Germany Flashcards
What parallel do the main wine growing regions of Germany lie?
Between 49th-50th parallel
What is the overall climate of Germany’s wine growing regions?
Cool continental
What is the most important river in Germany?
The Rhine River
What are the biggest climactic hazards experienced in Germany?
- Spring frosts
- Untimely rainfall - increases fungal disease and dilution of grapes.
- Hail
Name two significant mountain ranges that influence German wine regions.
Taunus and Haardt
How does Baden’s climate differ to that of other German regions?
Baden is further south, stretching towards the Swiss border. It is noticeably drier, warmer
and sunnier than the others, although in cooler areas, spring frosts can still be a concern.
What is Pendelbogen in Germany?
Pendelbogen is replacement-cane pruning with the canes arched in the trellis. The arching of the canes is thought to improve the flow of sap in the vine and increase the number of viable buds, in turn increasing yields
What are the most common training methods in Germany?
- Traditionally staked individually with canes tied at top (labour intensive, requires skill).
- VSP trellising
- Pendelbogen (form of replacement cane)
Why is Germany not widely suited to organic and biodynamic viticulture?
High risk of disease.
EG. In the Mosel, the only practical way to spray is by helicopter - which could drift to neighbouring plots and vineyards, threatening organic producers accredidation.
How much of Germany’s vineyard area is certified organic?
Around 9%
What is Flurbereinigung in Germany?
Flurbereinigung is the consolidation of many small, fragmented vineyards and the building of access roads, both aimed at increasing
efficiency, making mechanisation easier and so reducing the costs of viticulture.
What factors make viticulture in most German wine regions difficult?
- Climate - high risk of fungal disease
- Topography - very steep slopes, unsuitable for mechanisation
What is the name of the tractor designed for working in steep sloped vineyards?
Caterpillar Tractor
What are the advantages and disadvantages of planting Riesling in Germany?
Advantages:
* Winter hardy
* Late budding (avoids frosts)
* Relatively frost resistant
Disadvantages
* Late ripening: needs good sun exposure and warm autumns to ripen fully.
What is the most planted grape variety in Germany?
Riesling
What is Muller-Thurgau also known as?
Rivaner
Muller-Thurgau is a crossing of which two grape varieties?
Riesling x Madeleine Royale
What is Germany’s most planted black grape variety?
Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir)
Describe wines made from Dornfelder.
Dornfelder produces wines that are deep in colour, high in acidity with fruity and floral notes. It is used to produce two quite distinct styles of wine:
* a fruity, easy-drinking style, occasionally with a little residual sugar, with aromas of sour cherry and blackberry;
* a more complex style with ageing potential produced from lower yields showing greater focus on tannins and structure, fermented or aged in oak.
Where is Dornfelder successful in Germany?
Rheinhessen and Pfalz
What are the five most planted white grape varieties of Germany?
- Riesling
- Muller-Thurgau
- Grauburgunder
- Weissburgunder
- Silvaner
How does Muller-Thurgau differ from Riesling?
- Earlier-ripening
- Higher yields
- Lower acidity
- Less structure and flavour
How does Silvaner differ from Riesling?
Lower in acidity and less character
What is Grauburgunder in Germany?
Pinot Gris
What is Weissburgunder in Germany?
Pinot Blanc
Where is Silvaner most successful in Germany?
Franken
Describe a wine made from Weissburgunder.
Weissburgunder can produce well-balanced wines with medium (+) acid and delicate citrus and stone fruit aromas.
Describe a wine from Grauburgunder.
Grauburgunder particularly likes heavier soils and can produce wines with medium acidity and aromas of stone fruit and tropical (sometimes dried) fruit and honey.
In style, they range from dry and medium-bodied to fuller-bodied, sweeter wines (often labelled as Ruländer).
When was Chardonnay first permitted to be planted in Germany?
1990
Other than Spatburgunder and Dornfelder, name four black varieties planted in Germany.
Portugieser, Schwarzriesling (Pinot Meunier), Trollinger (Schiava) and Lemberger
(Blaufränkisch)
What is Liebfraumilch in Germany?
Inexpensive blend
Widely produced in the 1970s/80s, mostly using crossing such as Muller-Thurgau
Scheurebe is a German crossing between which two grape varieties?
Riesling and Bukettrebe
What styles of wines can Scheurebe potentially produce?
Can produce full-bodied wines with intense aromas of ripe grapefruit and peach. Although
acidity levels are lower than for Riesling, they are still high enough to make ageworthy
wines and also some high-quality sweet wines.
Kerner is a crossing between which two grape varieties?
Trollinger and Riesling
Name four famous crossings developed in Germany.
- Muller-Thurgau
- Scheurebe
- Kerner
- Dornfelder
Is enrichment permitted in Germany?
