Germany Flashcards
Describe Erzeugerabfüllung and Gutsabfüllung
Erzeurgerabfullung: previously meant estate bottled wine, now widely overused, usually producer bottled
Gutsabfullung: “bottled on property” only used if winemaker holds oenology degree
Describe Verband Deutscher Pradikatsun (VDP)
Association of top wine estates utilizing strict self-imposed regulations and inspections by weinguter (large organization of wine estates), use VDP logo on capsules. Require higher must weights, lower yields, full time growers in top sites
Define “classic” and “selection” designations
Classic: dry wines of traditional varieties, max residual sugar 15 g/l, single varietal, at least 12% abv
Selection: dry wines hand harvested, max 9 g/l residual sugar (12 g/l for Riesling), single vineyard and single variety, max yield 60 hl/ha, minimum Auslese must weight
Describe Grosse Gewächs, Erste Gewächs, and Erste Lage
Grosse gewachs: “great growths” highly rated vineyards: auslese or above or dry wine without QmP
Erste gewachs: “first growths” highly rated vineyard, Rheingau only
Erste lage: “first site” Mosel only
Name principal villages of Pfalz
Bad Durkheim, Deidsheim, Forst, Kallstadt, Neustadt, Ruppertsberg, Ungstein, Wachenheim
Describe Bereiche, Grosslagen, Einzellagen
Bereiche: district within aunbaugebiete, parishes with similar characteristics
Grosslagen: “collective sites” large area of many sites, misleading term because it doesn’t appear on labels
Einzellage: single vineyard area/also many villages. Smallest unit allowed. Doesn’t appear on labels
Name principal villages of Mosel
Bernkastel (Doctor Einzallage, Lay, Graben), Brauneberg, Erden, Graach, Neumagen, Piesport, Trittenheim, Urzig, Wehlen, Zwltingen
Principal villages of Rheingau
Assmanhausen (reds), Eberbach, Eltville, Erbach, Hattenheim, Hochheim (reds), Johannisberg, Kiedrich, Oestrich, Rauenthal, Rudesheim, Winkel
Name anbaugebiete (wine-growing areas)
Ahr, Hessiche Bergstrasse, Mittelrhein, Mosel, Nahe, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Pfalz, Frankenstein,Wurttemberg, Baden, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen
Describe styles and grapes used in QmP quality structure
Kabinett: lightest and driest Spätlese: late-picked Auslese: some botrytized Beerenauslese: botrytized Eiswein Trockenbeerenauslese: hand selected botrytized left to "dry" on vine
Name 13 anbaugebiete (wine-growing areas) for QbA/QmP
Ahr, Hessiche Bergstrasse, Mittelrhein, Mosel, Nahe, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Pfalz, Franken, Wurttemberg, Baden, Saale-Unstrut, Sachsen
Describe general regional structure of Germany
Deutscher Tafelwein - regions (4)
- Tafelwein regions (8)
- -Qualitätswein
- -Landwein
Describe structure within Qualitätswein
Bereiche (39 districts)
-contain 160 Grosslagen and 2632 Einzellagen
Define anbaugebiete
Region
What does QbA stand for
Qualitätswein bestimmer Anbaugebiete
What does QmP stand for
Qualitätswein mit Prädikat
Define Gutswein and Ortswein
Estate wine and commune wine: strict viticultural standards, required site inspections, max yield regulations, higher must weights
Define Jahrgang
Vintage year
Define Halbtrocken and Trocken
Halbtrocken: “Half-dry” though likely closer to semi-sweet, Trocken: “dry”
Describe quality levels of Landwein
Trocken or Halbtrocken
Define Lieblich
Medium sweet, nearer to moelleux
What are the implications of QbA
Theoretical equivalent to French AOC, though actually a step below Kabinett of QmP structure
What labels must Rotwein and Weisswein appear on?
Tafelwein, Landwein, and QbA
What does süss mean?
Sweet wine
Describe method for Sekt production
85% from imported wines, almost entirely cuve close, 15% Deutscher Sekt dry bland bubbles made for Germans
What are the six primary grapes of Germany
Riesling, Müller Thurgau, Silvaner, Spätburgunder, Portugieser, Dornfelder
Name five lesser know German grapes
Bacchus, Gëwurztraminer, Kerner, Elbling, Grauerburgunder
Silvaner is a cross between what two grapes
Traminer and österrichish Weiss
Describe location, soil, and wines of the Ahr
Deep valley along the Ahr river (tributary of the Rhein), protected by Hohe EIfel Hills, most northerly area of Rhein-Mosel. Rocky, slate soil captures sunlight and heat. Red wine territory, 60% Spatburgunder also Portugieser and Riesling
Describe location, soil, and wines of the Mittelrhein
Some of steepest vineyards, maximize sunlight along valley sides with river as heat reservoir. Slate and clay soil, primarily Riesling
Describe location, soil, and wines of the Mosel
Steepest slate slopes with moderate rainfall and rapid warming to retain acidity. Has two major tributaries: Saar and Ruwer Rivers. Finest Rieslings with racy acidity even in hottest years, also Auxerrois, Bacchus, Kerner, Muller Thurgau, Spatburgunder
Describe location, soil, and wines of the Nahe
Sunny microclimate with varied soils, protected by Soonwald forest and the rocky heat-retaining soils. Unique, fragrant soft style Riesling, also Muller Thurgau and Dornfelder
Describe location, soil, and wines of the Rheingau
Northern banks of Rhein and Main Rivers, protected from cold by tempering rivers and sheltered by Taunus Mtns, above average sun on quartzite and weathered slate in best vineyards. Lush, juicy peach-fruit Riesling almost all in drier style than other regions. Assmannshausen produces best German reds (Spatburgunder)
Describe location, soil, and wines of the Rheinhessen
South of Rheingau and Rhein River, temperate climate protected by mountains and forest, grown on Rhein terrace on loess and some limestone, slate and sand. Lots of bulk wine and Liebfraumilch (like Blue Nun), also Muller Thurgau, Silvaner, Dornfelder, Riesling
Describe location, soil, and wines of the Pfalz
Sunniest-driest region of Germany, sheltered by hills and mountains, flat land with gently slopes and widely varying soil including loam. Rich powerful spicy Muller Thurgau and Riesling similar to Alsace. Large production area like Rheingau
Describe location, soil, and wines of Hessischer Bergstrasse
Majority co-op production of lots of farmers working small plots. Full-bodied whites 50% Riesling, mostly Muller Thurgau with some Spatburgunder
Describe location, soil, and wines of Baden
Longest wine region, fuller bodied and higher in alcohol than northerly areas. Wine from large co-ops. Varied soils and mesoclimates due to size. Mainly Muller Thurgau and Spatburgunder, limited good quality Riesling.
