

Answer 24

1) Riesling
2) Muller Thurgau / Rivaner
3) Silvaner
4) Grauburgunder / Pinot Gris
5) Weissburgunder / Pinot Blanc

Question 24

Weissburgunder

Answer 24

Pinot Blanc

Question 25

5 German Red Varietals

Answer 25

1) Spatburgunder
2) Dornfelder
3) Portugieser
4) Trollinger
5) Schwarzriesling / Meunier

Question 26

Spatburgunder styles & key regions

Answer 26

-Warmer areas (Pfalz/Baden)
-Light bodied styles or concentrated with oak aromas
-Red fruit flavors

Question 27

Labeling Hierarchy (6)

Answer 27

1) Kabinett
2) Spatlese
3) Auslese
4) Beerenauslese
5) Trockenbeerenauslese
6) Eiswein

Question 28

-Requires the lowest minimum must weight
-Harvested earliest
-Dry to medium sweet
-Light body, High acidity, Green apple/citrus
-Sweet styles made by stopping fermentation early
Low alcohol between 8-9% abv
Drier styles 12% abv

Answer 28

-Kabinett

Question 29

-Higher must weight
-Harvested after Spatlese
-Individual bunches selected (Some noble rot)
-Dry to sweet
-Dry = higher alcohol
-Richer & riper than Spatlese

Answer 29

Auslese

Question 30

-Harvested after Kabinett
-Dry - Medium sweet
-More body, alcohol, flavor, sweetness than Kabinett

Answer 30

Spatlese

Question 31

Labeling:
-Left on vine longer and likely noble rot
-Individual berries
-Always sweet
-Low alcohol, flavors of honey, dried stone fruit, candied peels, flowers

Answer 31

Beerenauslese

Question 32

Labeling:
-Must weight requires noble rot
-Individual berries
-Always sweet
-Low alcohol, honey, dried stone fruit, candied peels, flowers

Answer 32

Trockenbeerenauslese