Yes.
Not permitted for Pradikatzwein.
What are the permitted enrichment levels for Germany?
Most of Germany’s wine regions fall within EU Zone A, allowing enrichment of up to 3% abv; Baden is in Zone B, for which the maximum enrichment is 2% abv.
Is acidification and de-acidification permitted in Germany?
Yes
Only used for mass-produced, inexpensive wines.
What oak vessels are commonly used for winemaking in Germany?
- 1000L Fuder (Mosel)
- 1200 Stück (Rheingau)
Oak sourced from Germany (Pflaz) or Central Europe for large vessels.
French oak typically used for barriques.
What is Süssreserve?
Unfermented or partially-fermented grape must.
Used to make wine with residual sugar.
What are the requirements for the use of süssreserve in Germany?
Süssreserve must be produced from grapes of the same region and the same quality level as the wine to which it is added.
Describe the process of adding süssreserve in Germany.
It is common for the Süssreserve and wine to come from the same must; producers take a small proportion of must pre-fermentation, clarify, chill and protect it with SO2 so it remains fresh, and then add this must back to the fermented wine to create the desired level of sweetness.
Süssreserve is added to the dry wine just prior to bottling; it contains minimal or no alcohol and therefore, depending on the volume added, may slightly reduce alcohol level of the final wine.
Is sweetening by adding RCGM permitted in Germany?
Only for Deutscher Wein.
What are the four levels of quality for German wine?
- Deutscher Wein
- Landwein
- Qualitätswein
- Pradikätzwein
What is Deutscher Wein?
Quality level
Formerly known as Tafelwein, this covers wine without a geographical indication made exclusively from grapes grown in Germany.
What are the required ABV levels for Deutscher Wein and Landwein?
Between 8.5%-15%
What styles of wine are made under the Deutscher Wein category?
Can be produced in any style. These are inexpensive wines intended to be drunk when young.
What is Landwein in Germany?
Quality level.
This category was introduced in 1982 and is the German equivalent of PGI wine.
What are the requirements for Landwein in Germany?
At least 85% of the grapes must originate in the Landwein region named on the label. As with Deutscher Wein, alcohol levels must be between 8.5% abv and 15% abv.
In most regions, wines can only be produced in a trocken or halbtrocken style
What is Qualitätswein in Germany?
This is a PDO category but with less stringent regulations than that of the Prädikatswein
category.
What are the requirements for Qualitätswein wines in Germany?
- Must come exclusively from one of the 13 (Anbaugebiete)
- Min. abv 7% (allowing for sweet wines), no max. abv.
- Öchsle between 50°–72° depending on origin
- Must undergo lab analysis and blind tasting before release.
- After passing, wines are given an AP number which must appear on the label.
What is the ‘AP’ number that must appear on Qualitätswein wines?
Amtliche Prüfungsnummer
This 10 to 12 digit number indicates where and when the wine was tested, the location of the vineyard and the bottler’s specific lot number (unique for each bottling).
What are the requirements for Pradikätzwein wines?
- Must come exclusively from a Bereich (name does not need to be stated).
- Name of Anbaugebiete must be stated.
- Enrichment not permitted
- Depending on level, min. must weights must be met.
What are the six levels of Pradikätswein?
- Kabinett
- Spätlese
- Auslese
- Beerenauslese
- Eiswein
- Trockenbeerenauslese
Describe a Kabinett wine.
Kabinett wines are the lightest in body and highest in acid. They can be dry to medium-
sweet in style: 7%-12% abv.
Kabinett Riesling is light-bodied, has high acidity and aromas of green and citrus fruit.
What are the required öchsle levels for Kabinett wines?
70-85°
(85 being 11.5 baumé).
How much later are grapes for Spätlese wines picked after Kabinett?
About 2 weeks
How do Spätlese wines compare to Kabinett in style?
Compared to Kabinett, these wines have a greater concentration of riper fruit flavours (typically stone fruits for Riesling), slightly higher alcohol levels (at a comparable level of residual sugar) and a fuller body.
Spätlese wines can also range from dry to medium-sweet.
Similar to Kabinett and Auslese, the minimum alcohol level must be 7% abv
What does Spätlese translate to?
Late picked
What does Auslese translate to?
Select harvest
How do Auslese wines compare to Spätlese wines?
Auslese wines have even riper and concentrated flavours than Spätlese. The wines often have honey characteristics and some of the grapes may have been
affected by botrytis which will give added complexity of flavour.
Are Auslese wines dry or sweet?
Auslese is the last category at which wines can
be dry. The best quality are sweet.
What does beerenauslese translate to?
Selected berries
Is manual harvesting required for Auslese wines?