Describe location, soil, and wines of Wurttemberg
Located around Neckar River and its tributaries. 80% co-op produced. Mainly light-colored, light-weight red Trollinger, Lemberger, and Schwarzriesling (Meunier), rose Schillerwein, also Riesling, Kerner, Muller Thurgau, Silvaner.
Name two noteworthy Bereichs of Wurttemberg
Württemberg Unterland and Remstal-Stuttgart
Describe location, soil, and wines of Franken
Located along river Main, steep slopes overlooking the river, mainly planted on south-facing slopes. Mainly Muller-Thurgau and Sylvaner (best quality), also Riesling, Bacchus, and Sheurebe.
Describe location, soil, and wines of Saale-Unstrut
Most northerly growing area located in East Germany at the confluence of Saale and Unstrut Rivers. Mostly Muller-Thurgau also Silvaner and Weissburgunder with small amounts of Riesling and Dornfelder, all dry.
Describe location, soil, and wines of Sachsen
Germany’s smallest area, located in East Germany, dry Muller-Thurgau with Riesling and Weissburgunder increasing.
Required oechsle for QmP Kabinett
67-85°
Required oechsle for QmP Spatlese
76-95°
Required oechsle for QmP Auslese
83-105°
Required oechsle for QmP Beerenauslese and Eiswein
110-128°
Required oechsle for QmP Trockenbeerenauslese
150-154°
Name 5 primary German crossings
Bacchus (Silvaner x Riesling x Muller-Thurgau ), Kerner (Trollinger x Riesling), Morio-Muscat (Silvaner x Weissburgunder), Scheurebe (Silvaner x Riesling), Dornfelder (Helfensteiner (Frühburgunder x Trollinger) x Heroldrebe)
Describe Landwein requirements (Oeschle, labelling, residual sugar, region)
47-55° Oechsle, all German grapes, must be labelled Deutscher Tafelwein and trocken (
Describe German AP number and its structure
Control number assigned to QmP and QbA wines. 5 sets of numbers, first: examining panel location, second: bottling location, third: bottler’s number, fourth: bottling instance of that year, fifth: year wine was tested by panel
Describe German VDP grading system
Erste Lage: “First Site” applies to best vineyard sites in each region, terroir driven wines, varietals approved by regional authorities
- Grosses Gewachs “Great Growths” (Erstes Gewachs in Rheingau) applies to dry wines max 9 g/l residual sugar from Erste Lage sites, minimum Spatlese must weight, max 50 hl/ha yield, hand-harvested. Whites aged until following 1 September after harvest, reds 2 years old
- Klassifizierte Lage/Orstweine superior quality wines from classified sites (may not be labelled under grosslagen or bereiche), max 65 hl/ha yield
- Gutswein: high-quality basic wine from estate which have regional character, minimum 80% of the estate planted with traditional regional varietals, max 75 hl/ha yield
Name permitted varietals of German Erste Lage sites in Ahr
Ahr: Spätburgunder, Frühburgunder, Riesling (only natural sweetness)
Name permitted varietals of German Erste Lage sites in Baden
Baden: Riesling, Weisser Burgunder, Grauer Burgunder, Spätburgunder
Name permitted varietals of German Erste Lage sites in Franken
Franken: Riesling, Silvaner, Weisser Burgunder, Spätburgunder
Name permitted varietals of German Erste Lage sites in Pfalz
Pfalz: Riesling, Weisser Burgunder, Spätburgunder
Name permitted varietals of German Erste Lage sites in Rheingau
Rheingau: Riesling, Spätburgunder
Name permitted varietals of German Erste Lage sites in Hessische Bergstasse
Hessische Bergstraße: Riesling, Weißer Burgunder, Grauer Burgunder, Spätburgunder
Name permitted varietals of German Erste Lage sites in Rheinhessen
Rheinhessen: Riesling, Spätburgunder
Name permitted varietals of German Erste Lage sites in Mittelrhein
Mittelrhein: Riesling
Name permitted varietals of German Erste Lage sites in Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
Mosel-Saar-Ruwer: Riesling
Name permitted varietals of German Erste Lage sites in Nahe
Nahe: Riesling
Name permitted varietals of German Erste Lage sites in Sachsen
Sachsen: Riesling, Weisser Burgunder, Spätburgunder
Name permitted varietals of German Erste Lage sites in Saale-Unstrut
Saale-Unstrut: Riesling, Silvaner, Weisser Burgunder, Spätburgunder
Name permitted varietals of German Erste Lage sites in Wurteemberg
Württemberg: Riesling, Weißer Burgunder, Grauer Burgunder, Spätburgunder, Lemberger