Germany

Question 1

How are vineyard and village ordered on a German wine label?

Answer 1

Village then vineyard

Question 2

Name two benefits of vineyards located near rivers in Germany:

Answer 2

• reflected sunlight can help the grapes to ripen

- Flowing water creates air movement that can protect from frost

Question 3

What is a term outside of German law used to describe the best dry wines in Germany? How is this indicated?

Answer 3

Grosses Gewachs

Indicated by the letters GG and a bunch of grapes embossed on the neck of the bottle.

Question 4

Describe Auslese Riesling.

Answer 4

Wines made from individually selected extra-ripe bunches of grapes. Whether dry or sweet, Auslese wines are richer and riper than Spatlese wines from the same region. Regardless of style, noble rot can play an important part in flavour profile.

Question 5

True or False: Botrytised sweet white wines can be made in every region in Germany. Explain.

Answer 5

True

Because the long cool ripening period gives the grapes time to reach sugar ripeness while retaining acidity

Question 6

What is the primary red grape of Germany?

Answer 6

Pinot Noir / Spatburgunder

Question 7

What is Pinot Blanc called in Germany?

Answer 7

Weissburgunder

Question 8

What two varietals in Muller Thurgau a crossing from? When was this crossing made?

Answer 8

Riesling x Madeleine Royale

The 1800s

Question 9

What are the two most important regions for Spatburgunder in Germany? Why?

Answer 9

Pfalz and Baden

Thrives in warmer vineyard areas

Question 10

List the German classifications from lowest to highest quality:

No GI
PGI
PDO (2)

Answer 10

Deutscher Wein
Landwein
Qualitatswein
Pradikatswein

Question 11

What is sussreserve?

Answer 11

Unfermented grape juice

Question 12

What is Pinot Gris called in Germany?

Answer 12

Grauburgunder/Rulander

Question 13

What are the levels of Pradikatswein from lowest to highest must weight?

Answer 13

Kabinett
Spatlese
Auslese
Beerenauslese (BA
Eiswein
Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA)

Question 14

What is VDP mean in Germany?

Answer 14

Verband Deutscher Pradikatsweinguter

An independent group of German wine producers that have classified vineyards which, by consensus, include the vast majority of the best sites in Germany.

Question 15

Name 4 Black varieties other than Spatburgunder in Germany:

Answer 15

Dornfelder
Portugieser
Trollinger
Schwarzriesling (Meunier)

Question 16

What are three terms that indicate sweetness on a German wine label?

(Two legally defined, one not)

Answer 16

Trocken (dry)
Halbtrocken (off dry to medium)

Feinherb

Question 17

What are the top 3 white varietals planted by volume in Germany? 1st to 3rd.

Answer 17

Riesling
Muller Thurgau
Silvaner

Question 18

What is the most widely planted grape in Germany?

Answer 18

Riesling

Question 19

How are the best sweet styles of Kabinett made?

What is a technique used in making lower quality wines?

Answer 19

High quality - Stopping fermentation early before the yeast has converted all the sugar to alcohol

Lesser quality - adding Sussreserve

Question 20

Describe Kabinett Riesling profile and alcohol.

Answer 20

Light in body, with high acidity and flavours of green apple or citrus fruit often balanced with residual sweetness.

Sweet style 8-9%
Drier styles can reach 12%

Question 21

On the slopes in Germany, how are vines managed, and why?

Answer 21

Vines are head pruned, individually staked and the canes tied in at the top of the stake to maximise grape exposure to light and circulation of air.

Question 22

What is the climate of Germany?

Answer 22

Cool Continental

Summers can be wet but rain generally declines in Autumn during the final stage of ripening.

Question 23

How are Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc usually labelled in Germany? Style?

Answer 23

Typically labelled using their French or Italian name and made in a dry style.

Question 24

Why do some producers in Germany choose to use the term Feinherb instead of Halbtrocken?

Answer 24

Some find Halbtrocken to have a negative association with lower quality wines.

Question 25

Where are the best vineyard sites found in nearly all regions of Germany?

Answer 25

Steep and often stony slopes with a Southerly aspect.

Question 26

Describe Beerenauslese (BA) and Trockenbeerenauslese (TBA) wines.

Answer 26

• Noble rot is typical to reach the must weights for both of these wines, but only essential in TBA. Some sites are well suited for these wines but they are not necessarily made every year and volumes vary considerably.
• Wines are sweet and low in alcohol with flavours of honey, dried stone fruit, candied peel and flowers.
• They rank among the best sweet wines in the world.

Question 27

What is used to classify wines in Germany?

Answer 27

Must weight (level of sugar in grape juice)

Question 28

How many delimited regions are there for PDO wine in Germany?

Answer 28

13

Question 29

What is the 3rd most planted varietal in Germany?

Answer 29

Spatburgunder

Question 30

Describe Spatlese Riesling profile and alcohol.

Answer 30

.madde in the same way as Kabinett but are more concentrated, riper and have a little more body, alcohol and where relevant, sweetness.

Citrus and stone fruit (peach and apricot) are common characteristics of Spatlese wines made from Riesling