No
What is the min. abv for Kabinett, Spätlese and Auslese wines?
7%
What is the min. abv for beerenauslese, trockenbeerenauslese and eiswein wines?
5.5%
What are the required öchsle levels for Spätlese wines?
76-95°
What are the required öchsle levels for Auslese wines?
83-105º
Can beerenauslese wines be dry?
No
What are the required öchsle levels for Beerenauslese wines?
110-128º
Are botrytis affected fruit required for Beerenauslese wines?
The berries need not be botrytized but it is a typical feature of these wines.
Why are Beerenauslese and Trockenbeerenauslese wines rare?
BA and TBA wines are only produced in years with suitable conditions for noble rot to form (brief periods of humidity, followed by dry, sunny weather) and in very small quantities. Yields are very low and the wines are very labour-intensive to produce. The wines are therefore rare and very expensive.
When was Eiswein given a category in the German Pradikätswein?
1982
What are the required öchsle levels for Eiswein?
110-128°
Same as Beerenauslese
What are the harvest requirements for German Eiswein?
- Grapes must be picked when frozen (at temperatures below 7ºC. )
- The harvest can take place any time from December (or occasionally November) to February of the following year (the vintage is given as the year in which the harvest started).
- Once picked, the grapes must also be pressed whilst still frozen – artificial freezing of the grapes is not permitted.
Why are yields for Eiswein so low?
- Predators and/or disease can damage grapes before harvest.
- Juice yield is low due to concentration.
How might a grower protect grapes on the vine intended for Eiswein?
By covering with plastic sheets to protect from predators.
What are the required öchsle levels for Trockenbeerenauslese?
150-154°
What are the EU labelling terms for sweetness?
Why might a producer use the EU labelling terms for sweetness
Below Beerenauslese level, wines can be produced at all sweetness levels, meaning
consumers cannot easily tell how dry or sweet an Auslese, Spätlese, Kabinett or Qualitätswein may be.
What does the term feinherb refer to in Germany?
Literal translation is ‘fine dry’. Not defined by law, feinherb is used for wines which fall within the legal definition of halbtrocken but also extends to those with slightly higher levels of residual sugar.
Why would a producer choose to label their wines as Feinherb instead of Halbtrocken?
Wines labelled as halbtrocken have been falling in popularity in recent years as consumers increasingly turn to drier styles of wine. Because of the potentially negative connotations, those producers who still produce wines that could be labelled as halbtrocken now either make no reference to sweetness on the label or use the term feinherb.
What does the term Goldkapsel refer to in Germany?
Used to indicate a higher level of sweetness and distinction beyond a wine’s labeled Prädikat.
In some cases, an even longer golden capsule (lange Goldkapsule) indicates an even rarer and special selection. The capsule is also linked to the level of botrytis.
What is a Bereiche?
Wine-producing district
Term replaced by region in the 2021 amendment of wine law.
What does the term Einzellagen refer to?
Individual vineyard sites
What does the term Grosslagen refer to?
Collective vineyard sites
What wines can the terms Einzellagen and Grosslagen to added to?
Qualitätswein and Pradikätswein only
What does the term Liebfraumilch refer to?
Translates to ‘our lady’s milk’.
- Medium-dry white wine at Qualitätswein level.
- Min. 18g/l RS
- Min. 70% Riesling, Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau and Kerner (typically dominated by Müller).
- Must be produced in Rheinhessen, Pflaz, Rheingau and/or Nahe.
What does VDP stand for in Germany?
VERBAND DEUTSCHER PRÄDIKATSWEINGÜTER (VDP)
Why was the VDP originally founded?
Founded in 1910, the VDP (initially under a different name) was originally a group of
producers from Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Pfalz and Mosel who wanted to promote wines made without must enrichment, at the time called Naturweine.
Describe the VDP logo.
An eagle bearing a bunch of grapes
How many members are apart of the VDP?
Around 200
Outline the production, domestic sales and exports of VDP wines?
VDP members own about 5 per cent of Germany’s total vineyard area and produce about 3 per cent of annual production by volume and 7.5 per cent by value. Riesling is the most planted variety amongst VDP members, accounting for over half of their vineyards. In 2020, 17 per cent of the wine was exported.
What are the general requirements of a VDP member?
The VDP has established stricter regulations regarding grape growing and winemaking
than those imposed by the German wine laws, including much lower maximum yields, higher
minimum must weights and growing predominantly the traditional grape varieties for their particular region. Members agree to abide by these regulations and are audited every five years.
What are the four categories of VDP wine?
- VDP Gutswein
- VDP Ortswein
- VTP Erste Lage
- VTP Grosse Lage
What are wines labelled VDP Gutswein?
Max. yields?
These are regional wines, similar in style to generic or regional wines in Burgundy, which
originate from a member’s holdings within a particular region. They must meet the general
standards prescribed by the VDP. The maximum permitted yield is 75hL/ha.
What are wines labelled VDP Ortswein?
Max. yields?
The equivalent of village wines in Burgundy, these are produced from grape varieties that are typical of their region. The maximum permitted yield is 75hL/ha (same as Gutswein).
What are wines labelled VDP Este Lage?
This designates ‘first-class’ vineyards with distinctive characteristics and is the equivalent
to Burgundy premier cru. These are excellent quality wines with ageing potential. More
stringent grape growing and winemaking regulations apply.
What are the general requirements for VDP Este Lage wines? (2021)
- Must come from single vineyard or smaller parcel (Gewann) within a classified site.
- Single grape variety (min. 85% and only varieties approved within the region of origin).
- Grapes must be picked selectively (manual or machine ok).
- Max. yields of 60 hL/ ha or 70 hL/ha on steep slopes with a min. natural alcohol of 11%
- The wines must be dry
- The wines have to pass a sensory test by
a tasting commission if ordered by the
regional bodies - The wines are subject to specified release
What are the general requirements for VDP Grosse Lage wines? (2021)
- Must come from single vineyard or smaller parcel (Gewann) within a classified site.
- Single grape variety (min. 85% and only varieties approved within the region of origin).
- The grapes must be handpicked.
- Max. yield 50 hL/ha with a min. natural alcohol content of 12%
- The wines must be dry.
- The wines have to pass a sensory test by a
tasting commission. - The wines are subject to specified release
dates. (1 September of the following year
for white wines and 1 June of the next year
for red wines).
What are wines labelled with VDP Grosse Lage?
The equivalent to Burgundy grand cru, these have been determined to be the best parcels in the best vineyards. The parcels have been narrowly demarcated by the local associations as those whose qualities are discernible in the finished wine. These wines should be outstanding quality and have long ageing potential.
What are the max. permitted yields for VDP Grosse Lage?
50hL/ha
What are the permitted grape varieties for VDP Grosse Lage?
Permitted grape varieties differ according
to the Anbaugebiete. For Grosse Lage, Riesling is allowed in all Anbaugebieten (though only
for botrytised wines in Ahr) and Spätburgunder in all Anbaugebieten but Mosel and Nahe.
Various other grapes may be permitted according to the Anbaugebiete.
What are the elevage requirements for VDP Grosse Lage?
Dry white wines cannot be released until 1st September in the year following the harvest.
Red wines must spend at least 12 months ageing in oak and cannot be released until 1st
September in the year after that. Sweeter Prädikat wines may be released on 1st May
following the harvest.
What does the term Grosses Gewächs refer to?
Dry wines made from grapes from Grosse Lage.
What does it mean when a wine is labelled VDP Grosse Lage GG?
A dry wine produced from an outstanding vineyard.
The full term Grosses Gewächs cannot appear on the label.
What is the Rheingau Charta?
The Rheingau Charta (pronounced ‘Carter’) was introduced in 1984 to promote dry wines from the best vineyard sites of the Rheingau.
What does the term Erstes Gewächs refer to?
The term Erstes Gewächs was introduced for the best sites in Rheingau and is now a legally-protected term for wines from these sites.
Introduced in 2021, what are the four geographical categories for Qualitätswein?
- Anbaugebiet (area).
- Region (replacing bereiche and grosslage terms).
- Ortwein (Village)
- Einzellage (single vineyard)
Name the 13 Anbaugebiet of Germany.
- Ahr
- Baden
- Franken
- Hessische Bergstraße
- Mittelrhein
- Mosel
- Nahe
- Pflaz
- Rheingau
- Rheinhessen
- Saale-Unstrut
- Saschen
- Württenberg
Which German wine region is the largest in terms of yields and production?
Rheinhessen
Describe the climate of Rheinhessen.
Cool, continental (like the rest of Germany).
Relatively warm and dry, protected by the mountain ranges Hünstruck and Taunus.
How much of Rheinhessen is planted to white grapes?
73%
What is the most planted white grape variety of Rheinhessen?
Riesling, followed by Muller-Thurgau
What is the most planted black grape variety in Rheinhessen?
Dornfelder.
True or False
Rheinhessen’s production is dominated by small estates.
False
Bulk production still dominates – and plantings are still on the rise to supply it. The majority of this production is under the control of merchant houses.
What are the three Bereiches/Regions of Rheinhessen?
Nierstein, Bingen, Wonnegau
Where is the Rheinterrasse?
Nierstein, Rheinhessen.
What is the Rheinterrasse in Rheinhessen?
A stretch of steeply-sloping vineyards on the west bank of the river around Nierstein and Oppenheim.
Area establishing a reputation for high quality production.
What are the major villages of Nierstein, Rheinhessen?
Bodenheim, Nackenheim, Nierstein, Oppenheim, Dienheim
What are the major villages of Wonnengau, Rheinhessen?
Westhofen, Flörsheim-Dalsheim, Dittelsheim, Monsheim, Worms
What climactic factors make the Rheinterrasse ideal for quality wine production?
- East-facing aspect = morning sun at the coolest part of the day, enhancing ripening.
- Proximity to the Rhine = moderating influence. Evening and Autumn temperatures remain warmer, extending ripening period.
What is Roter Hang in Rheinhessen?
- Translates to ‘Red Hill/Slope’ due to it’s Rotliegenden soil.
- Very steep slope located in Nierstein and Nackenheim, within the Rheinterrase/Nierstein Bereiche.
What characteristics might a Riesling from Roter Hang show?
Rieslings are said to show smoky characteristics.
What is Rotliegenden soil, and where might it be found?
An iron-rich red soil consisting of slate, clay and sandstone.
Roter Hang in the Rheinterrasse/Nierstein, Rheinhessen.
Name a significant producer from Nierstein/Rheinterrasse region in Rheinhessen.
Weingut Gunderloch
Name a significant producer in Wonnengau, Rheinhessen.
Weingut Keller
Where is Weingut Gunderloch located?
Village: Nackenheim
Region: Nierstein/Rheinterrasse
Area: Rheinhessen
Where is Weingut Keller located?
Village: Flörsheim-Dalsheim
Region: Wonnengau
Area: Rheinhessen
Where is Pfalz?
A narrow strip of vineyards squeezed between the Haardt Mountains to the west and the Rhine plain to the east.
Runs north from Alsace.
The Haardt mountains are a continuation of which other mountain range?
The Vosges of Alsace
What influence do the Haardt mountains have on Pfalz?
Similar to Alsace, the Haardt Mountains create a rainshadow effect, making Pfalz one of Germany’s driest region.
Drought can be an issue.
How much of Pfalz’s total production does white wine account for?
67%
How do the white wines of Pfalz compare to those of Rheinhessen?
Due to the warmer temperatures, Pfalz wines tend to be slightly fuller-bodied with riper fruit flavours than those from Rheinhessen.
Most planted white and red grape varieties planted in Pfalz?
Riesling followed by Müller-Thurgau
Dornfelder followed by Spätburgunder
What are the two bereiches/regions of Pfalz?
Mittelhaardt-Deutsche Weinstrasse
Südliche Weinstrasse
Literally translates to Middle Haardt German Wine Route and Southern Wine Route
What are the most important villages of the Mittelhaardt-Deutsche Weinstrasse, Pflaz?
Bad Dürkheim, Wachenheim, Forst, Deidesheim and Ruppertsberg
What makes the Mittelhaardt-Deutschce Weinstrasse area of Pfalz ideal for quality wine production?
- The south- or east-facing steeply-sloping vineyards in the foothills of the Haardt gain max. sunshine and are protected from winds, contributing to the production of ripe, full-bodied Riesling.
- There is a wide variety of soils, including limestone, sandstone, basalt and clay, which producers are exploiting to give wines of differing characteristics and flavours.
How does the Südliche Weinstrasse differ from the Mittelhaardt-Deutsche Weinstrasse?
Pfalz
More fertile, sandstone soils
Traditionally an area for inexpensive wine production
Who are the ‘three B’s’ of Pfalz?
Reichsrat von Buhl, Bürklin-Wolf, and Bassermann-Jordan
Name an outstanding producer in the Südlich Weinstrasse, Pfalz.
Ökonomierat Rebholz
Where is the producer Ökonomierat Rebholz located?
Village: Siebeldingen
Bereiche: The Südliche Weinstrasse
Anbaugebiete: Pfalz
Where is Dr. Bürklin-Wolf located?
Village: Wachenheim
Bereiche/Region: Mittelhaardt-Deutsche Weinstrasse
Anbaugebiete: Pfalz
Name an important co-operative in Pfalz.
Winzerverein Deidesheim.
How many bereiches are there within Baden?
Nine
Where is Baden?
Lines the eastern half of the Upper Rhine Valley and runs parallel to Alsace and the Pfalz, between the Rhine River and the Black Forest.
Which Baden bereiches are known for Pinot Noir production? Where are they located?
N-S: Ortenau, Breisgau, Kaiserstuhl, and Tuniberg
All areas run alongside the Rhine, opposite the border of Alsace. Benefit from rainshadow of the Vosges.
What is the most planted grape variety of Baden?
Spätburgunder
What makes the Kaiserstuhl bereiche ideal for Pinot Noir production?
Steep, south-facing slopes
Volcanic soils (Kaiserstuhl is an extinct Volcano)
Describe a Pinot Noir from Kaiserstuhl, Baden?
Full bodied, high alcohol and complex, smoky ripe fruit flavours.
How do the Pinot Noir wines from Ortenau, Tuniberg and Breisgau differ from those of Kaiserstuhl?
Ortenau: cooler climate
Tuniberg and Breisgau: on the significant pockets of calcareous soil
Lead to higher acidity for more delicate fruit flavours.
Is Baden more planted to white or red varieties?
White, 61%
What white grape varieties are most successful (and most planted) in Baden?
Grauburgunder, Weissburgunder and Chardonnay
Often matured in oak.
Riesling accounts for a small amount of production, but some high quality, fuller bodied examples are made of all Pradikät levels.
Name a significant producer in Baden.
Bernhard Huber
Is Baden’s wine production dominated by small estates of co-operatives?
Co-operatives are responsible for around 75% of Baden’s total production
Name a significant co-operative producer located in Baden.
Badischer Winzerkeller
Where is Bernhard Huber located?
Village: Malterdingen
Bereiche: Breisgau
Anbaugebiete: Baden
Where is the anbaugebiete Württemberg located?
Located around Stuttgart, to the east of Baden and south of Franken
What styles of wine are produced in Württemberg?
Württemberg currently produces mainly light, fruity red wines which are mostly consumed on the domestic market.
Which co-operative is currently responsible for most of Württemberg’s total production?
Möglingen
Where in Württemberg are smaller estates starting to establish a reputation for high quality wine production?
The steep, terraced vineyards above the river Neckar and tributaries.
Is Württemberg mostly planted to white or black varieties?
Red (66%)
What are the most planted black varieties of Württemberg?
Trollinger, Lemberger and Schwarzriesling
Name two significant producers of Württemberg.
Significant producers in Württemberg include Rainer Schnaitmann and the large co-operative Württembergische Weingärtner.
How much do white grape varieties account for of Mosel’s total plantings?
91%
How much of Mosel’s total vineyard area is planted to Riesling?
62%
What are the six bereiches of the Mosel?
Burg Cochem, Bernkastel, Ruwertal, Saar, Moseltor, Obermosel
How is the Mosel generally split?
The Upper Mosel, Middle Mosel and Lower
Mosel.
Name seven of the most famous villages of the Bernkastel bereiche, Mosel.
Piesport, Brauneberg, Bernkastel-Kues, Graach, Wehlen, Zeltingen, Ürzig, and Erden
Name two renowned einzellagen of Bernkastel village.
Bernkasteler Doctor, Badstrube
Name two renowned einzellagen of Piesport.
Piesporter Goldtröpfchen, Grafenberg
Name two renowned einzellagen of Brauneberg.
Brauneberg Juffer, Juffer-Sonnenuhr
Name two renowned einzellagen of Erden.
Erdener Prälat, Treppchen
Name two renowned einzellagen of Graach
Graacher Himmelreich, Domprobst
Name a renowned einzellage of Ürzig.
Ürziger Würzgarten
Name a renowned einzellage of Wehlen.
Wehlener Sonnenuhr
Name a renowned einzellage of Zeltingen.
Zeltingener Sonnenuhr
What are the two sundial vineyards of the Bernkastel Bereiche?
Wehlener Sonnenuhr
Zeltingener Sonnenuhr
What are the two tributaries of the Mosel?
Saar
Ruwer
Describe a classic Riesling from the Mosel.
Mosel Rieslings are paler in colour, lighter in body, with lower alcohol and higher acidity than those from elsewhere and have pronounced floral and green fruit aromas.
The balance of acidity and flavour intensity gives these wines potential for long bottle ageing.
Describe the different soil types of the Mosel.
Slate soils in grey, blue, red and brown
Why are the wines from the Mosel some of the most expensive in Germany?
The topography of the steepest sites means that working the vineyards is expensive and labour intensive. The low yields required to make the sweetest wines such as BA and TBA also impact on cost of production.
Name a significant co-operative of Mosel.
Where is it located?
How much of the Mosel’s total production does it account for?
Moselland
Bernkastel
Accounts for 20% of production?
Where is the Burg Cochem Bereiche of Mosel?
Burg Cochem/The Lower Mosel stretches from Zell northward through Cochem to Koblenz, at the border of the Mittelrhein Anbaugebiet where the Mosel River joins the Rhine.
What are the different names for the Burg Cochem bereiche of the Mosel?
Burg Cochem
Lower Mosel
Terrassenmosel
Name a key winegrowing village of the Burg-Cochem Bereiche.
Winningen
Name a producer from the Burg-Cochem Bereiche.
Heymann-Löwenstein
What makes the Obermosel bereiche different?
This sector of the Mosel sits, with Chablis and Champagne, within the Paris Basin, atop a calcareous soil makeup that replaces the Devonian slate of the Middle and Lower Mosel.
What is the star grape variety of the Obermosel?
Elbling
Where is the Ruwertal bereiche?
The Ruwer is a small tributary of the Mosel River, a stream connecting to the Middle Mosel between Trier and Trittenheim.
How does the Ruwrtal bereiche differ from the Mittelmosel?
Slightly cooler
Where is the Saar bereiche?
A small region south of Trier, the Saar Bereich inhabits the banks of the Saar River, a Mosel tributary.
Name a key winegrowing village in the Saar bereiche.
Wiltingen
Where is the Scharzhofberg Einzellage located?
Wiltingen, Saar
Name a significant producer of the Scharzhofberg Einzellage.
Egon Müller
Where is Fritz Haag located?
Braunenberg, Middle Mosel
Name a producer located in Braunenberg.
Fritz-Haag
Where is Dr Loosen located?
Bernkastel, Middle Mosel
Where is Joh. Jos. Prüm located?
Wehlen, Middle Mosel
Where is Weingut Clemens busch located>
Pünderich, Middle Mosel
Name a producer from Pünderich, Middle Mosel.
Clemens Busch
Where is the anbaugebiete Franken located?
Lies in the federal state of Bavaria.
South-East of the city of Frankfurt.
The vineyards of Franken create a W-shaped course along the south-facing slopes of the
river Main and its tributaries.
Describe the climate of Franken.
Being further east, Franken has the most continental climate of Germany’s principal wine region, meaning warmer summers but a shorter growing season with cooler autumns and harsh winters. Spring frosts are a particular hazard.
Do white or black grape varieties domaine Franken’s total plantings?
White (82%)
What are the most planted grape varieties of Franken?
Müller-Thurgau followed by Silvaner.
Silvaner is considered to produce Franken’s best wines.
Outline the viticultural characteristics of Silvaner.
Silvaner is an early-budding and early ripening variety, meaning it can reach full ripeness before temperatures fall in the autumn. This also makes it susceptible to spring frost.
Where are very good Silvaner wines planted in Franken?
Describe the final wine.
Very good Silvaner wines are produced on south and south-east facing slopes of chalky soils around the town of Würzburg, giving full-bodied dry wines with floral and
wet stone aromas.
What are the three bereiches of Franken.
Mainviereck, Maindreieck, Steigerwald
Name a key wine growing village in Franken. Which Bereiche is it located in?
Würzburg, Maindreieck
Name a famous vineyard located in Würzburg, Maindreieck - Franken.
Stein
Which Bereiche of Franken is known for quality Spätburgunder?
Mainviereck, west Franken
Name a quality producer in Mainviereck, Franken?
Weingut Rudolf Fürst
What is the traditional bottle in which many Franken wines are packaged?
Bocksbeutel, a flat, round-shaped bottle
with a short neck.
Name two producers in Franken.
Weingut Rudolf Fürst.
Horst Sauer
Where is Weingut Rudolf Fürst located?
Mainviereck, Franken
Where is the Nahe anbaugebiete located?
Situated between Mosel and Rheinhessen
What mountain range offers protection to the Nahe region?
Hunsrück Mountains
How do the Hunsrück Mountains influence Nahe?
Protection from the mountains results in mild temperatures and low rainfall
Is Nahe wine production dominated by white or black grape varieties?
White (77%)
What is the most planted white grape variety of Nahe?
Riesling (29%)
How do Nahe Rieslings compare to those of the Mosel, Rheingau and Rheinhessen?
As it is slightly warmer, Nahe Rieslings have slightly lower levels of acidity but riper fruit flavours and more body than those from Mosel, though less so than those from Rheingau and Rheinhessen.
Where are the best wines of the Nahe produced? Why?
- The vineyards in the east of region, particularly those on the south-facing banks of the Nahe between Schlossböckelheim and Bad Kreuznach
- Warm conditions, benefitting from the moderating influences of the Rhine and Nahe rivers, and gaining max. sunlight.
- Steep slopes.
- The soils are a mixtureof slate and sandstone.
Name two significant producers located in Nahe.
Weingut Dönnhof and Emrich-Schönleber
Where is the Rheingau located?
It covers a stretch of the Rhine from Wiesbaden to Lorchhausen as well as a short section of the river Main around Hochheim.
Across the river from the Rheinhessen.
Describe the climate of the Rheingau.
- Protected from cold, northerly winds by the western end of the Taunus Mountain.
- The Rhine is much wider here, providing a moderating influence - reducing frost risk.
- The Rhine also increases humidity, perfect for the development of botrytis in Autumn.
How do the Rieslings of the Rheingau compare to those of the Mosel?
Rieslings here can be fuller-bodied, with riper fruit characteristics than those of the Mosel.
Is production of the Rheingau dominated by quality of quantity minded producers.
Quality
Name the 17 major villages of the Rheingau.
West to East.
Lorch, Assmannshausen, Rüdesheim, Geisenheim, Johannisberg, Winkel, Oestrich, Hallgarten, Hattenheim, Erbach, Kiedrich, Eltville, Rauenthal, Martinsthal, Walluf, Hochheim, Wicker
Describe the soils found in the Rheingau.
Soils range from sand, loam and loess around Hochheim in the east, to sandstone and slate further west.
How much of the Rheingau’s total plantings are white varieties?
86%
How much does Riesling account for in the Rheingau’s total plantings?
77%
Are Rieslings from the Rheingau classically dry or sweet?
Dry
Where in the Rheingau is Spätburgunder the key grape?
At the western end, around Assmannshausen, where the river turns to head north again.
Name a significant einzellage of Assmannhausen known for high quality Spätburgunder.
Höllenberg
What does the term Schloss mean in German.
Denotes a castle or manor house
Name two renowned ‘Schloss’ estates in the Rheingau.
Schloss Johannisberg,
Schloss Vollrads
Do co-operatives play a major role in the Rheingau?
No
Production dominated by small, high quality estates.
Is Ahr planted to mostly white or black grape varieties?
Black 81%
Why is Ahr suitable for the production of black grape varieties?
This is made possible because the river Ahr cuts a narrow, sheltered valley with steep, south-facing slopes and the soil is dominated by heat retaining dark slate and greywacke (a dark sandstone).
Where is the anbaugebiete Ahr located?
North of the Mosel
West of the Belgium border.
Describe a wine from Ahr.
Traditionally, black grapes were late harvested in Ahr and were produced with residual sweetness. However, the region is now a source of very good Spätburgunder, fermented to dryness with relatively high tannins and spice notes from oak ageing.
How many German wine businesses are there in Germany?
Average holdings?
IN 2020, there were 16,000 wine businesses in Germany. (Decreased by 20% since 2010).
53% of these owned vineyards of 3ha or less.
What factors contribute to the high production costs of German wine?
For vineyards on the steeper slopes in particular, the high cost of labour and low yields, particularly for sweeter wines, coupled with vintage variation result in high production costs.
Why has there been a reduction in the number of German growers in recent years?
For some growers the cost of farming the
land is unsustainable against the prices customers are prepared to pay.
Germany’s best wines are mainly produced by wine estates which grow and vinify their own grapes.
Give examples of the kinds of estates these are.
- Some were established many centuries ago by the Church (e.g. Schloss Johannisberg and Kloster Eberbach)
- Aristocratic families (e.g. Schloss Vollrads)
- Charitable organisations (e.g. Bürgerspital and Juliusspital).
- Recent new breed of young, skilled producers.
Give a reason behind the emergence of estates run by young, skilled and knowledgeable winemakers.
The German Wine Institute initiated Generation Riesling in 2005 to give young winemakers (under 35 years of age) in Germany a national and international promotional platform
What are Weinkellerei in Germany?
Wine merchant houses.
How much of a role do co-operative play in Germany?
Co-operatives receive the crop from about 30 per cent of the total German vineyard area and
over three-quarters of production in Baden and Württemberg.
Give an example of a co-operative in Germany focusing on small-volume bottlings of high quality wines.
Badischer Winzerkeller (despite being one of the biggest co-ops in Germany)
Outline the domestic market of German wine.
The domestic market has always been very important and the shift to drier styles of wine
and the increase in red wine production were heavily influenced by changing tastes amongst
German consumers.
In 2021, 55% of wine bought was white, 34% and 12% rosé.
How much wine does Germany consume?
Germany is the fourth largest consumer of wine in the world at approximately 20 million hL in 2018
Why has the volume of German wine exports nearly halved in this century?
This has been influenced by a reduction in the shipping of bulk wine and an
increase in bottled exports, which are significantly higher in value per unit volume, as part of a strategy of the Wines of Germany
What are the biggest export markets of German wine by volume?
USA, the Netherlands, the UK, Norway
and Sweden.
USA and Norway important for value.
What is the name of the German wine industry’s promotional body?
Wines of Germany.
Give an example of a promotional project run by the Wines of Germany.
They run a ‘Riesling Weeks’ campaign in 13 different countries, that encourage retailers and restaurants to promote German wines for a defined period (from a week to a month) each year.
